THE MAIN EVENT Dublin v Kerry
Croke Park (Sunday), throw-in 4pm, eir Sport 1
AFTER Mayo’s limp defeat to the All-Ireland champions in Castlebar, Kerry are the next team to step into the ring with Jim Gavin’s all-conquering Dublin. Of course, it was Kerry who ended that famous 36match unbeaten run in last year’s League final, but the Kingdom were bitterly disappointed not to have kicked on over the summer, and this is a first chance to test themselves against the country’s top team since that Croke Park date last April. Make no mistake, Jim Gavin’s men will be out to lay down a marker against this new generation of Kerry talent, and perhaps more concerning for Éamonn Fitzmaurice are the clear issues in their defence. Fitzmaurice won’t want to reveal too much this early in the year, but another onesided affair won’t do much for the confidence of a Kerry team who haven’t beaten Dublin in the Championship since 2009.