It’s a New Year and the start of a brand new season for the GAA.
And it kicks off this weekend with the traditional pre-season Cups  which will give us our first glimpse of what level some teams are at and perhaps take notice of promising youngsters who could make their League and Championship bows later in the year.
The format of Leinster's Bord Na Mona O'Byrne Cup has changed this year. 11 counties and five colleges will be divided into four groups, which means that every team will have at least three matches to play.
As counties build up to the Allianz League, the added game-time will be crucial going into the months ahead.
It will also be interesting to gauge the impact of the relaxation to the winter training ban in these early stages of the inter-county season.

Groups

Longford, Meath, Louth and UCD were drawn together in Group A. All four teams progressed past the first round in 2012, with the Royals ultimately falling to eventual champions DCU.
DCU start the defence of their title in Group B, alongside last season’s semi-finalists Dublin. Carlow and Wicklow complete the group.
Offaly, Laois, Athlone IT, Westmeath are the teams in Group C. Offaly beat Westmeath 3-6 to 0-7 in 2012 before eventual runners-up Kildare brushed them aside in the quarter finals.
And the Lilywhites will hope to go one better this year, starting off against IT Carlow on Sunday, with DIT and Wexford also standing between them and a semi-final place.
The final has been set for January 27th.

McGrath Cup

The format has not changed for the McGrath Cup. In the preliminary round Clare take on Limerick IT, Kerry meet IT Tralee and Cork visit Cork IT.

The winners will meet Limerick, UCC and Tipperary respectively in the quarter-finals. UL and Waterford will battle each other in the fourth quarter-final.

Image by ©INPHO/Donall Farmer