New year, new rules - how Ulster counties are shaping up for league

A whole new ball game? What will Gaelic football look like in this weekend's opening round of Allianz League fixtures? The answer is...we're not quite sure.

Since Armagh's unexpected march to the Sam Maguire back in July, Gaelic football has underwent its most radical transformation since the inception of the game back in 1884.

The Football Review Committee - chaired by former Dublin boss Jim Gavin - implemented 18 new rules via 49 successful motions at a Special Congress last year, with two-point scores and 1v1 throw-in contests among the package of reforms.

BBC Sport NI assesses the Ulster counties ahead of one of the most eagerly anticipated league campaigns ever as the public will be exposed to the radical changes for the first time.

Manager: Kieran McGeeney (11th season)

Last year: Promoted as Division Two runners-up

Fixtures: Galway (A), Tyrone (H), Donegal (A), Mayo (H), Dublin (H), Kerry (A), Derry (H)

The difficult second album, the switch from hunter to the hunted. This is what faces Armagh in 2025.

First up for the Orchard men is a repeat of last year's All-Ireland final as they head west to Salthill to renew their rivalry with Galway before a visit of the 'old enemy' Tyrone in their first game back at home as All-Ireland champions.

Traditionally the previous champions return to training later than others and McGeeney - with his backroom team of Conleith Gilligan and Kieran Donaghy still intact - will look to move through the gears and pick up enough points to retain their top-tier status.

The new rules may break up the defensive system that served Armagh so well over the last 12 months but their transitional play has improved considerably over the same period.

With forwards like Rian O'Neill, Conor Turbitt and Oisin Conaty imbued with the swagger that a Celtic Cross brings, Armagh will be hoping to set the foundations for a successful title defence later in the year.

Manager: Jim McGuinness (2nd season)

Last year: Promoted as Division Two winners

Fixtures: Kerry (A), Dublin (H), Armagh (H), Galway (A), Derry (H), Tyrone (H), Mayo (A)

The band is getting back together for the Tir Chonaill with the return of their 2012 All-Ireland winning captain Michael Murphy the headline change ahead of Jim McGuinness' second season back at the helm.

Take two under Jim back in 2012 ended with the greatest success of them all and the return of Murphy will undoubtedly heighten expectations in an already football mad county.

Eoghan McGettigan, Finnbarr Roarty, Eoin McHugh, and Odhran McFadden-Ferry have also returned to the panel.

2024 served as a great stabiliser for the men in green and gold after a turbulent 2023 with both the Division Two trophy and Ulster title annexed off before falling just short against Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.

The belief in many quarters may be that it was one left behind by Donegal. But with a side now bursting with talent and experience, one of the game's great thinkers in McGuinness and the return of Murphy - who knows the new rules better than most having been part of the Football Review Committee - the perfect recipe for success is there.

Manager: Paddy Tally (1st season)

Last year: Division One league champions

Fixtures: Tyrone (A), Kerry (H), Galway (H), Dublin (A), Donegal (A), Mayo (H), Armagh (A)

It is a measure of how much Derry have improved over the last few years that a season which heralded a Division One title and defeat by Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final was considered a massive failure.

With Mickey Harte having stepped aside, another Tyrone native in Paddy Tally has stepped in to take over the reins. As fate would have it, his first assignment is a trip to Omagh to face his home county before Kerry, the side he coached to the All-Ireland in 2022, visit Celtic Park.

The Oak Leafers will look to find a few diamonds in the rough to extend a panel which looked light of depth over the past few seasons, which perhaps stopped the biggest prize of them all from arriving on Foyleside.

Tally will know the talent at his disposal after encountering his new side up close and personal throughout his time last few years coaching Kerry.

He will look to Shane McGuigan, Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers and Ciaran McFaul to spearhead his side's resurgence after the retirement of veteran defender Chrissy McKaigue while Padraig McGrogan remains sidelined with injury.

Manager: Malachy O'Rourke (1st season)

Last year: Fifth in Division One

First up: Derry (H), Armagh (A), Mayo (H), Kerry (H), Galway (A), Donegal (A), Dublin (H)

'Things can only get better' will be the belief amongst Red Hand supporters this year after three relatively poor campaigns following a surprise All-Ireland success in 2021.

Expectations are rising once again in Tyrone with the appointment of Malachy O'Rourke - another former member of the Football Review Committee - as manager and the county's back-to-back All-Ireland under-20 triumphs.

The Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan era ended dismally last summer with a first championship defeat by Roscommon in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.

Given Errigal Ciaran's run to the All-Ireland Club final, O'Rourke will likely be without Peter Harte, Joe Oguz, Cormac Quinn, Darragh and Ruairi Canavan for Saturday's blockbuster opener against Derry.

Instead, it will be up to the likes of Niall Morgan, Darren McCurry and the evergreen Mattie Donnelly to lead the charge.

The new generation may also play their part and that includes highly-rated forward Eoin McElholm, who will remain in the white and red of Tyrone despite interest from Australian Football League [AFL] clubs.

Manager: Raymond Galligan (2nd season)

Last year: 3rd in Division Two

First up: Monaghan (H), Meath (A), Louth (H), Westmeath (A), Down (H), Roscommon (A), Cork (H).

Moving straight into management after hanging up the boots can be a daunting transition but Raymond Galligan managed it seamlessly last year.

The Breffni men narrowly missed out on promotion last Spring with heavy hitters Donegal and Armagh taking their place. The championship can be viewed through a positive prism, in Ulster neighbours Monaghan were dumped out before an agonising extra-time defeat to Tyrone.

The experience of the round-robin campaign will stand to an emerging county and if they can keep talisman Paddy Lynch fit and firing they will be more than capable of securing promotion to the top tier.

Manager: Conor Laverty (3rd season)

Last year: Promoted as Division Three runners-up

First up: Roscommon (A), Cork (H), Meath (H), Louth (A), Cavan (A), Westmeath (H), Monaghan (A)

Down, one of Ulster's sleeping giants, have made it out of the third tier and will be hoping that last year's Tailteann Cup will provide the springboard for further success.

Conor Laverty will only have been able to turn his full focus to inter-county affairs in early December after his playing commitments with his club Kilcoo ended in an Ulster final defeat by Errigal Ciaran.

Roscommon away is a difficult start as the Rossies will be viewed by many as the favourites to make an immediate return, but any return from that fixture will leave the Mournemen in a strong position to contend.

Odhran Murdock will once again look to shine and he will be the go-to man if there is to be success.

A good first season in the second tier may end in consolidating their position and building for a strong championship showing in the summer.

Manager: Gabriel Bannigan (1st season)

Last year: Relegated from Division One

Fixtures: Cavan (A), Westmeath (H), Roscommon (A), Cork (H), Louth (A), Meath (A), Down (H)

Monaghan's ten-year stay in Division One of the National League finally came to an end last season with relegation to the second tier.

Another era came to an end last week with talisman Conor McManus deciding to hang up the boots after 18 seasons of service.

A new era dons with Gabriel Bannigan taking over the managerial reins from Vinnie Corey while former Mayo star Andy Moran is a noticeable name in the backroom team.

The Farney will harbour ambitions of returning to the top tier but face a difficult opener away at the home of their neighbours Cavan which may feel like a real promotion four pointer even this early in the campaign.

Manager: Andy McEntee (3rd season)

Last year: 5th in Division Three

First up: Clare (H), Fermanagh (A), Offaly (A), Leitrim (H), Laois (A), Sligo (H), Kildare (A)

It is year three for Andy McEntee and he will be hoping to build on a fairly positive 2024.

Third-tier status was secured via a final day shoot-out with Oisin McConville's Wicklow in Belfast.

Inconsistences blighted the Saffron charge in the league last season but a run to the semi-final of the Tailteann Cup and beating promotion rivals Fermanagh will give Antrim fans enough hope heading into 2025.

Given their Ulster Championship opener pits them against All-Ireland champions Armagh, it's likely that consolidation in the third tier and another run in the Tailteann will constitute a successful season.

Manager: Kieran Donnelly (4th season)

Last year: Relegated from Division Two

First up: Kildare (A), Antrim (H), Clare (A), Offaly (H), Sligo (H), Leitrim (A), Laois (H)

Just two points separated third place and seventh position in Division Two last term with Fermanagh perhaps feeling hard done by as they fell through the trap door.

The Tailteann Cup felt like a bust as they fell to Ulster rivals Antrim but Kieran Donnelly will feel that promotion back to the second tier is attainable.

The Ernesiders will be boosted by the presence of Ultan Kelm. The talented Erne Gaels forward visited Freemantle Dockers to explore a potential move to the AFL but is available for Fermanagh in what is a sizeable boost for Donnelly.