The Club Championships begin this weekend and I’m not sensing a huge appetite for it.

After the long intercounty campaign, it almost feels like the club action is coming on us very quickly now.

I know there is a master fixtures plan in place but I do wonder if we would be better off delaying the start by another couple of weeks going forward.

There will probably be a bit of talk this week about some county players missing their opening matches, but with the split season and the schedule we have at the moment, it’s hard to see where they get the time and space to go and take a break.

It’s not just county players that have been on holidays either, and I know of plenty of clubs that have seen their numbers at training down over the last few weeks because players have been away.

You also have the situation where lads in America aren’t back yet.

It’s easy to say play on without them but there will be players that will start this week because teams are a wee bit short and then they might get very little football over the next few weeks.

I don’t think we have quite got the right formula at the moment, and the fact that some teams are coming into the championship without a game in six or seven weeks is far from ideal as well.

Looking at the Senior Championship, Naomh Conaill looks to be the team to beat for me.

They were disappointed with how they performed last season but will have Kieran Gallagher, Eoghan McGettigan, and Max Campbell to call upon now.

St Eunan’s had serious hunger last year, and it’s just whether they can get back to that level once again. Maybe that defeat to Errigal Ciaran and the possibility of another crack at Ulster will provide fresh motivation.

Those two clubs are the leading contenders and then you have a cluster of six or seven teams that could go well and possibly reach a final if they find form and the draw is good.

Round 1

Looking ahead to the Round 1 fixtures, there are two that stand out.

Glenswilly host Naomh Conaill in Páirc Naomh Columba and that should be a good game.

Michael Murphy probably won’t play but Glenswilly have a good young team and they’ll be up for this one.

Naomh Conaill are likely to be without Ciaran Thompson. I think they will come through it but I fancy it to be a tight match.

It’s hard to get a read on Kilcar as they prepare to face St Eunan’s.

I don’t think the Towney men are the force they once were but they still have good players when you look at the McBreartys and the McHughs.

St Eunan’s have such a strong squad and they probably won’t have to rush their county players back as quickly as other teams would.

Despite that, I still feel ‘Eunan’s will win but Kilcar will sense an opportunity.

St Michael’s and Sean MacCumhaills is a tight game to call on paper, and much will depend on if Michael Langan or Oisin Gallen play.

If Langan is involved, then I think St Michael’s might just shade it at the Bridge.

It’s a big championship for Gaoth Dobhair and they host Glenfin in their opener.

There seems to have been a big turnover of players in Gaoth Dobhair over the last few years and getting that right consistency seems to be an issue.

They have been competitive at Under 21 level over the last few years so there are players ready to break through.

Glenfin have a young enough team themselves and they have a shrewd football man in charge in Frank McGlynn.

The likes of Luke McGlynn, who was up training with the county team, will be keen to impress and show what he can do.

However, Gaoth Dobhair don’t lose many championship matches at Magheragallon.

Downings take on Dungloe and that will be an interesting game.

Paddy McElwee and Johnny McGroddy are the main attackers for Downings while Ryan Greene is back for Dungloe and he’s dangerous.

Dungloe are developing well and they should win this match.

Killybegs had a poor enough league campaign but Hugh McFadden and Eoghan ‘Ban’ Gallagher’s return will help them.

In contrast, Termon have had a great league and don’t have any county players coming in now.

I’ve been impressed with Termon and they have a young and hungry team. If they can handle big Hughie, I’d fancy them to get the points this week.

Ardara and Aodh Ruadh could be one of the games of the weekend at Pearse Memorial Park.

Aodh Ruadh battled well against Dungloe in the Division 2 Final which augers well for them.

Ardara have a number of players back and they’ll be confident at home.

It could go right down to the wire and I wouldn’t rule out a draw, but the Ballyshannon men might just have enough.

Four Masters and St Naul’s meet in a derby that should attract a good crowd to Donegal Town.

It’s tough going on St Naul’s without their three county men. They were relegated to Division 3, but if the boys are all back then they could be hard to beat.

Four Masters have a huge amount of young talent coming through and it’s just about nurturing that correctly.

They were in the quarter-finals last year so they aren’t that far away.

However, they might have to push a few boys in their mid-twenties out of the team to get the talented teenagers in.

I think they will compete for the Dr Maguire in the coming years but it might be too soon this season.

That said, I think they will see off their neighbours on Saturday evening.

Intermediate

The Intermediate Championship looks like it could be quite open this season.

Naomh Mhuire are the team that look like they have really pushed on since last year.

They have won promotion to Division 1 and will be confident.

Buncrana had a poor league campaign but they are a strong, physical side. With Caolan McGonagle coming back in, they should be a force.

Muff has a few injuries which is a pity as I think they will bring fresh energy to the championship.

Naomh Columba lost last year’s final but will have a few extra bodies back and the question will be is that enough to get over the line.

Milford and Malin should be competitive but Naomh Mhuire are my favourites with Buncrana just behind.

In the Junior Championship, it’s hard to see anyone stopping Carndonagh.

They have a good team and Conor O’Donnell could have a David Clifford-like influence at Junior level.

Letterkenny Gaels, Convoy, and Naomh Ultan could all be dangerous but Carn are the team to beat.

Donegal

The dust is beginning to settle now after Donegal’s All-Ireland Final defeat and it will be parked when the club action kicks on again.

There’s no doubt that it was a disappointing result for Donegal and it wasn’t the performance that the team wanted.

There has been plenty of criticism since and when you’re part of an intercounty set-up, you know some of that is going to come your way.

Some of it in my opinion was over the top, and some pundits were quite happy to see Donegal lose.

It was a long season and there were certainly more good days than bad for Donegal.

It brought families and communities together and everywhere you went, people wanted to talk about Gaelic Football. That is a good thing and will inspire the next generation.

The players need some down time and I know a few of them were away on holidays this week.

It will have been a very intense period for the players and some of them will need a break and a quick re-charge of the batteries before they get back in for the club championship.

The Kerry defeat will still be quite raw for some of the players and management but I do hope that the group sticks together.

Progress was made this season and they aren’t that far away.

There’s talk of a few new rules next year and for me, I can definitely see more good days coming down the track.

We have a lot of good players, and they’ll learn from the experience of the last couple of months.