Opening weekend shocks and managerial outbursts

I had thought my days spent in inter-county training camps were done and dusted.

But on holiday in Fota Island last week, who did your columnist happen upon only the Kildare squad being put through their paces as they seek to put that blasted league behind them.

I've written some trenchant stuff on Kildare in the last year or so - no more than everyone else, in fairness - though I would like to confirm here that they're 'FLYING IN TRAINING' (I don't have enough evidence for this, really).

I got no scoop off the manager but was chatting to Eoin Doyle while there, a player who I faced off against plenty of times over my career. They seem happy enough with their camp and are focused on righting the ship this summer.

They may have perked up after the events of last Sunday.

It'd be a stretch to say the inter-county championship began with a bang given the paltriness of the crowds but it did provide us with some invigorating shocks all the same.

Waterford and Wicklow enjoyed a day of days, especially the former for whom wins in championship are very rare altogether. It was very refreshing to hear the players and their manager Paul Shankey say they were intent on going out and enjoying the victory for the day that was in it. They can have a crack off Clare now, knowing their year is made.

On the other hand, it did underline how far Tipperary have fallen this year. It hits home for us in Mayo in particular, given we played them in two All-Ireland semi-finals in 2016 and 2020. It's a long way from there now.

It's reflective of the fact that a generation of players have moved on, Michael Quinlivan, Steven O'Brien, Bill Maher. Colin O'Riordan was forced into retirement and was down in Australia in any case. Though he came on, Conor