Valerie Mulcahy: League is foundation on which champions are built

On Sunday, the league starts. Teams will travel long distances with high hopes for the season; hoping to get momentum, lay down intentions, and gain experience.

Four divisions exist, featuring teams from every grade; senior, intermediate, and junior. Promotion is the reward for winning your league unless you win Division 1, in which case being champions will have to suffice.

How important is it? There is no correlation between the league and the championship in terms of grading but the roll of honour over the last 13 years tells an interesting tale of intention and accomplishment and how a season can develop based on how seriously you dedicate yourself to excelling in the league.