AS always, the National Leagues bring different types of expectations and priorities depending on one's ambitions for the season.

Realistically only a handful of counties will be in contention for the Sam Maguire at the season's end so they might view the League as a chance to prepare for the premier competition, with staying in Division One a priority and winning it as a bonus.

There isn't much difference in the quality of the teams in the top two divisions, with the likes of Kildare, Meath and Tyrone operating in Division Two, so a drop in status wouldn't necessarily be a significant set-back. It's when a team slips down another rung that it becomes a factor in relation to one's ability to operate on a competitive level in the Championship. There has been exceptions, of course, with Sligo, Limerick, Wexford and Louth all defying their lowly League status with some impressive showings throughout the summer.

However, if one wants to blood some young players and test their qualities in a competitive environment, obviously it's much better to be assessing their credentials against such teams as Cork and Dublin.

There has been a lot of opinion expressed in relation to Kerry's decision to opt out of this year's Mcgrath Cup competition. It was seen by some as an opportunity to give aspiring young footballers the chance to wear the Green and Gold, and if just one player had been unearthed for the squad it would have served its purpose.

On the other side of the coin, December and January are seen by some as a time when the season should be closed, and with players involved with their colleges, and some Divisional Boards still completing their competitions, it may not have been possible to field a team strong enough to accrue any real benefits. However, Kerry have been playing challenge matches against similar type opposition in recent weeks so the decision to withdraw is quite questionable.

Personally, I don't think the Mcgrath Cup is of great benefit, having watched quite a few games last year. However, Kerry should have entered a team of whatever sort to support the Provisional Council in its efforts to garner some revenue in recessionary times. One has only to look at Leinster and the O'byrne Cup, whose returns provide much needed financial assistance for injured players. The gate taken at Newbridge in relation to the Dublin versus Kildare game two weeks ago certainly swelled the coffers of the Leinster Council quite significantly.

Just over a week ago the Munster Council handed over substantial financial assistance in the form of grants to many clubs in Kerry. For that reason alone, Kerry in return should be endeavouring to repay that support in whatever way possible, with the Mcgrath Cup being an obvious option.

How Kerry will react from what was a devastating defeat in the All-ireland Final will be interesting. Agonisingly, it was a season of thin lines for the Kingdom, losing just three games by a single point. Individual errors and a few vital decisions were significant, but the inevitable criticism from some quarters that followed must have hurt, even if players, generally, are only concerned with the result.

The performance in the final, despite some deficiencies, will have left everybody involved confident that they can go one step further this season.

So while the League, after a win in the All-ireland, is sometimes seen as cold gravy after all the champagne, a loss, even in such circumstances as last September, will have whetted the appetite for the upcoming season, and as such the League will provide the first step for many established players to regain their belief and confidence.

Tommy Griffin has already announced his retirement, and there is uncertainty about the future of Tom O'sullivan. So the full-back berth and the defence in general will again be the subject of some scrutiny, not least by the management team. Given the range of his football skills, Marc O Sé has been a success in the full back berth, even if he would be better employed at centre half back. But, like Seamus Moynihan before him, such is Marc's status and level of expertise that he will be utilised to plug gaps all over the pitch and nullify marquee names like Bernard Brogan and Donncha O'connor.

Daniel Bohan,

Brian Moran and Peter Crowley are being mentioned as names who will feature in defence during the League, with such as Mike Moloney and Pa Kilkenny being introduced maybe later on in the season. Eoin Brosnan won't be involved initially, so whatever the combination will be it will be under the microscope.

While one always looks to see if there are any young players emerging who are capable of making the breakthrough, one shouldn't forget that Padraig Reidy, still young in years, is currently very much part of the set-up and has experience of big match days in Fitzgerald Stadium and Croke Park. Recognised and utilised as a corner back, Reidy could and probably should be given an opportunity at half back.

With Seamus Scanlon and David Moran (nearly) back to full fitness the options at midfield will have increased significantly, while with Paul Galvin also free of injury, as evidenced in the recent North Kerry League final, there won't be many, if any, spots up for grabs in the forward division when the Dr. Crokes contingent return to the squad.

So while the League will afford more than a few players the chance to impress, not many, if any, of these will see game time when there's a spring in the grass at the business end of the season. Dingle's Daithi Geaney and before him Declan Quill are just two of the players who shot the lights out during the spring, but who were reduced to spectators come the summer.

In terms of promotion the National League has taken on a new profile, which would have to be applauded, and Kerry's opening game in Croke Park will have a bit of the razzmatazz of a Super Bowl. Live television will afford many supporters the chance to cast an eye over any emerging talent, or to see if there are any signs of a slip in standards by some of Kerry's more established performers.

It will be an interesting and entertaining campaign – it always is – but whether it will shape the success or otherwise of Kerry's season is debatable. If Kerry are stung again by a Seamus Darby or a Kevin Mcmanaman goal in the dying moments of next year's AllIreland Final not many, if any, will remember what went on under lights in Croke Park in early February.

The League is simply seen as a secondary competition for those counties with realistic ambitions and aspirations of winning the All-ireland crown.

- Timmy Sheehan