After a long winter, the real GAA season kicks into full swing this weekend.

Both National Leagues kick off, hurling and football, with every county in action on either Saturday or Sunday.

This is the first of the visible consequences of the new calendar and one wonders where the jury will be if a host of matches end up being called off due to weather issues. Right now the jury can understand the early start for the footballers, but I wonder if January hurling of consequence serves any real purpose.

Brian Cody seemed to answer that question last Saturday when he was sent to the stands during the Walsh Cup final. Who says January hurling doesn’t get the blood flowing!

Personally I don’t see what relevance January hurling has to summer fare. Fields this time of year will not favour the fast, skilful hurling that defines the games that really matter. This league is being run off with undue haste and the quality on offer will suffer as a result.

That said, the public appetite for hurling is undimmed. I was in the Gaelic Grounds a fortnight ago where over 3,000 people watched Limerick and Clare play a game of no consequence in dank, cold weather on a pitch with no life in it.

This hurling league will be a test case for the newly structured year. By the time spring comes, squads will be reassessing what they want from the remainder of the league. May and June will be about being ready for squad changes due to the wear and tear of the new championship format, so rotation will be the name of the game in this league. With that could come some strange results.

So what will a manager in Division 1A want from the next six weeks?

Of course it depends on which one you are. I suspect Davy Fitzgerald will be concerned with results as much as performance, whereas Derek McGrath won’t. For the Waterford manager it will be about ticking over, building for a September assault – the same is probably true of Clare and Tipperary.

In Cork there is a new man at the helm in John Meyler and first season managers are notoriously keen to start off well. So what of Brian Cody then? All of the above!

Nobody wants to be relegated, but in reality the trapdoor doesn’t hold as much fear as in previous years. It will be no surprise whatsoever if the league title once again travels outside of the top flight, Limerick might be the team to watch there.

Home games however will be important. All of the serious hurling sides have two must win home games coming up this championship and they’ll be looking to make their home turf a place opposing teams do not feel comfortable in.

When the dust settles from the rapid fire five matches in six weeks, there will be a realignment of priorities and the squads that feel they need more games will go hell for leather to make the final on 24 March.

That leaves eight weeks and of course the ‘club’ month of April before the real stuff starts, enough time to get ready again. Right now the advantages lie with Kilkenny, Waterford and Tipperary who have three home games, with the others in the top flight having just two.

This time around this will matter.

At a push I’d nominate Clare, Wexford and Cork to be fighting out the relegation battle. Keep an eye on Limerick and Dublin from 1B – both could push All-Ireland champions Galway, who will surely have little interest in an overly distracting campaign.

It all starts on Saturday under lights. Let’s hope the weather is kind.

Big ball

The big ball merchants will reap more from the league as the way their game is played these days, the best teams tend to win regardless of terrain and weather. It seems skill is a close third behind structure, physical strength when it comes to the attributes needed to win.

Dublin are as rounded a side in January as they are in September.

Attitude will be crucial of course, but the top three of Dublin, Mayo and Kerry will likely cruise through the early stages, deciding where and when to target proper performances. Elsewhere in the top flight, Tyrone will want the redemption that momentum might bring, while promoted Galway and Kildare will want to see if they can truly live with the big boys.

This league serves a decent purpose and much will be learned here. Matches to look out for must include round two’s top billing of the All-Ireland champions travelling to Tyrone. The referee will earn his petrol money that night.

We should also see the latest Kingdom wonderkid in David Clifford at some point over the next few weekends and that will be informative. I’d suspect his appearances might be rationed and brief however, as there is little urgency in blooding him in late winter. He’ll be more effective with the sun on his back.

The best of the league could be the battle to get into Division One as this can earn a manager another year or two at the helm, such is the weight attached to being among the elite. Cork, Roscommon and Meath are the trio expected to contest for promotion but Tipperary, Clare and Louth will be quietly fancying their chances. Form doesn’t suggest Cavan and Down will be in the mix, but they will probably trip up someone before their campaign is over.

You’d have to have a soft spot for Kieran McGeeney but if Armagh aren’t promoted from Division Three it is very difficult to see where they and he go from there. Alas, for them Derry appear to be getting their house in order and have some underage talent coming through, while Fermanagh and Westmeath simply can’t be trusted! There could be value here too.

Looking at the basement division and the obvious two teams that shouldn’t be there have something unique in common, namely they both had some unforgettable days with Micko in charge. Laois and Wicklow would welcome some of that stardust back and they could do with it.

If it isn’t too cold and there’s a covered stand, throw the kids in the car and head out Saturday or Sunday to shout for your county. If they’ve been really good, go both days.

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