In case anyone is keeping tabs on this column's weekly match predictions, I'll be giving out the weekly lotto numbers further down the article.
Loyal readers will have noted that - having advised that Galway would win by 2-3 points the previous week (with regret) - I had Donegal to triumph in extra-time and Louth to edge a one-score game last weekend.
The only pity, I suppose, is I'm not backing my own instincts financially.
The Leinster final was a memorable occasion and a fitting conclusion to the provincial championships in 2025, which have seen a revival in their fortunes this summer after so many dull campaigns.
In my eyes, the new rules have been key to this. Without them, I don't think Louth are Leinster champions this week.
Earlier in the year, we heard warnings from some that the rules were going to result in even bigger hammerings and more one-sided games in the provinces.
In actual fact, the opposite has happened.
As it's played out, the randomness and chaos generated by the new kickout rule in particular has made it harder for the top teams to exert control in games and play according to their preferred formula.
Probably no team has been impacted more than Dublin, who perfected the ability to manage their way through games under the old rules, securing and controlling possession at key moments and then methodically working a score, usually tapped over the bar from the high-percentage 'scoring zone'.
The two-pointer and the enforcement of more contests at kickout time have greatly lessened their ability to do that.
We have seen other examples, beyond Leinster, of underdogs over-performing in 2025. Antrim leading Armagh at half-time in Corrigan Park, Mayo taking far longer than expected to shake off Leitrim.
Having said that, we did see Louth basically cradle possession for the last five to six minutes with Meath needing a score and chasing shadows. It was the epitome of control.
I'm personally still iffy about the hooter as a concept. While it can create excitement in certain scenarios, when the team in possession are chasing a score, we possibly witnessed one of the downsides last Sunday.
The fact that there's now a definitive ending means teams know how long they need to nurse possession. In the era when the full-time whistle was, to some degree, at the referee's discretion, Louth might have felt the need to push for another score.
All that being said, Craig Lennon did tap over a point with just over a minute left on the clock. The subsequent kickout was there to be won and Louth - as they had for all the second half - hoovered up the breaking ball.
The Ulster championship didn't need the same ego boost as did Leinster but it provided us with another thriller, all the same. For Armagh, it was more provincial final pain.
This one will sting as much as the others. Once again, I felt the game was there for them down the stretch. They had the momentum. Perhaps it was exertion of getting back into the contest which caught them in the end. As well as the goals, which were absolute killers.
McGuinness' record in the Ulster championship is just extraordinary - five Ulster titles in six attempts. But one wrinkle to emerge from the weekend was their strength in depth was perhaps called into question after Michael Murphy and Ryan McHugh were taken off.
Is there a kick in the Dubs in Salthill?
The Dubs have a shot at redemption after their Leinster semi-final implosion in Portlaoise. Where better to bounce back than in the home of the most in-form team in the country?
We've seen provincial champions turned over by Pot 3 big-hitters in this fixture before. Mayo raided Killarney and took the two points in Kevin McStay's first season in 2023.
With all the chatter and buzz about Galway's credentials and the promise of revenge in the air after last year's All-Ireland quarter-final defeat, you'd imagine it's teed up nicely for a Dublin backlash.
The psychological background to this game could play into Dublin's advantage, and they still can call on Ciarán Kilkenny, Con O'Callaghan and Cormac Costello, with their most in-form league player Seán Bugler to return.
The worry for Dublin is around the arc. They gave up four two-pointers against Meath and Galway are especially strong in that department, particularly with the backing of the inevitable Salthill wind.
Galway have the likes of Paul Conroy, Cillian McDaid and Peter Cooke loitering around the arc, all of whom can kick points from range. Throw in the reports that Shane Walsh is possibly going to be available this Saturday and Galway are coming down with two-point shot specialists.
They didn't create much in the way of chances in the second half in Castlebar and had to rely on Mayo's wayward shooting in the second half but their big players - especially McDaid - came to the fore in the driving finish.
Dublin also got minced on their own kick-out against Meath and Galway have particular strength there, with Cein Darcy lording it during the Connacht championship.
The lead-in here feels low-key and we've said the group stages lack jeopardy. However, the loser this weekend could be under pressure with Armagh to come later in the group.
You'd have to assume that Dublin will be itching to deliver a response after Portlaoise. However, I wonder is the form there this year? Especially away from home. On balance, I'd give Galway the edge but it could be a tight one, with no more than one score separating them at the end.
Before that, Kerry will have far too much for Roscommon in Killarney, whose defence remains far too open.
Collectively and individually, the Roscommon defence has been found wanting on far too many occasions in recent years. For a team who've been hovering in and around Division 1 for so long, they cough up so many chances. The Connacht semi-final, in particular, Galway seemed to generate a score on more or less every attack.
I'd expect Kerry to go goal-hunting in a high-scoring encounter, with Paudie Clifford back and directing operations from centre-forward.
Oh and by the way, this week's lotto numbers are [redacted by RTÉ management].
Follow a live blog on the All-Ireland Football Championship on Saturday and Sunday on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game (9.40pm) and The Sunday Game (9.30pm) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player and listen live on Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
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