And so we have reached the penultimate round of the football league. If one were to draw a parallel with horse racing, there is still much that can happen as we’ve often seen when horses bound up the Cheltenham hill or head for home past the elbow in the Aintree Grand National.
Nobody yet is in an unassailable position as Crisp appeared to be before being collared by Red Rum late on in the 1973 National.
In Division 1, Cork will be looking to keep their noses out in front. The chasing pack of Mayo, Monaghan, Kerry and Dublin are tucked in behind them, though I suspect the stewards would have had their eye on Mayo regarding the non-triers rules after the capitulation against the Dubs a fortnight ago.
Donegal and Tyrone are in danger of getting tailed off and their clash this weekend will be crucial. Derry, it would seem, have too much ground to make up if they are feature in top class company in 2016.
The Division 2 stakes is ultra competitive. Down are the pacesetters, just ahead of a Roscommon side who are gathering momentum.
After good early season form, Galway have faltered in the wake of three consecutive defeats, while Kildare, favoured by many to make the step up, are in real danger of dropping down in class.
Armagh were also fancied to lead the charge in Division 3 and look set to confirm their highly-regarded status within the section.
Under the ken eye of Peter McGrath, Fermanagh have shown much improvement this term and can further enhance their reputation against Wexford.
In Division 4, Longford and Offaly, unbeaten so far, face off in what should be an intriguing contest in Pearse Park. Both teams remain the favourites to get promoted and so set up another meeting in the divisional final before they lock horns in the championship.
DIVISION 1
SATURDAY 28 MARCH
1900 Dublin v Derry, Croke Park (Live on Setanta Sports)
SUNDAY 29 MARCH
1400 Cork v Mayo, Páirc Ui Rinn
1500 Donegal v Tyrone, Ballybofey
1500 Kerry v Monaghan, Austin Stack Park
Derry's woes to continue
"Derry are going to find it hard against Dublin" was Eamonn O'Hara's view on Saturday night's clash at Croke Park. Fans of the Oak Leaf County won't need reminding of the hiding that Jim Gavin's men handed out in last year's league final. Could something similar happen again?
"Dublin really turned it on against Mayo and with the big guns nearly all back, they'll be looking to finish the league strongly and will have a semi-final spot in their sights," added O'Hara.
"For Derry, relegation looks to be their lot now and in fairness the writing has been on the wall for a while now."
Can Mayo atone for McHale Park no-show?
Twice in the league campaign, Mayo have been well-below par on their home patch. The depths to which they fell in their loss to Dublin surprised many within the county. Much scratching of heads then as to why westerners fell so flat.
"I think Mayo turned up the last day expecting things to happen in front of the big crowd," says O'Hara.
"On the other hand, you could say they had an off-day, but I'm confident they'll pick it up for the Cork game. Minds will be re-focused. The players know they didn't put in any effort.
"Mayo, I think, need to keep their interest going in the league."
As for Cork, O'Hara feels the side can be happy with their lot so far.
"Cork have done well enough on their travels to Ulster so far. Their home form has been excellent. They have been the league specialists in recent seasons and I go with them to shade this one."
A win for Cork will see them reach the Division 1 semi-finals for the fifth time in six seasons.
Ballybofey stranglehold
Donegal and Tyrone meet in the Ulster preliminary round on 17 May and the 2002 All-Star feels you can now start writing a preview of that game.
"Sunday' s game, I suspect, will probably be a carbon copy of what will happen later on," says O'Hara.
"Both teams have mastered the art of defending well but, conversely are able to clock up high scores when the mood takes them.
"In saying that, I don't see it been a high-scoring game on Sunday. Maybe 11 or 12 scores could win this one. There's a lot of stake, as you'll feel the loser will be favourites to make the drop.
"It's a tough one to call and I'll sit on the fence and go for the draw."
Kingdom to march on
Kerry and Monaghan encounters over the years have always produced some fascinating contest. Fans of the Farney County won't need reminding of the hammering the Kingdom dished out in the 1979 All-Ireland semi-final. However, the Ulster side's stock would improve and they went on to give Kerry a real fright in the '85 semi-final and the '07 quarter-final.
