They may be redundant in terms of their relevance to the All-Ireland series but the upcoming quartet of provincial finals are intriguing enough on their own.
Of course, the GAA didn't exactly do much for their promotion by fixing the draw for Round 1 of the All-Ireland six days beforehand.
But then, we had the same craic last year.
In fact, it was arguably worse last year, given that there were suggestions at the time that the losers of at least one of the provincial finals - namely, Connacht - could have availed of a slightly easier draw in the group stage.
Then, Mayo lost the Nestor Cup and went and got eliminated at the group stage anyway, thanks to a shocker against Cavan.
Jack O'Connor complained this week that the scheduling scenario takes from the Munster final and said he hoped it wouldn't distract people from the Cork game.
The county boards apparently want it done like this for logistical reasons, to allow them to plan ahead. It all seems a bit unnecessary but I suppose it's a by-product of the condensed calendar.
I'll be down in the Hyde in the RTÉ scaffolding for the live show, alongside Colm Cooper and Brian Fenton - the latter making his debut on the live programme - where I hope to bask in the acclaim of the locals.
The Rossies are buzzing.
Not alone did they sicken Mayo in their back-yard, their Under-20s won the province, beating a highly fancied Mayo crop after extra-time in Tuam. They're also in the minor final against Galway on Friday evening so they're chasing the full set.
Galway, by contrast, are a bit of an unknown quantity in 2026. Or at least, they're unknown in the sense that we're not sure which starting team will be lining out.
They're coming into the game off the back of an underwhelming performance against Leitrim in the provincial semi-final. It does bear some similarities to their injury-time win over Sligo two years ago.
They wound up winning Connacht that season and getting all the way to the All-Ireland final. Coincidentally, that was also the first time that Damien Comer was seen on the pitch that year too, although his cameo in Carrick wasn't quite as decisive, though nor did it need to be.
As usual with Roscommon, the question is whether they can handle the hype and expectation generated by the Mayo performance. I have my doubts.
They're ravenous when they smell an ambush and come in slightly under the radar. It tends to be a different story when they're widely fancied.
Their record against Galway in the Hyde is not pretty, to say the least. Since the 1990 Connacht final, they've lost seven in a row.
There are selection issues for Roscommon. Daire Cregg is available again and he was the match-winner in Salthill during the league. However, there is a question as to whether he'll get back into the team given the nature of the performance in MacHale Park.
A Connacht title can make their year in a way it wouldn't for Galway. The latter have been in a couple of All-Ireland finals and it's Sam Maguire that dominates their thinking. The Nestor Cup is more of a staging post for Padraic Joyce's side.
Galway found the going awkward against a hugely motivated Leitrim team. But I was very impressed with them during the league, given the number of bodies they were down during the campaign.
Shane Walsh reappeared in Páirc Sean and was in excellent form. He was a real steadying influence down the stretch when things briefly began to look dicey. Every time he handled the ball, he was able to engineer a score from play or a free.
We saw in Clones last Sunday, the difference between a process-driven team and an emotion-driven team and how relying on the latter can lead to inconsistency or wild swings in performance.
I obviously don't expect Roscommon to implode to anything like the extent that Down did. They're far further down the tracks than that.
But I see Galway as a process-oriented team who have a higher ceiling than Roscommon and a greater array of weapons. I struggle to see their middle third being eaten alive the way Mayo were in that department two weeks ago.
As for who Mayo fans want to win on Sunday, I think most are hoping that Arsenal can get the job done.
Munster - Can Cork end a long wait?
There's been several upsets in this year's provincial championships. What are the chances of another? Cork haven't won in Killarney in three decades but they'll see this as a big opportunity.
Kerry are in a funny place in the wake of their last two games. The league final hammering quietened all the talk of an incoming dynasty. Clare gave them plenty of it in the Munster semi-final in Ennis.
They have a hefty injury list. Sean O'Shea, Joe O'Connor, Brian Ó Beaglaíoch, Paul Murphy and Dylan Geaney all missed the Clare game and we're told they haven't returned to full training. Now, Tom O'Sullivan has emerged as another injury doubt.
There's also the Round 1 draw that they've been saddled with. They got the booby prize from Pot 2 and pulled Donegal. It's bound to be looming in the back of their minds.
With so many Munster titles won now, you wonder how much another provincial championship even means to them but O'Connor sets great store by these Kerry-Cork tussles. The fact that it is their traditional rivals back in the provincial decider after a five-year gap should pique their interest enough. We know they're eager to keep them down.
Cork finally got back in Division 1 and are steadily developing a greater consistency - notwithstanding the wobble up in Derry. They took a Kerry team who had fewer absentees all the way to the brink in the Munster semi-final last year.
Ultimately, it's hard to tip against Kerry in these scenarios. Tentatively, I'll give them the nod though I expect it to be close.
Given the year we've had so far, no one could be that surprised if Cork 'flip the script', to use Jack O'Connor's phrase.
Watch Kerry v Cork in the Munster Football final (1.45pm) and Roscommon v Galway in the Connacht Football final (4.15pm) on Sunday from 1.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
