The heavy defeats suffered by Longford and Waterford last weekend prompted discussions about the need for a two-tier football championship. It's a topic that regularly seems to get an airing at this time of the year.
Cast your mind back to the first week in June in 2013. Westmeath and Waterford were beaten out the gate in championship action and their respective managers - Pat Flanagan and Niall Carew - were on The Sunday Game to speak about the growing gap between those at the top table and those looking on from afar.
Mismatches are commonplace in many sports but in the GAA world such no-shows tend to be forgotten about when we have contests like those served up by Dublin, Kerry, Donegal and Mayo in recent All-Ireland semi-finals. That said, you would expect some changes to the current football structure sooner rather than later.
This weekend sees two games that are most unlikely to be a stroll in any summer sunshine for the teams involved. Derry play host to Down in the Ulster quarter-final on Sunday at 2pm.
Before that on Saturday evening, O'Connor Park in Tullamore is the venue as Laois take on Kildare at the same stage in Leinster at 7pm.
Ulster remains the most competitive province and Derry and Down at Celtic Park evokes memories of the classic encounter between the counties in 1994.
The Oak Leafers were then All-Ireland champions but the Mournemen, for whom Mickey Linden, Greg Blaney and James McCartan were inspirational, prevailed by two points in a game when the sun shone brightly on the newly opened Celtic Park.
"In a really open year in Ulster, it wouldn't be a shock if either Derry or Down win the title" - Martin McHugh
"It was the best of game of football that I ever saw," was how former Donegal star Martin McHugh remembered that afternoon from 21 years ago."
Looking ahead to the counties' latest renewal, McHugh is expecting a close encounter.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he said: "I don't think there's that much between the sides. Derry on their day can be brilliant. After a disappointing league campaign, they'll want to make amends.
"Down's tradition brings with it a certain cockiness and the players have a confidence in themselves.
"In a really open year in Ulster, it wouldn't be a shock if either Derry or Down won the title."
Football, for many, reached its nadir this spring when Derry parked the bus against Dublin in the league at Croke Park.
McHugh reckons they will be in two minds as to how to deal with their opponents on Sunday afternoon.
"Roscommon's defensive shield was something that Down found difficult to break down in the Division 2 final and Derry will no doubt have taken note of that," added the 1992 All-Ireland winner.
"Last year, Derry were more offensive against Donegal in the opening round and lost narrowly.
"Brian McIver will be conscious of the threat from Kevin McKernan, Mark Poland, Conor Laverty and Donal O'Hare, so it will be interesting to see whether he'll set out to make it a war of attrition.
"Derry have Fergal Doherty back in the midfield and alongside Mark Lynch he is a real asset. And then there's Eoin Bradley who, after a year's break, is back in the squad. There are question marks about him, but on form he does pose a real threat."
As to who will reach the Ulster semi-final, McHugh is leaning towards a win for Jim McCorry's outfit.
"As I mentioned earlier, Down rarely lack belief and with a new manager at the helm, they have a bit of a swagger about them again and I think they'll have enough to break down any Derry stranglehold.
And while our analyst is saying that Sunday's Ulster clash could produce a provincial winner, he added that "you would die of shock" if either Laois or Kildare were to win Leinster in 2015.
"Kildare are in turmoil" is McHugh's assessment of the Lilywhites' current plight.
Jason Ryan's side endured a spring of much discontent that saw them drop to Division 3 and are very much under the radar ahead of the Tullamore clash.
"They've been very, very quiet since the end of the league," added McHugh.
"A few key players have left the squad, so it's very much a case of the unknown as to how they'll go on Saturday."
A clearer picture from Laois emerges, with the Kilcar native believing that the side have the potential to be the closest to Dublin in Leinster.
"Laois have good players and their approach to the game puts an emphasis on the offensive. They've had a game under their belt (against Carlow) and they will want to kick on. Since they won Leinster in 2003, it's fair to say they've under performed.
"I think they'll have enough to beat Kildare this weekend, but like the game in Ulster it will be close."