As for their latest renewal, O'Hara expects Monaghan "not to lie down but that Kerry's extra bit of class should see them home."
DIVISION 2
SATURDAY 28 MARCH
1900 Cavan v Westmeath, Kingspan Breffni Park
1900 Down v Meath, Páirc Esler (Live on Setanta Sports 1)
1900 Laois v Kildare, O’Moore Park
SUNDAY 29 MARCH
1330 Roscommon v Galway, Dr Hyde Park
Lilywhites are not blooming
Last season Armagh made the drop from Division 2. A year on, and there's a high likelihood that another team who feel that they are too good to good down will slip through the trap door.
Will it be Kildare?
"Kildare's narrow defeat to Down on the opening day when they had the game as good as won was a real setback," says O'Hara "and it seems the scars of that are still there."
Indeed, the Lilywhites would subsequently go on to lose against Meath when the game was well within their grasp.
Quite rightly, O'Hara describes the date with Laois "as a must win game" for Jason Ryan's side.
"There's no love lost between Laois and Kildare and there could be a bit of niggle in this one.
"Under Tomás Ó Flatharta, Laois have picked it up of late. They should have beaten Meath and were good value for the win over Galway the last day.
"They'll beat Kildare on Saturday evening."
The fall of the Tribes
The wheels have come off the Galway wagon since they opened brightly with two wins.
While not blaming the weather, O'Hara feels the cancellation of their game with Laois (1 March) seems to have affected their momentum.
"They started really well and were my tip to go up under Kevin Walsh. Since that game in Tuam they've lost their way and will be really disappointed in the way they collapsed against Laois.
"I expect a local derby to bring an improvement and you could have real championship type game against Roscommon on Sunday.
"As the other three games in the Division are on Saturday night, both sides will know what they have to do."
That said, the Toulestrane clubman goes with John Evans' side to prevail.
"Roscommon are going well and they have a settled team. They are improving and have some U-21s coming through. A win here will keep them on track for promotion."
Elsewhere in the Division, O'Hara goes with Down to get the better of an "inconsistent Meath" in Newry, while Cavan can confirm their second tier status for next season with a home win over a Westmeath side who, our pundit feels have not kicked on from the promise they showed earlier in the campaign.
"They really need to add the likes of a Dessie Dolan in attack" he added.
DIVISION 3
SATURDAY 28 MARCH
1900 Armagh v Louth, Athletic Grounds
SUNDAY 29 MARCH
1330 Wexford v Fermanagh, Innovate Wexford Park
1500 Limerick v Clare, Gaelic Grounds
1500 Tipperary v Sligo, Semple Stadium
Ulster duo to make telling leap
Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney may be talking up the Louth threat ahead of the Athletic Grounds clash, but the Orchard men will surely have too much under the lights on Saturday night and so confirm their promotion.
Fermanagh travel to Wexford in their quest to also make the step up.
"I saw Wexford the last day against Sligo and it was worst performance I've seen from a Wexford team," said O'Hara
"They are in relegation trouble and they'll want to pit in a good performance but Fermanagh should have enough and will get promoted."
As for his own county, O'Hara feels Sligo may just stay up even though they may not pick up another point in their remaining two games.
"Sligo's scoring difference is better than those teams around them and there's a chance that those may also also not get any other points on the board.
Sligo travel to Tipperary and it's a game I can't see them winning."
DIVISION 4
SUNDAY 29 MARCH
1300 London v Waterford, Ruislip
1400 Antrim v Wicklow, Corrigan Park
1500 Longford v Offaly, Glennon Bros Pearse Park
1500 Carlow v Leitrim, Netwatch Dr Cullen Park
All eyes will be on the meeting of Longford and Offaly here. Irrespective of who wins on Sunday, our analyst believes that the midland duo will be playing in Division 3 in 2016.
"Both sides went down last year but have done well in their quest to get back up and are unbeaten. I think Longford will edge it on Sunday.
"While they'll come short in terms of promotion, Carlow have impressed me so far and their goal is build on that."
Watch highlights of the weekend's action on League Sunday on RTÉ2 at 7.30pm.
Viewers outside of Ireland the world can watch this weekend's live games via GAAGO.
