You have no excuse this weekend not to get out of the house and spend a Saturday night or Sunday afternoon watching your county in action with big or small ball. Apparently the weather is going to cooperate too.

And rightly so because hurling is back with a bang. From Páirc Uí Rinn to Croke Park, from Nowlan Park to Wexford Park, there is a game to take your fancy. I’ll be in Cork on Saturday night to watch the only new managerial team in action in the top fight; Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor have taken over in Clare and as always we’re optimistic about this duo.

On Sunday I am very tempted to drive the coast road to Wexford from Cork and see what could be the game of the day: Davy Fitzgerald’s Wexford against John Kiely’s Limerick. A very viable alternative is Kilkenny at home to Waterford on the same day, a rematch of the best game of hurling last year, their replayed All-Ireland semi-final.

Early on Saturday evening, the All-Ireland champions return to Croke Park for a tilt at the home side, part of a very attractive double-header which will see Tyrone and the football champions duke it out under lights. Both All-Ireland champions on view? How’s that for value.

The hurling league has (I am guessing by accident!) morphed into a very competitive seven weeks, one that has seen survival in Division One become very important to counties, management and players.

As a result, the league is no longer exclusively for experimentation – this will only become visible if survival has been assured. We get to see the big guns rolled out early and it’s no longer the case that the All Stars or veterans take the league off. If they do, they run the real risk of losing their places because February and March matches do count for something these days.

Of course, some counties will still take it more seriously than others. Kilkenny and Cork are two that will be leaving very little behind them this month. The Cats because that is their way; the Rebels because they need wins and the momentum that brings. Their downhill ride started in the league last year, even if they escaped relegation on the last day out.

Kieran Kingston has them ahead of the pack work wise judged by the evidence of my own eyes in recent weeks. They are the strong pick to start off with a win in an attempt to get some breathing space and possibly light the spark in their own supporters, who have become very apathetic in recent years.

Between sabbaticals, injuries and All-Ireland club commitments, Clare start this campaign minus the likes of David McInerney, Conor McGrath, Tony Kelly, Pat O’Connor and Colin Ryan, to mention just five. They could be under pressure to stay up and I’d have Dublin in that conversation too.

Ger Cunningham starts his third year with the Dubs and this will surely be his last if they don’t show us something. The omens are not good as a few more have joined Danny Sutcliffe in exiling themselves from the panel. Sutcliffe is still just 24 and one of the most exciting hurling talents around, but this is his second year of inter-county isolation – you can’t replace talents like his easily.

Legend has it that Brian Cody stayed up to watch the Superbowl on Sunday night. I’d be more inclined to think he was watching videos of the drawn and replayed All-Ireland semi-finals of last year.

Of course, we don’t know what shape Tipperary are in – they didn’t enter the Munster league – but you’d have to guess that despite the comforting surroundings of Croke Park, there might be ring rust. The Dubs will need this one. They might have enough.

Legend has it that Brian Cody stayed up to watch the Superbowl on Sunday night. I’d be more inclined to think he was watching videos of the drawn and replayed All-Ireland semi-finals of last year.

Those were games for the ages and Sunday should be a decent rematch. The Cats haven’t won the national league since 2014, a veritable famine and should be at the business end again in late April.

The Déise won the league two years ago and contested a final last year. They seem to be adopting the Cody approach to trying to win all before them. It has aided momentum. Derek McGrath wheeled out his big guns for a challenge against Limerick last weekend. I expect a similarly strong side to take the field on Sunday. The tactics they employ will be fascinating because the feeling in Waterford is that they are good enough now to go mano a mano with the big boys. This is the tie of the round and could be the final pairing. A draw is a distinct possibility.

Wexford and Limerick will draw a huge crowd and they’ll be entertained. Knowing Davy Fitz, he has been targeting this game for months. A win here and they are in the promotion hunt. At the very least they will be up for it. Limerick’s Division 1B limbo has become a badge of six-year underachievement. They will have Galway at home in the last week of group competition. In order for that game to matter, they must win here and they will have to battle. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they come up short.

Football action

The football league had a tame enough start last weekend with no real marquee match-ups. Not so this weekend. Dublin and Tyrone should draw in the region of 40,000 or 50,000 to a night under lights at HQ. They get a hurling match too and Dublin will win at least one of them because Tyrone will be just the test they want at this stage of the year. Markers might be laid down.

Kerry and Mayo in Tralee is another attractive pairing. The Kingdom appear to mean business having won their first match away to Donegal – the first time in five years they won an opening tie. Eamon Fitzmaurice has to beat the Dubs this year and it looks like he wants them three times: twice in the league and once in the championship. Cute Kerrymen know which one counts the most. They should win on Saturday night against a Mayo side that seemed to be up to their old uninspiring tricks in McHale Park. Expect a response, however.

Monaghan have started well and will continue against Cavan at home. Roscommon have a chance against Donegal but the draw appeals too.

Kildare were the most impressive of the Division 2 frontrunners. If they can beat Cork at home they’ll start to think about a second consecutive promotion and they’d be within their rights. Clare have Down at home and a win for the Banner will ease survival worries; they look the part.

Fermanagh, along with Kildare, have hit the ground running. Galway will test that theory but home advantage should swing it in Brewster Park. Derry and Meath meet in Páirc Tailteann and the losers here are in for a long spring. They Royals’ need may be greater.

There are 16 other counties lining out this weekend. Some, like Tipperary, Armagh and Louth, have ambition about them. The rest could use your support.