AT the start of the National Football League, if you were to ask us what type of competition we would like to see I don’t think any of us would’ve predicted just how competitive and how ruthless this year’s league campaign has been so far.

From a supporters’ point of view, it has had absolutely everything with every game keenly contested and very little between any team. From the players and management point of view, it is the ideal preparation for championship football as you really have to be at your best every single weekend given the level of opposition you faced.

At this moment in time, only Kerry are certain of their position in Division One as they head into the last round of fixtures with any of up to five teams in the mix for relegation, so that just gives you a glimpse of how competitive this league has been.

Kerry have been the standout team with very little blotches on their copy book, so all in all Jack O’Connor will be absolutely delighted with how this season has played out so far. We are all fully aware of their lethal forward unit and the threat they pose going forward, but in the past their defensive frailties have let them down.

When Jack O’Connor got the job, the first thing you did was bring Paddy Tally down and his sole aim was to shore up their defensive unit. At the start of the league there was very little evidence of any work being done on this but over the last two games it’s clear to see that they are now relishing that defensive battle, something Kerry teams of old wouldn’t have done.

Stiffer tests will no doubt lie ahead, but at this moment in time they are clear favourites to land the big prize come mid-summer as they prepare to host Tyrone this weekend.

The Dubs bounced back last weekend with another comfortable win over Donegal and as the game developed you could see glimpses of the old Dublin team and that could be worrying for some of those teams who hoped that they may have fallen by the wayside.

They are getting stronger with each passing week and once they get Con O’Callaghan back and station him at full-forward, then this will allow them to move Ciaran Kilkenny out to the half-forward line to play his natural game. I thought Brian Fenton and Brian Howard were back to their best last weekend and any day those two play well, Dublin normally play well.

This weekend Dublin head to Clones for a winner-takes-all clash against a Monaghan team who will be disappointed with last week’s performance against Kildare, so to say that we are in for a cracker would be an understatement.

The Monaghan and Dublin game is a massive clash but there is another game in Letterkenny which is of equal importance.

Declan Bonner and his Donegal team need points on the last game of the season against Armagh knowing that they must face off against the Orchard County in two weeks’ time in the championship.

It’s a catch 22 situation for Bonner. Does he go all out to guarantee his place in Division One or does he hold back with one eye on the championship in a few weeks’ time?

Armagh have been going extremely well this season and although Kerry comfortably beat them last weekend, they played very well in patches so they will be full of confidence coming to Letterkenny.

Looking at the season as a whole, I feel this weekend’s game will mean more to Kieran McGeeney and his team than it will to Declen Bonner’s team – if that makes sense.

Donegal have been dining at the top table over the last number of years, consistently contesting Ulster Championships and hoping to make that All-Ireland breakthrough.

Most of that Donegal team have an Ulster Championship medal so their need to prove themselves this early on isn’t as important as it is to this up and coming Armagh team.

I can guarantee you that from the start of the season Geezer would have been drilling into this young Armagh team that they are as good as what is out there in Ulster. When you send that message early on and when you go to places like Letterkenny in the league, it’s important that your players take that step and prove to themselves that they are making strides towards the top. That’s why I feel that this one is more important to Kieran McGeeney’s side.

Looking at the games down for decision, I feel that the biggest influence on this weekend’s proceedings will come from whoever comes out on top when Tyrone clash with Kerry.

I’m sure the majority of the population will go for an easy Kerry win. However, given what’s at stake and the fact that Kerry are already home and dry, a wounded and hungry Tyrone team could just pull this one out of the bag.

Whatever happens we are in for one hell of a weekend and isn’t it great?