Allianz Football League start heralds real action after New Year phoney war

Croke Park could scarcely have come up with tastier fixtures to kick off this year’s Football League with Saturday’s two Division One contests repeats of last year’s well-contested All-Ireland semi-finals as Derry travel to Tralee and Dublin host Monaghan at Croke Park.

However, Mickey Harte, as opposed to Ciaran Meenagh, will be on the sideline directing the Oak Leafers at Austin Stack Park in a sight which one suspects will continue to be difficult for many of our to get our heads around.

Harte banked the 13th Dr McKenna Cup title of his inter-county managerial career last Saturday as his own rather under-strength Derry side saw off a Donegal line-up similarly shorn of several frontliners in a low-key contest, which apart from Brendan Rogers’ red card for a stamping offence on Daire O Baoill, generated few talking points or indeed pointers to the weeks ahead.

Derry’s line-up under Rory Gallagher and then Meenagh remained largely settled over the past two seasons as they secured back-to-back Ulster titles. It will be interesting to see whether Harte opts to shakes things up, even just a little.

Last year, Derry’s Glen contingent immediately returned to the fold after the Maghera club’s controversial All-Ireland Club Final defeat by Kilmacud.

With the Andy Merrigan Cup clinched 12 months on following Sunday’s thrilling win over St Brigid’s, the Watty Graham’s faithful will be in full celebration mode this week so it’s not clear if the likes of Conor Glass, Ethan Doherty and Ciaran McFaul will be available for the Tralee contest.

David Clifford is expected to be in the Kerry line-up even though he sat out the Kingdom’s opening two Division One games against Donegal and Monaghan last year.