Assassin Kelly can ignite Galway, Donegal at low ebb

Two games last weekend, just the ten games this weekend. Plus the hurling is starting as well. I don't pretend to understand the complexities of the fixtures calender, so let's not try.

Ulster again provides the greatest potential for intrigue and upset, though first off, we'll revisit last weekend's thrilling fare up north.

After an often frustrating league, Sunday's game in Omagh was a reminder that Gaelic football can be a captivating sport when played in an adventurous spirit.

It was a great antidote to the lateral, safety-first football that prevailed throughout the winter months. Some of the attacking play - on both sides - was superb.

The big caveat here is whether we'd have gotten a similar game in a knockout championship match, with everything on the line. I don't believe we would have.

More than likely, we'd have had a cagier and tighter affair, with teams more inclined to play the percentages.

If Tyrone were leading by a point in injury-time in a straight knockout game, do we think Monaghan would be able to carry it to the opposing 45 untouched?

Niall Sludden was caught in no-man's land in that he didn't know whether to hold his man or attack the ball carrier, and he probably took the wrong option in going for the latter. That left an easy pop pass to Ryan O'Toole.

But then the biggest surprise of all was that O'Toole had nearly 20 metres of free space to run into before he caught Niall Morgan unawares with the early shot. That will annoy Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher and you'd imagine it'll be tidied up by the time we reach the group stage.

There's been plenty of discussion - and amazement - over his decision to drill a shot at goal rather than pop over a handy point. Again, you'd wonder whether if there was no