The league is over so it's the perfect time to update our football rankings.

1. KERRY (no change)

Possession is nine-tenths of the law. As a result, Kerry hold on to the number one spot but Dublin are breathing down their neck with the championship looming over the horizon. The disappointment of a sixth place finish in Division One has been eased considerably by the return to action of Colm 'Gooch' Cooper and Footballer of the Year James O'Donoghue in recent weeks. Add Tommy Walsh and Paul Galvin into the mix and Kingdom supporters have every reason to be optimistic about their chances of retaining the Sam Maguire Cup. 12 months ago they entered the championship somewhat under the radar but they don't have the element of surprise this year.

2. DUBLIN (no change)

The Dubs saved the best wine until last in the league. They stumbled through the opening four rounds with just three points from a possible eight to show for their efforts but finished up in a second place in the table. Normal service was then restored when they dished out an embarrassing 11 point defeat to Cork in the decider to collect their third league title in a row. Jim Gavin and his players will be eager to make amends for last year's All-Ireland SFC semi-final slip up against Donegal and it would be a brave man who would best against them regaining the most coveted prize in Irish sport. The Metropolitans head the market at 6/4.

3. DONEGAL (no change)

Life after Jim McGuinness has got off to a reasonable start for last year's defeated All-Ireland finalists. Under McGuinness' former lieutenant Rory Gallagher, the Michael Murphy captained outfit collected seven points in Division One and finished in fourth place in the table. They won't have lost any sleep over their penultimate stage loss to Cork but the real acid test will come when they line up opposite Tyrone in the Ulster SFC preliminary round on Sunday, May 17th at Ballybofey. The Anglo Celt Cup holders usually have a trick or two up their sleeves and they will need to be at their very best to send the Red Hands home with their tail between their legs.

4. MAYO (no change)

The nearly men of gaelic football have turned to Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes to deliver a first All-Ireland success since 1951 in the wake of James Horan's decision to step down. A 0-10 to 2-18 round five humiliation at the hands of Dublin underlined the work the new management team have to do on the training field in the months ahead. Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that they were unlucky to lose out to eventual champions Kerry after a semi-final replay last August. Closer to home, an emerging Roscommon will pose a considerable threat to their hopes of a fifth provincial success on the trot.

5. MONAGHAN (up 1)

With players of the calibre of Drew Wylie, Dessie Mone, Conor McManus and the Hughes brothers, Darren and Kieran, the Farney County should have a strong say in the destination of the Anglo Celt Cup this summer. They bowed of the league with their heads held high following their one-point (0-16 to 0-17) semi-final loss to Dublin. On Sunday, May 24th, Malachy O'Rourke and his players will make the short trip to Kingspan Breffni Park to take on neighbours Cavan in the Ulster SFC quarter-final. Repeating their provincial win of two years ago is top of their agenda while a place in the last four of the All-Ireland series is well within their reach.

6. CORK (down 1)

A promising league campaign turned sour for Brian Cuthbert and his players on final day. The Rebels won five of their seven group games before booking their final ticket with a merited 4-11 to 0-19 semi-final victory over Donegal. The wheels came off the wagon, however, in the decider against Dublin. The Cork players stand accused of raising the white flag early on in the league showpiece. Can they prove their critics wrong in the Munster championship? Time will tell, but, at this stage, you would have to say that Kerry are sitting pretty down south. On a positive note, the return of Alan O'Connor to the midfield engine room is a welcome development.

7. ARMAGH (no change)

The Orchard County went about their business in Division Three with the minimum of fuss. It was very much a case of get the job done and move on. Considering they will face the winners of Donegal and Tyrone in the last eight of the Ulster SFC on Sunday, June 14th, Kieran McGeeney and his players had no other option. Last year's run to the quarter-final stages of the All-Ireland SFC injected a new lease of life into Armagh football and the Ciaran McKeever captained outfit will be aiming to build on that progress in the months ahead.

8. ROSCOMMON (up 5)

Roscommon football can do no wrong at the minute. Their successful Division 2 campaign has set John Evans' charges up nicely for the bigger challenges that lie ahead. The primrose and blues have avoided Mayo and Galway in the Connacht SFC draw so a final appearance is the minimum their supporters will expect. John Evans and his players have their targets set on a first Connacht title since 2010 and anything after that will be a bonus.

9. TYRONE (no change)

Inter-county management is not for the faint-hearted and, as the longest serving manager currently active, Mickey Harte has stood the test of time. But the Red Hands have flattered to deceive in recent times and suffered the ignominy of relegation to Division Two. Against that backdrop, you would have to say that anything other than provincial glory could spell the end of Harte's illustrious managerial career.

10. MEATH (no change)

For the second year in a row, the Royal County had to be content with a bronze medal finish in Division Two. Mick O'Dowd's charges and Roscommon finished level on nine points but the Royals lost out to the Connacht side on the head-to-head rule. A fourth consecutive Leinster SFC final appearance would appear to be on the cards and, assuming Dublin will provide the opposition again, they will be looking to put up a better fight than they did 12 months ago.

11. GALWAY (down 3)

Two-time All-Ireland winning midfielder Kevin Walsh has taken over from Alan Mulholland and, although they didn't set the world alight in Division Two, the Tribesmen will be judged on how they perform against arch rivals Mayo in the Connacht SFC semi-final on June 14th. It's highly unlikely that either New York or Leitrim will throw a spanner in the works in the mean time.

