Oisín McConville: Ulster set for the year of the forward

Teams will have learned from last year’s knockout. Monaghan, for example, won’t try sit on a lead again. If you have a chance to win a game, then you give it a lash

In the league we saw some matches involving Ulster teams produce huge scores. Monaghan's Conor McCarthy ran amok against Donegal in Ballybofey, scoring a hat-trick of goals in the first half. Picture: INPHO/Tommy Dickson

We’ve always heard Ulster is the most competitive championship and this year’s is potentially the most competitive in years.

Armagh and Tyrone had a duopoly for years and then the Anglo-Celt was shared between Donegal, Monaghan, and Tyrone before Cavan gatecrashed the party last year. This year, for me, there are four serious contenders — Donegal, Tyrone, Monaghan, and Armagh — and a livewire outsider in Derry.