A look at the teams competing in this year's Ulster Championship.
Antrim
Manager: Mickey Culbert (second year).
Titles: Ulster 10 (1951), All-Ireland 0.
Last year: Beaten Ulster Quarter-final replay by Cavan, 1-15 to 2-6; beaten All-Ireland Qualifier Round One by Meath, 5-12 to 0-13.
NFL position: Sixth in Division Two B.
There has been slippage from the modest improvements of recent years. The NFL was again humdrum, but results were poorer than last season. They don't go down easily in the championship, but they go down - and it's five years since the county's only qualifier victory, against Leitrim.
St Gall's narrowly-thwarted assault on the All-Ireland demonstrated the material available and should have lifted morale but that sort of connection isn't always made.
Armagh
Manager: Joe Kernan (fifth year).
Titles: Ulster 10 (holders), All-Ireland 1 (2002).
Last year: Ulster champions; beaten All-Ireland Semi-final by Tyrone, 1-13 to 1-12.
NFL position: Sixth in Division One B.
The buzz question is whether Armagh have another year in them, but for the entirety of Joe Kernan's reign the issue has been much the same. They finished last season as number two in the pecking order even if they didn't reach the final and it's now a matter of finding some additional impetus.
Injury concerns haunt Oisín McConville and Ronan Clarke, whereas keeping the balance between the old reliables and his younger panellists is a critical challenge. They have, however, the softer side of the draw to play themselves into the season.
Cavan
Manager: Martin McElkennon (first year).
Titles: Ulster 39 (1997), All-Ireland 5 (1952).
Last year: Beaten Ulster Semi-final replay by Tyrone, 3-19 to 0-7, (1-7. 0-10, draw), Beaten All-Ireland Qualifier Round Three by Mayo 0-8 to 0-11.
NFL position: Third in Division Two B.
A mortifying end to what looked like a triumphant NFL campaign saw them turned over by Waterford at home. This last-day undermining of an otherwise promising season was emblematic of the side's ability to defy expectations, whatever they are.
To add to their woes they've been blitzed with injuries - Nicholas Walsh, Michael Lyng and Darren Rabbitte are out with Larry Reilly and Jason O'Reilly battling injury - and captain Anthony Forde is suspended. If they really do thrive in adversity, that's plenty for them to be going on with.
Derry
Manager: Paddy Crozier (first year).
Titles: Ulster 7 (1998), All-Ireland 1 (1993).
Last year: Beaten Ulster Semi-final by Armagh, 1-11 to 0-10; beaten All-Ireland Qualifier Round Four by Laois 0-11 to 1-11.
NFL position: Third in Division One B.
After an impressive start to Paddy Crozier's tenure, Derry hit the speed bumps in the league and then let off steam with a classic spat between the management and county board, which at least had the advantage of demonstrating unity within the panel.
The defence is tight and effective and Fergal Doherty and Patsy Bradley will hold their own at centrefield in most company. But the attack still relies too much on Paddy Bradley and brother Eoin.
Yet, another match against Tyrone beckons and the team's failure to come through the must-win league matches against Down and Meath cast some continuing doubt, despite injuries, on Derry's readiness for Ulster's Big Two.
Donegal
Manager: Brian McIvor (first year).
Titles: Ulster 5 (1992), All-Ireland 1 (1992).
Last year: Beaten Ulster Quarter-final by Armagh, 3-11 to 1-10; beaten All-Ireland Qualifier Round Two by Cavan, 1-11 to 1-10.
NFL position: Division Two A winners; beaten in league final replay.
What's going on in Donegal? The papers from Tuesday to Saturday bring nothing but bad news. Walk outs. Discipline problems. Rows. Monday mornings just carry the reports of fresh triumphs as Brian McIver's team rampage through the league.
They've taken back the top grade status they were unlucky to lose last year and the team head into the championship knowing they are capable of just about anything.
