Rathvilly manager John Smith knows that every team will be out to beat them as defending champions as the SFC kick off this weekend.

Kildavin-Clonegal are the first opponents for Rathvilly who will have to play the early rounds of the championships without the influential Brendan Murphy who is in America at the moment.

However, they will still be favourites to come out of the group and progress to the knockout stages of the championship.

Smith acknowledged to the Carlow Nationalist that they will have to hit the ground running and not make as slow as a start as they did last year.

"Everyone will be looking to knock us off our perch but championship is about getting out there and testing ourselves to see where we are," said Smith.

"We are looking forward to the challenge and hopefully we will be ready for it."

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