Dublin captain Carla Rowe expects the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship to be ultra- competitive this year.
The Dubs collected their tenth Leinster crown in a row yesterday with victory over Meath but the provincials only provide seeding for the championship group phase and it's the Royals who have won the last All-Ireland two titles - beating Kerry last year and the Dubs in 2021.
Elsewhere, Cork beat league champions Kerry in Munster and Donegal denied Armagh a fourth Ulster crown in a row.
Dublin will battle the Kingdom and Cavan for two places in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
"It's wide-open isn’t it?", said Rowe at the championship launch today.
"Some results yesterday probably weren’t predicted and it’s good for the sport.
"There are more competitive games and that’s what everyone wants. It makes the group stages really exciting.
"I couldn’t call it myself and I’m sure there are teams there that haven’t been spoken about and are hiding in the grass. You can’t take your eye off anyone."
The Dubs have lost a few of the players that helped secure four All-Ireland titles in a row from 2017-2020.
Lynsey Davey retired, Niamh Collins is travelling, Ciara Trant is taking a break. Siobhán Killeen (soccer) and Sinéad Goldrick (AFLW) are playing other sports.
"It has definitely been a challenging year because so many players have left," admitted Rowe.
"In fairness to the new girls, they've stepped up and shown huge leadership and learning.
"It’s kind of a sink or swim situation and we’re definitely happy with the progress so far.
"Delighted with another Leinster title. Obviously a really tough battle against Meath.
"We'd be happy with the performance. Our scoring rate was lower than where we would want it to be so loads to work on. We move on now, back to business."
Meath goalkeeper Monica McGuirk is still hopeful that the Royals can contend for three in a row despite yesterday's loss and an underwhelming league campaign that featured five defeats in seven games.
"It has been a learning curve over the last year," she said. "We have the new management and a lot of new players.
"Obviously it would be lovely to do the three-in-a-row and that would be the ultimate goal.
"But if you're thinking of that at this stage, you’re not going to get too far.
"We have to keep ourselves grounded and just make sure we get out of the group. Donegal and Waterford are going to be two big challenges.
"Our mentality over the last couple of years has been one game at a time and that’s not going to change this season.
"All-Ireland final day is a long way away and there are a lot of games between here and then."
Senior championship draw
Group A: Mayo, Armagh, Laois
Group B: Donegal, Meath, Waterford
Group C: Dublin, Kerry, Cavan
Group D: Cork, Galway, Tipperary
