Brendan Devenney: Dublin and Derry setting the standard

Former Donegal forward Brendan Devenney feels Dublin and Derry are the teams with the clearest blueprints in place as the Allianz Football League reaches its conclusion and thoughts of the All-Ireland and provincial championships intensify.

In Division 1, the penultimate round of games saw Derry stay top with five wins from six after a 3-15 to 2-13 victory over Mayo in Castlebar, with Dublin two points adrift after overcoming Galway by 0-22 to 0-14 in Salthill.

While teams may not be showing their full hands at this stage of the year, Devenney told RTÉ's Game On that Derry and Dublin appear to have a clear edge on the pack of likely contenders.

"I really think all the well organised teams with deep squads, it's suiting them in terms of you can see it that they're flexing their muscles as the season goes on," he said.

"Dublin, after a poor start - Monaghan's only victory - they have really turned the corner,"

"I tipped Derry from the get-go and I think even from the weekend, Derry hitting 3-15, 24 points, Dublin hitting 22 points, they are way out in front in terms of their points difference over anybody else in the league.

"So by far in Division One, they have been the two that have been setting the standard."

Also speaking on the show, former Mayo and Wicklow footballer Austin O'Malley added that both sides appeared the best balanced so far.

"I'd agree with Brendan. Derry and Dublin just where their game is at at the moment you can see in terms of their scoring power but also defensively, they just look so, so solid," he said.

"Looking at Dublin at the weekend, with the way they dispatched Galway, they were so clinical, crisp and clean in everything they did.

"You're probably looking at eight of their perceivably championship