Division 3 might only have two Ulster sides competing in it, but there's no doubting that there’s an overwhelming northern twinge to this crucial third tier.
Ironically one of those Ulster sides, Antrim, has a Leinster man in charge in the form of Andy McEntee but Mickey Harte (Offaly), Kieran Donnelly (Fermanagh), Tony McEntee (Sligo), Steven Poacher (Leitrim) and Justin McNulty (Laois) ensure the province is well represented. Of the other two counties, Kildare boss Brian Flanagan has Armagh's Aidan O’Rourke as his number two while new Clare manager Peter Keane has gone against the grain.
Ulster being in vogue is no surprise given the province's greediness in 2024, leaving no crumbs really for anyone else across the football spectrum at all grades and levels - but this, of course, will be a much-changed league with the new football rules coming into play.
Pre-season has brought its concerns for some of those involved in this division. The Irish News reported that Antrim were pinged with a dissent penalty after an opponent put on a fake Belfast accent and dished out a bit of abuse within earshot of the referee.
RTÉ Sport listened in as Fermanagh boss Kieran Donnelly was informed of some tweaks to rules just two weeks out from round one as Croke Park continued to deal with some concerns from match officials.
These rule changes are set to play a crucial role in how this division will pan out.
Even with that, there's no doubting that Kildare carry the tag of favourites into the league season, and their opener against a strong Fermanagh outfit should provide a real mark of where they are at under new boss Flanagan.
He has a track record of success with underage Lilywhite teams and fans will be hopeful he can start bringing through more players from the sides that reached Under-20 All-Ireland finals in 2022 and '23, Kildare winning the latter.
Fermanagh will be keen to set down an early marker though at a newly developed St Conleth's Park, and Donnelly's side have looked sharp in pre-season with Garvan Jones and Darragh McGurn scoring heavily.
They picked up five points in Division 2 last year - enough for safety on plenty of occasions - but a one-point loss to Cork proved costly in the end. They'll be confident of making a quick return.
Sligo have been making good, steady progress under Tony McEntee, who is now in his fifth season in charge.
The loss of key forward Seán Carrabine should be keenly felt, but they were more than ready for this level last year and will be confident of improving on that fourth-placed finish.
Their neighbours Leitrim have question marks hanging over them after a dramatic off-season.
Mickey Graham had agreed to take over but left after a few weeks to take up a coaching role with Galway. Step forward Down man Steven Poacher who loves nothing more than getting an underdog to believe. One of Poacher's coaching heroes was the late John Morrison, who was a former coach with Leitrim, and his son Patrick is part of the management team.
Drama also was in play in Leinster as Mickey Harte's rapid Derry departure saw him end up with Offaly as joint manager with Declan Kelly, who is entering his second season. A number of key names are absent meaning this could be a tough few months, but Harte's presence alone will bring with it extra intrigue - and avoiding the drop would be a solid start.
Laois are coming up from Division 4 after a strong 2024 that also saw them come close to lifting the Tailteann Cup. Justin McNulty's return has sparked a revival in the O'Moore County. The dark horses of the division? Don't be surprised to see them milling around the top half anyway.
Clare are another side that could fare well under the new management team headed by former Kerry boss Peter Keane. The Banner have performed admirably in the league in recent seasons, albeit with a slight dip over the last two campaigns. The return of key figures should see them bounce back though.
Finally, Antrim come into the equation with few backing them to do much outside their own camp. Unfair perhaps, and given the injury crisis they suffered last year, there'll be no easy points given up by the Saffrons - especially in the tight confines of Corrigan Park.
Antrim
2024 league: Sixth in Division 1B
2024 championship: Ulster quarter-final loss to Down; Tailteann Cup semi-final loss to Laois
Manager: Andy McEntee (third year in charge)
Squad news: One of the side's mainstays will no longer be available as Declan Lynch announced his retirement after 12 years in the Saffron jersey. A former captain, he was a dependable option for a number of management teams. Paddy McAleer is another who has stepped away.
Antrim were hit with a series of long-term injuries that robbed them of key players last with Ryan Murray, Conor Stewart, Kevin Small and Patrick Finnegan out with cruciate injuries while key defender Peter Healy was recovering from a stress fracture in his foot.
The latest club season saw a number of those make their returns, so McEntee’s hand should be stronger in 2025, although Healy remains out for a while yet.
Prospects: McEntee’s two league campaigns have been largely frustrating affairs.
In 2023, a pair of one-point losses early on to Down and Fermanagh killed any promotion push while last season, they started with two wins but were unable to build on that momentum.
It’s Clare then Fermanagh to start off, and those two games will probably decide whether they are looking up or down. Four games on the road doesn’t help their chances.
League prediction: Fifth
Clare
2024 league: Third in Division 3
2024 championship: Munster final loss to Kerry; fourth in All-Ireland round-robin group
Manager: Peter Keane (first year in charge)
Squad news: How about this as a double boost as Keelan Sexton and Eoin Cleary are back on board for 2024. Sexton, who is set to be with Dublin outfit Na Fianna next season, stuck to club action last season while Cleary was in America.
Colm Walsh O'Loghlen, man of the match in the final as Éire Óg won the Clare title this season, is an exciting addition and could make a mark in attack.
Keane has brought a raft of new players in so it could be a much-changed side but key midfielder Darragh Bohannon is taking a year out.
Prospects: Last year's run to the Munster final was a reminder of what Clare can do when things are going well, and the return of some big names should enhance any belief further.
Former Kerry manager Peter Keane is a very interesting appointment and given his track record of youth success - he guided the Kingdom to three All-Ireland Minor titles in a row - he will be scouring the county for future stars.
