MORE OF THE SAM PLEASE

I'M SITTING back looking at the fixture list here. We are actually spoiled to be honest.

- camonmcgee

It's an absolutely brilliant day of football to look forward to.

You'd give every team in their respective fixtures a chance. There are no supporters going to any game with just hope alone.

I definitely think the new rules have added to the game. I'm hopeful this is year zero of a new era in Gaelic football.

The game has a long way to go — and a lot more to get — to arrive at where we want to go but at least we are on the right trajectory.

The big ones today for most of us are the two meetings of Ulster titans. Tyrone come to Ballybofey and Derry go into Armagh.

When I say supporters of the teams won't travel in hope alone, I'd make a slight exception to that for Derry.

I think the Derry supporters will know after 30 minutes or so if they should have made the journey to Armagh.

Have they made the decision to actually throw themselves at the All-Ireland format or are they still holding back?

Mayo looked like they checked out last week when Cavan brought the challenge.

In the Ulster Championship preliminary round six weeks ago, when Derry saw Donegal had the answers to any challenge they threw at them, instead of rolling up the sleeves when the going got tough they too checked out.

If Derry don't bring that mentality we saw from Dublin last weekend, then Armagh will make short work of them.

In fact, going on what we've seen of Dublin and Galway they'll also make short work of them.

I actually chatted to a former Derry player and his take is extreme. Get rid of three or four players (all senior and very good players) that will never be happy unless Rory Gallagher is brought back and move on.

In his opinion, that's the only way you salvage something from this good Derry group.

You can chat away about tactics, ability, and new rules but it's attitude that makes the difference.