Former Crossmaglen manager Tony McEntee believes inter-county teams with minimal chances of winning the championship should put more energy into the league.

McEntee and ex-Armagh and Mayo man Billy Joe Padden joined Wooly and Ger on the line to preview the opening weekend of the Allianz National Football League.

"From the year 2000, the only surprise team to win the league is Derry. The only teams that have won the league are also the only ones that have won the All-Ireland. So for me, there has to be a change of focus and people have to start concentrating on the league. The simple reason is it's winnable," said McEntee, who added that only two or three counties have a realistic chance of winning the All-Ireland these days.

"They need to emphasise the league. It's there that you can show progress and it's there that you can develop whatever it is you want to develop."

Wooly feels there are question marks over Mayo as they adjust to a new management team after reaching the All-Ireland semi-final last year.

Mayo joint managers Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly ©INPHO/James Crombie

Padden feels that Mayo will only try and make tweaks to the system which has got them close to glory in recent years. 

"What Mayo will try to do is try and retain as much of the positive elements of their game from last year - their strength, their physicality, their movement all over the field - and maybe try and add something like being a bit more solid at times when they can protect their full-back line a bit better. They have to add something to their game," he said.

Padden thinks it's when rather than if in terms of this Roscommon crop winning a Connacht title, while they try to clamber out of Division 2.

But he is worried about the amount of scores fellow second tier side Galway are conceding.

McEntee also feels it is imperative that Armagh get out of Division 3 as quickly as possible.