Ian O'Riordan finds Armagh manager Joe Kernan in a suitablycautious mood

Come Sunday afternoon in Clones the party officially ends. Joe Kernan will take a deep breath, say here we go again, and with that Armagh begin the defence of their All-Ireland football title. Listening to him yesterday it sounds like no big deal.

At the Bank of Ireland, College Green, Dublin, yesterday to give the 2003 Championship an official send off, Kernan spoke with an even mix of confidence and uncertainty. And that was only about Sunday's game against Monaghan. The real journey ahead is so long and winding that there's simply no saying which direction it might take.

"I suppose one thing about this championship for us is that we'll find out how badly we want to hold onto something that has taken us so long to win.

"But the last year has really flown by. September to Christmas just went, and then once the league started it was like every week was running into the next.

"And to be honest the league didn't finish off the way we wanted. But I can sense a different attitude in the players now, some sort of change over the last week or two. It's like the blood is starting to boil, and I suppose that always comes with the championship."

The one question asked to any team that sets out to regain an All-Ireland title is about hunger, and whether the desire will be as great as the previous year. Kernan has made no secret about his various ploys and devices to get the best out of Armagh last year, and the suggestion is that he still has a couple more in mind.

"I suppose this is the time of year when every county is thinking about doing something special over the summer, and from that point of view we're no different.

"In other ways the situation is a little bit different. This time last year we had been hurting for two or three years, and then we finally got there. But we're definitely starting out the summer with the same goals.

"Of course it's only in the heat of the championship match when you find who still has the hunger, and where you know are really going with the team. I honestly believe that these players still want to win more All-Irelands.

"They'd hurt so much over the previous years, losing Ulster finals and All-Ireland semi-finals. But I won't know how much they really want to win it until they are face down eating grass, and if they really want to go through with it again."

Many things will have changed from last year, and most of all the element of surprise. Gone too will be the idea that some of the other main contenders might have viewed Armagh as strong challengers, but not winners. Gone too will be any fears of Croke Park.

"We are going quite well now," adds Kernan. "And there will be new things to learn. Something we did learn last year was that you have to keep at it, even when things start to go wrong for you in the game. Whether we can do that again this year or not is something only the players can prove."

Monaghan are sure to approach Sunday with a slightly different attitude, almost as if it is their All-Ireland. Kernan however is acutely aware of the fresh impetus the county has discovered under new manager Colm Coyle, and is not reading into Monaghan's poor championship record of recent seasons.

"Sure it's one of those games where everyone is saying it's going to be easy for us. But there's no way we're going to take it for granted.

"Monaghan are a very capable side, winning the McKenna Cup and beating Tyrone. And winning their last three league matches as well. And their under-21s got to the Ulster final as well.

"So they've got that good blend of youth and experience. And I'm sure Colm Coyle has them well worked up for this game."

One man who knows a thing or two about winning All-Ireland titles is succession is Mick O'Dwyer, formerly of Kerry, Kildare and now Laois. Also present in Dublin, he outlined the main changes in the game since the days when he led Kerry to successive titles practically as a matter of habit.

"Well I certainly don't think there is any secret to winning All-Irelands back to back. And there's no doubt it's a different game from say 10 or 20 years ago. Between video analysis and all that, there are lots more ways to find out how the other teams are playing, and to focus in on their strengths and weaknesses.

"So I think Joe has a very tough job to do. But the team is really gearing up very well, and I think they are up to it.

"But you do have six or seven different teams that are genuinely capable of winning. And that's for the good of football. Those years where the titles were dominated by Dublin and Kerry were crazy years, and thankfully all that has changed."