League prediction: Fourth
Fermanagh
2024 league: Seventh in Division 2
2024 championship: Ulster quarter-final loss to Armagh; Tailteann Cup quarter-final loss to Antrim
Manager: Kieran Donnelly (fourth year in charge)
Squad news: Brilliant news for the Erne County in the off-season as Ultan Kelm’s switch to AFL club Freemantle fell through, and he is arguably their most crucial player.
Ryan Lyons is also back after eight months of injury hell following a hamstring operation in April and he should be another key player moving forward.
If Conor Love can stay fit, he’ll be an exciting attacking option while Garvan Jones and Darragh McGurn, who looks in superb physical shape, were really standing out in pre-season challenge games.
The direct-running Aidan Breen has retired after a dozen years in green.
Prospects: Fermanagh looked pretty sharp in pre-season and, crucially, they looked well tuned into the new football rule changes.
With a number of forwards back and flying, and the likes of youngster Diarmaid King to add another option, they will be chasing promotion, no doubt about it.
Home advantage against Sligo could prove crucial in the end.
League prediction: Second
Kildare
2024 league: Eighth in Division 2
2024 championship: Leinster semi-final loss to Louth; Tailteann Cup quarter-final loss to Laois
Manager: Brian Flanagan (first year in charge)
Squad news: A fresh panel for the new management but one notable name that won’t be present is long-serving goalkeeper Mark Donnellan who is travelling this season. That means the position is up for grabs and it seems like Didier Cordonnier is the front-runner with Cormac Barker battling him for the jersey.
Caragh pair Ryan Burke and Darragh Swords will be late additions to the panel after their All-Ireland Intermediate semi-final loss to Crossmolina earlier this month.
Prospects: Well, there will be plenty of optimism at the start anyway. New manager Flanagan is well respected in the county and there will be confidence that he can make something of their recent underage success.
Then there's the boost of the newly developed St Conleth's Park and Fermanagh, Laois and Antrim will be visiting.
Anything other than a promotion push will be a disappointment.
League prediction: First
Laois
2024 league: First in Division 4
2024 championship: Leinster quarter-final loss to Offaly; Tailteann Cup final loss to Down
Manager: Justin McNulty (second year in charge)
Squad news: A real blow for Laois as one of their stars Evan O'Carroll has suffered a cruciate injury.
One big name called it a day in the off-season as former captain Kieran Lillis stepped aside. The Portlaoise man wasn't a starter in 2024, but his experience would have been a big help.
Retiring AFL star Zach Tuohy said that he'd still like to play for Laois at some stage, but no sign of a recall yet anyway. He is expected to make a return for Portlaoise in 2025 though and has spoken to McNulty.
Paddy O'Sullivan and Niall Corbett have returned.
Prospects: The O'Moore County have four home games in their opening six ties and that will really be the making or breaking of their campaign.
For manager Justin McNulty, the aim will be to head to Enniskillen for the final match against Fermanagh with something still to play for. A mid-table finish appears more likely though.
League prediction: Sixth
Leitrim
2024 league: Second in Division 4
2024 championship: Connacht quarter-final loss to Sligo; Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final loss to Wicklow
Manager: Steven Poacher (first year in charge)
Squad news: Big changes to the Leitrim team this season means that perhaps the youngest panel in the country - with half aged 22 or under - will line out for the league.
Mark Plunkett and Pearse Dolan are away travelling while former captain Donal Wrynn and Aidan Flynn have retired.
On the injury front, Ryan O'Rourke and Jack Gilheaney are set for an extended spell on the sidelines.
Prospects: It's the youth that will lead Leitrim and with 14 players involved in the Sigerson Cup this season, there's plenty to look at anyway.
Paul Honeyman seems a special talent while players like Barry McNulty and Tom Prior will have big roles to play - but it will be very difficult to pick up wins. Four home games offers hope though.
League prediction: Eighth
Offaly
2024 league: Sixth in Division 3
2024 championship: Leinster semi-final loss to Dublin; fourth in Tailteann Cup round-robin group
Managers: Declan Kelly (second year in charge) and Mickey Harte (first year in charge)
Squad news: Experienced trio Anton Sullivan, Peter Cunningham and Eoin Carroll won’t be involved this season meaning that it's going to be a different looking side to last term.
Declan Hogan will be another big miss as he recovers from an Achilles injury.
Goalkeeper Paddy Dunican did make a return in pre-season having last played in 2022 spending time in Australia and America since.
Prospects: It could be a tough season for the Faithful County as they appear to be in a period of transition.
Still though, it's now four seasons since their Under-20 All-Ireland success so that team should be really starting to make its mark at senior level, and if Kelly and Harte can get more of them embedded and looking good then the fans will be patient. It may take time though.
League prediction: Seventh
Sligo
2024 league: Fourth in Division 3
2024 championship: Connacht semi-final loss to Galway; Tailteann Cup semi-final loss to Down
Manager: Tony McEntee (fifth year in charge)
Squad news: It's pretty much as you were for Sligo this term although they will be without one of their key scoring threats as Seán Carrabine is away travelling.
Carrabine was named in last season's Tailteann Cup team of the year so his loss will be obvious.
Other than that, the Crossmaglen man, who has clubmate Aaron Kernan in his backroom team now, will be very familiar with his squad.
Prospects: Sligo have made nice progress under McEntee, who is now one of the longest serving managers in the game.
Their championship performances last year impressed with Galway and Down, in respective semi-finals, being really fortunate to get the better of them.
They have their eyes on Division 2 and a return to the All-Ireland race having been there in 2023. It may be just beyond them, but they should be close.
League prediction: Third
