It's been a low-key national football league programme and I am unable to put my finger on the reason why. Perhaps it is all about the economy - followers of the game appear to be keeping both their enthusiasm and money for the summer campaign ahead. Or perhaps the games were played under an unnatural set of circumstances - the re-categorised rules seemed to constrain the possibilities and the reviews of every game tended to start with the mathematics of black, yellow and red cards. The early months of the year, appropriately enough, usually produces a 'springer' and this year Tipperary win the award for league endeavour and the John Evans led outfit are making a name for themselves. We will watch with interest as they attempt to bring that form through to the championship. But, in general, the underdogs have failed to leap forth and those that made significant progress in recent years (consider Wexford, Fermanagh, Laois and Louth) have fallen back into the chasing pack. That's certainly a pity. Most of the fancied counties, that list of ten or so that spring to mind when provincial and All-Ireland honours are considered at this time of the year, continued to establish themselves, more or less. And so we were left with the usual suspects for the business end of the leagues: Kerry plus one from Tyrone, Galway or Derry were expected at the beginning of February and that's how it panned out for the final pairing with Derry securing second place at the expense of Galway. Again, scoring difference was the key Galway will wonder why they can win most games recently, but not the ones that they must win. The final is a repeat of last year's effort when Derry made a surprise comeback to win the title. Expect Kerry to exact revenge this time around. To date Kerry look hugely impressive and the arrival and maturing of new young talent augurs well for the summer ahead. In Division 2 the favourites kept the competition to themselves and with a game to go it was any two from Kildare, Armagh, Monaghan or Cork. Kildare have impressed but they imploded when faced by the teak tough Meath men in the final round of games and blew their commanding position. But in an overall sense, Kildare will be pleased. What a difference a year makes - Kieran McGeeney was close to exiting stage left but a late championship run in the 2008 qualifiers has given himself and his squad the chance to have a big summer. They are moving well, play a lovely brand of football and have the hard edge needed to make a summer impression not seen since 1998. Cork are the most impressive side outside of Kerry and this will make for a top class Munster championship. Remember both of the fancied teams are on the same side of the draw and so cannot meet in the final. What a great chance for Tipp to make a statement in a July final. Division 3 was a rat race and with the majority of teams in that division capable of taking points off each other it was always envisaged matters would go down to the last day and scoring difference. Tipperary bucked that assumption and qualified with a game to go; they were joined by Down and one has to say they that pairing is the most deserving for promotion. They say the league tables do not lie and so it has come to pass. The lowest Division saw Antrim and Sligo race to the front early doors and hold their positions to the end and so guarantee promotion to Division 3. It was the fancied pairing and so they both begin the climb back up towards Division 2 or higher for it is only from such platforms real progress can be launched. But in an overall sense the leagues disappointed and so, as ever, we count down the days and weeks until the championship begins. The Sunday Game Live kicks off on the 17th May with Fermanagh facing Down, in what is sure to be a hard-fought and exciting Ulster preliminary. In a few weeks the leagues will be but a memory and the only significance they will hold for GAA folk concern the rules that are adopted or otherwise. Wait out on that for now. +++++++++++++++++++++++++ By the time you get to read this piece, annual congress will have come and gone. This year is dominated by the debate surrounding the rules that were trialed this year since January. I am being careful with my choice of words here for, as ever, the interested parties have set out to confuse and divide. Let's be clear when it comes to nomenclature: these are not new rules or indeed experimental rules. Despite what certain managers and players, who in the main have vested interests, continue to say in the media, these are the same old rules we had in the past. But significantly, they have been re-categorised or repackaged, so that all of the key stakeholders but particularly players and supporters can better understand them. The newness comes in the form of the sanction being applied - if a yellow card is issued, you leave the field of play. By and large, I am a supporter of the new rules but I do not believe they will get though in their entirety. The reason why is straightforward enough: some of the re-categorised 'Highly Disruptive Fouls' can be executed in such an innocent and unintentional manner that a referee who applies the rule stringently, will have to send a player to the line on a yellow. That is wrong. My own suggestion might gain more popular acceptance. Continue with the categorisation process (and add to it next year if this is deemed appropriate) and the education of referees, players, officials and spectators BUT go back to the old method of sanction. Get rid of the black cards; make the highly disruptive fouls a yellow card offence (if force is used, they become a Red card infraction), but NO sending off and replacement. To be sent off you need to be issued with a second yellow and there is NO replacement. Red cards continue to be issued as heretofore and as appropriate. We all now accept that the three issues that need to be tackled when it comes to the rules of the game are: - Referees must apply the rules consistently - Players must play within those rules and - Players and team management must show respect for the match officials And by the way, those involved in hurling should be kept away from any discussions about rules and their application. They have shown themselves, pretty consistently, to be tolerant of indiscipline on the field of play that is frightening and would not be allowed by the Gardai outside a chip shop on a Saturday night. The trials we have witnessed since early January are on the right track but may need some more tweaking. The games are quicker, there are less fouls and the scores are flowing. But watching a player leave the field for a relatively innocuous infraction is not what we want to see. Liam O'Neill and Pat Daly have soldiered well this spring and perhaps won a battle here and there. But the war continues for now. Tweet

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