12 DOWN (up 5)

It may not be pretty to watch but Down's defensive style under Jim McCorry earned them promotion to Division One for 2016. The Conor Laverty captained outfit came up short against Roscommon in the league decider, finishing on the wrong end of the 1-17 to 0-15 scoreline. An Ulster SFC quarter-final against Derry will test their mettle.

13 KILDARE (down 2)

The Lilywhites' fall from grace was one of the big talking points from the league. A second successive relegation has left Jason Ryan and his players with their backs against the wall. To make matters worse, they are on the same side of the draw as Dublin in Leinster. A run in the qualifiers appears to be their best bet of salvaging something from their season.

14. DERRY (no change)

12 months ago Derry exited the Ulster SFC at the hands of Donegal before being knocked out of the qualifiers by Longford. They enter this year's championship race having been relegated from the top flight and are carrying more than their fair share of injuries. That said, they will fancy their chances of claiming Down's scalp on home soil.

15. TIPPERARY (down 2)

Tipperary's run to the All-Ireland U-21 FC final has been one of the football stories of the year so far and you get the impression that there is more to come from this talented crop of players at senior level. Manager Peter Creedon was disappointed with their third place finish in Division Three but a Munster win over Waterford and another good showing in the qualifiers would more than make up for that.

16. LAOIS (down 1)

The O'Moore County lost their opening two league games but, despite the defections of experienced players such as Padraig McMahon and Kevin Meaney, they rallied to preserve their Division Two status. Their midfield partnership of John O'Loughlin and Brendan Quigley is as good as there is in the country.

17. CAVAN (up 1)

The time has come for Terry Hyland and his players to deliver on their U-21 potential of recent years. After the highs of reaching the quarter-final stages two years ago, the Breffni County flatlined somewhat in 2014. An Ulster SFC derby against Monaghan will provide an accurate gauge of where they currently stand.

18. FERMANAGH (up 5)

Pete McGrath's managerial midas touch has already rubbed off on the Ernesiders as they have Division Two football to look forward to next next year. In Sean Quigley they possess one of the country's top forwards and he finished as overall top scorer in the leagues with 4-49. They will be expected to get the better of Antrim in the Ulster SFC at Brewster Park.

19. CLARE (down 3)

Three wins saw Colm Collins' side consolidate their position in Division Three. As regards the Munster SFC, they will entertain Limerick at Cusack Park on Saturday, May 23rd and Cork await the winners in the last four. Will Podge Collins be made to regret his decision to concentrate solely on football in 2015?

20. WESTMEATH (no change)

Tom Cribbin hasn't enjoyed the best of starts as Westmeath boss. His public criticism of some of his more experienced players following their relegation to Division Three would suggest that all is not well within the camp. All will be revealed when they take on Louth in Drogheda in the Leinster SFC.

21. SLIGO (no change)

Niall Carew and the Yeats County enter the championship on the back of a morale boosting 1-19 to 1-8 league victory over Armagh. On the downside, All-Star defender Charlie Harrison's unavailability due to a cruciate ligament injury is a massive set-back.

22. OFFALY (up seven)

Offaly are heading in the right direction under new manager Pat Flanagan and they won many admirers with their impressive showing against Longford in the Division Four decider. Can they repeat the trick against the midlanders in the championship?

23. LOUTH (down four)

The legendary Mick O'Dwyer has answered an SOS call from Wee County boss Colin Kelly to join his backroom team in an advisory capacity. The retirement of talismanic midfielder Paddy Keenan has severely weakened their hand.

24. LONGFORD (up one)

Was there an element of mind games about Longford's performance in the Division Four final? That question will be answered when Jack Sheedy's side renew acquaintances with Offaly in O'Connor Park on Saturday, May 16th.

25. LIMERICK (down one)

Manager John Brudair will have to plan for the championship without the services of experienced centre-back Paudie Browne who has emigrated to Dubai but they will be encouraged by their strong finish to the league which yielded wins over Munster opponents Clare and Louth.

26. WEXFORD (down four)

Wexford finished in the wooden spoon position in the Division Three table but they are well capable of bouncing back in the championship where they will meet the winners of Westmeath and Louth at the quarter-final stage.

27. ANTRIM (down one)

Missing out on promotion was a source of bitter disappointment for new manager Frank Fitzsimmons and his players. They came close with four wins and a draw to their credit. Saffrons supports will be hoping CJ McGourty can fire them to an Ulster SFC victory over Fermanagh.

28. LEITRIM (no change)

The Connacht county closed out their Division Four campaign with superb victories over London, Carlow and Waterford to leave themselves in a confident frame of mind heading into the championship.

29. CARLOW (up two)

The Barrowsiders showed signs of improvement under Turlough O'Brien, winning two and drawing two in Division Four, but the loss of midfielder Brendan Murphy to the US for the summer is a blow.

30. WICKLOW (down two)

Faced with a trip to Pairc Tailteann to take on Meath in the Leinster SFC quarter-final in June, manager Jonny Magee won't have taken any encouragement from a league campaign that saw them finish bottom of Division Four. A round seven defeat to London rubbed salt into their wounds.

31. WATEFORD (no change)

The promise of the Deise's McGrath Cup success evaporated during the course of the league as one win and a draw was all they could manage.

32. LONDON (no change)

Paul Coggins' Exiles will roll out the red carpet at Ruislip for the visit of Roscommon on Sunday, May 24th.

33 NEW YORK (no change)

The Big Apple gave a good account of themselves against Cavan in the recent Mick Higgins Memorial Series and will be looking for more of the same against Galway this Sunday.

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