Quite simply they have the best group of players and the most talented in every way. That doesn't necessarily mean they will go ahead and win the All Ireland as there are so many other factors that have to be taken into the equation - hunger and luck are things that come to mind.

I actually believe that going for three in a row is a plus for them as it gives them something to focus on. If, say, Kerry hadn't won the Sam Maguire last year, winning it this year wouldn't mean as much. Three in a row is a very special achievement and rest assured they will be very highly motivated.

It's hard to know just yet if they are as good a side as last year, but they are after winning the All Ireland Under 21 Championship which suggests there's no shortage of talent coming through. You could even argue that they have a stronger squad than in 2007.

Losing to Derry in the League final is something they won't lose too much sleep over. If anything it will motivate them even more and stop them from being too complacent. I believe it will galvanise them and make them even more difficult to beat.

Dara O'Se and a few others didn't look to be in the best shape of their lives, but you have to realise that it will be two months before they face any serious competition. Kerry effectively peak for six weeks every year whereas in Ulster you are looking at four months.

I can't for the life of me understand how some bookies have Dublin second favourites for the All Ireland. I've never been convinced by them. In fact they are further away now than ever before, short as many as six or seven players.

Some of the players coming in aren't even up to county standard. I honestly don't know why that should be - possibly the management set up is becoming stale or maybe even Paul Caffrey has taken them as far as he can.

They will improve once they get to playing in Croke Park, but winning an All Ireland is as far away as ever.

It's all too easy to dismiss the Allianz League, but a team needs at least two or three good displays to show you still have what it takes to be a genuine contender. Some sides peak for different games. Kerry were able to do that against Galway in the League.

I'm convinced Tyrone will cause lots of problems before the League is over. I know they have had injuries, but they are on the mend and you never become a bad side overnight. They still have a lot of quality right through the side. They mightn't have set the League alight, but they did enough to avoid relegation with a severely depleted side. It's worth pointing out they won the games they had to win.

To me Derry are the second best team in the country. They have had the players now for some time, but they are beginning to focus and show a willingness to go that extra mile which is crucial the further you progress. Trainer John McCloskey has helped freshen things up and he and manager Paddy Crozier appear to be working very well together. Donegal in Ballybofey is a huge game for the Oak Leaf men. That game will determine the rest of their season.

They have the players and seemingly the belief, but no team travels to Ballybofey and gets it easy. Victory in Ballybofey would set Crozier's men up nicely for the rest of the season.

Galway too could shock a few sides before the summer is out. I can't see them being in the final shake up. They are two or three players short.

Monaghan too have a chance but they have been going full pelt all year. I just wonder how much more will be left in the tank when it comes to Championship time.They played as well as they can last year against Kerry and it wasn't good enough, so you would imagine they need to spruce things up.

As for Armagh, I don't reckon too many counties will be running scared of us. We haven't set the world alight in the last two years, Dublin apart, and that has to be a concern.But hopefully the Championship will bring the best out of us. I honestly believe we've still a wee bit more in the tank. We cannot afford to take any chances against either Antrim or Cavan in the quarter-final — otherwise we will be out on our ear and straight into the qualifiers.

We have to go out with the right attitude in every match and play at fast pace from start to finish. The more intense it is, the more we enjoy it.

It's the only way we know how to play.