Losing Brendan Devenney to early retirement was bad enough, but Shane Carr walking away and Kevin Cassidy and Eamon McGee being asked to do the same suggests catastrophe, but a cohort of young players have impressed, especially corner forward Michael Doherty. Signs are Adrian Sweeney is returning to form, Colm McFadden is back and other black sheep may soon return. If things fall into place they could cause the sort of surprise that sees them into a provincial final.
Down
Manager: Paddy O'Rourke (fourth year).
Titles: Ulster 12 (1994), All-Ireland 5 (1994).
Last year: Beaten Ulster Round One replay by Tyrone, 1-13 to 1-6; beaten All-Ireland Qualifier by Down, 3-8 to 2-9.
NFL position: Fourth in Division One B.
Down must be sick of all the do-or-die pronouncements on their championship prospects. With the recent under-age success raising expectations, Paddy O'Rourke's side are under a bit of pressure.
The league was satisfactory without being too revelatory, but the defence was at times impressive, Ambrose Rodgers brought drive to centrefield and whereas there is ambiguity about the best placement of Benny Coulter - full forward, or deeper to get on more ball - in his absence the rest of the attack learned to get on with it.
Beleaguered Cavan must be dealt with this weekend. Down should be aiming for the All-Ireland quarter-finals on.
Fermanagh
Manager: Charlie Mulgrew (third year).
Titles: 0.
Last year: Beaten Ulster Round One by Armagh, 2-12 to 1-7; beaten All-Ireland Qualifier Round One by Down, 1-11 to 0-7.
NFL position: Fifth in Division One A.
After the miracle season of 2004 when Charlie Mulgrew walked on water, the Donegal man shipped a little Erne water into his shoes last year as Fermanagh endured a season which brought the minimum allotment of two games. Since that crazy summer which ended with an All-Ireland semi-final, Fermanagh have lost Stephen Maguire and the Gallaghers continue their Lanigan's Ball type stepping in and stepping out relationship with their county.
Mulgrew continues in good faith, though, and the emergence this winter of Jonathon McGurn as a live forward augurs well.
Division One football had been preparing a farewell party, but they took their chances well and survive for another year. Better than they looked last season, but backdoor progress is the best they can hope for.
Monaghan
Manager: Séamus McEnaney (second year).
Titles: Ulster 13 (1988), All-Ireland 0.
Last year: Beaten Ulster Round One by Derry, 1-17 to 2-8; beaten All-Ireland Qualifier Round Four by Tyrone, 2-14 to 1-7.
NFL position: Eighth in Division One A, Relegated.
McEnaney's glorious enthusiasm carried his side through last year like a freshening breeze. This spring, first division football offered a cruel learning curve and a splendid win over Dublin was the only really good memory Monaghan will take away.
Crueller still is the fact that Monaghan have Armagh in the first round of the championship. They ambushed the big boys in 2003 and got wiped by them a year later. It's too early to spring another surprise.
On the road through the qualifiers they may pick up some momentum and one fancies that as the ground gets faster and the games get harder Monaghan's sprightly attacking style might yet surprise a few.
Midfield is strong with Edmund Lennon particularly eye-catching. Paul Finlay and Tomás Freeman lead a forward line which delivered more dash than actual scores over the last few months. Less passing and more shooting might serve them well.
Tyrone
Manager: Mickey Harte (fourth year).
Titles: Ulster 10 (2003) All Ireland 2 (2005).
Last year: All-Ireland Champions.
NFL position: Third in Division One A.
Hmmm. The nation's best equipped side and the benchmark against which all other teams currently measure themselves. Their style of play and enlightened training technique endlessly mimicked and copied, they remain unique. But, but, but. We worry.
Twenty five championship games in three seasons brings rewards and punishments and with another tricky Ulster campaign facing them, Tyrone have no smooth pathway to Croke Park this year.
Cruised through the league experimenting with personnel. The return of Ger Cavlan and the arrival of Raymond Mulgrew will add yet more alternatives, but neither compensates for the loss of Brian McGuigan.
Otherwise, Mickey Harte's challenge is less about personnel and more about freshness. Tyrone's tactics have been analysed and dissected and perhaps something fresh is needed to keep opponents on their toes and Tyrone players thinking.
