Five things to watch in GAA this weekend

Relegation fears are already looming for some teams but the return of one player to action this weekend is the real highlight of the weekend.

Promoted sides face tough Munster test

Things are unpleasantly close in Division 1 of the Allianz Football League this year, with all eight teams in with a shout of winning it and being relegated at this stage. For those teams that come up from Division 2 that has presented them with an opportunity for success but it has also meant they have had to hit the ground running.

Donegal finally got off the mark at the weekend, beating Cork in a low-scoring affair at Ballybofey. Laois nabbed their only win of the campaign to date against Donegal in round two and they will need to beat one or two of the big boys if they are going to survive more than one year at the top.

Coincidentally Laois face Cork this weekend but we’re sure that Conor Counihan will have his troops revved up for action this week. Donegal, meanwhile, travel to face Kerry. If either promoted side leave Munster with anything more than more relegation fears it will be an achievement.

The West's Awake (Version 497.0)

With Galway nicely placed in Division 2 and Mayo top of Division 1 after just two games, is the GAA world turning to favour Connacht’s big boys again? Well, Galway only drew with Louth and lost to Westmeath last week so we think they face a long year despite their current league placing.

But Mayo do look the real deal. They crushed Armagh at the Athletic Grounds last week and looking at their forward options very few, if any, county can match them. Down’s boss James McCartan called life in Division 1 “cruel” this week. We think it will get even crueller in Castlebar on Sunday.

Return of the Mac

There can’t be a GAA fan in the country who won’t welcome the return of Offaly’s Niall McNamee to the field of play this weekend. The superstar forward’s gambling problems have been well documented so his mooted return to the Offaly team this week (he has been back in training for a few weeks now) is a big step towards his life getting back to normal.

From a personal point of view I would rather he didn’t have a storming return against my beloved Wexford but a tidy personal tally by McNamee, coupled with a Wexford win, would be perfect.

When two tribes...

Any meeting of Cork and Dublin is a bit special. But their meeting in the hurling league Division 1 this weekend is very special. The new league format in hurling makes every game like a final. That’s great for us in the media but not so great for teams at different levels of fitness and interest in the junior competition.

Capital v the 'real' capital ... in the eyes of some, anyway

It is hard to judge after just one game but Cork look like a side who want to make a splash in the league this year. Dublin won this title last year so may have an eye on a different goal this time around. Still, a second defeat and relegation becomes a real threat for Anthony Daly's boys.. If you can get to Croke Park on Sunday you should go, it should be a cracker.

Cats eye up Deise. Again

To say Kilkenny have had the upper hand on Waterford in recent meetings is a bit like saying that Declan Kidney is a touch conservative. The Cats have ruled over Waterford in all their recent Championship meetings, and Waterford’s last league win over Kilkenny was three years ago.

And still shorn of John Mullane, we wonder will the ‘Brick’ Walsh experiment at centre-forward be tried again? You get the sense that whatever Michael Ryan does, it won’t be enough, even in the cosy confines of Walsh Park.

Don’t lose the run of yourself this weekend. Drink alcohol responsibly. For more visit drinkaware.ie.