Kerry football great Colm Cooper says he expects Donegal and Galway to make a statement of intent and challenge ‘the big four’ this season.

With the Allianz Leagues set to get underway this weekend, the country’s big guns are set to clash in Division 1 over the next two months ahead of the All-Ireland championship’s early start in April.

Speaking on RTE’s Morning Ireland programme, Cooper expects Donegal to be gunning for this season and also described Pádraic Joyce's Galway as “a sleeping giant in football”.

"The top four has been quite settled for the last number of years with Kerry, Dublin, Tyrone and Mayo, so that should continue, but the two teams that are capable of breaking into that are Donegal and Galway," Cooper said on RTE’s Morning Ireland.

"Donegal have flattered to deceive a bit over the last couple of years, they’ve got into great positions to qualify for semi-finals, and even if you go back to the Super 8's, they’ve let opportunities slip. But I think they’ll be gunning for 2022.

"Galway are in Division 2, they’re a sleeping giant in football and Pádraic Joyce has been there for the last couple of years, the Under-20s won the All-Ireland a couple of years ago, so it is time for them to stand up and make a real statement in 2022."

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