KEVIN CASSIDY: Another manic weekend awaits

WE’RE back in action this weekend with round six of the National Football leagues with plenty still to be decided.

To date, we have a very interesting start to the league with all the rule changes and tweaks. By and large, we have all been fairly happy.

This week things should ramp up a notch at both ends of the table.

A lot of discussion has taken place around how hungry teams actually are for making the final and winning the competition outright.

The main issue here seems to be the timing of the final with some teams out in championship action the following week.

I think this will be the last time we will be dealing with this, as I imagine the powers that be will pay a little more attention when doing our next year’s fixtures.

The argument itself is a funny one. I get the fact that teams don’t want to be out that close to a championship game, but being honest, maybe the provincial championship isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be anymore.

Maybe the likes of Donegal think, we should go all out to try and win the National League and then perhaps ease off. Whatever happens in the provincial championships, so be it.

There is no one in any doubt that the main competition from here on in is the All-Ireland series. So, if your team is ready for that who really cares about the rest?

Donegal host Tyrone on Sunday and I fully expect Jim McGuinness to ring the changes for this game and to try and get some much-needed game time into the rest of his panel.

I can’t imagine Jim will go all out now and try and win the National League. This game might be coming just at the perfect time for Tyrone who are in desperate need of some league points.

The game is being held in Letterkenny and after the week of good weather, the pitch should be in perfect condition so expect a free-flowing fast game of football.

Just across the border on Sunday, there is another massive contest with Derry hosting Mayo. At this stage, even a win might not be enough for the Derry men to stay afloat.

I have to admit that I was quite impressed with Derry on the last outing against Donegal in Ballyshannon and I’m sure Paddy Tally left the game that day quietly content that he had something to work with ahead of their championship meeting in a few weeks’ time.

We obviously have had some tweaks to the rules that will come into play this weekend so that will add more interest to it.

I know that we have taken away the extra man so the football could get even better this weekend.

Most teams at this stage of the competition will be wanting to start hitting their stride because, as we noted at the start, the championship is coming thick and fast.

The last thing any team wants is to be searching for form with championship Sunday looming around the corner.

One thing we will know after around six is complete is which teams are making a real effort to win the competition outright and which teams will be in trouble come the last round of games.

Check out this week’s podcast with Ronan O’Neill and Shaun Casey, looking ahead to this week’s action. The podcast is brought to you in association with Hastings Everglades Hotel