The League is thrilling the pants off the devoted this year. Saturday night witnessed another landmark in Kilkenny's decade and a half long vendetta against novelty. In a driving, nerve-jangling finish, they displayed all the knowing composure that comes with having won about one thousand All-Irelands in a decade. The following day in Salthill, the denousment was almost absurd in its breathless excitement.
Here are some striking stats from this year's winter tournament.
Regrettably, it's becoming increasingly difficult to argue against the contention that Down 2016 model are one of the worst teams to ever find themselves in Division 1.
Perhaps Westmeath, circa 2014, could give them a run for this lofty title, but even they ran up bigger scores than Down have managed thus far.
They have scored 0-7 (Donegal), 0-6 (against both Kerry and Roscommon), 1-7 (Dublin - credit to Stephen Cluxton for the goal), and 0-11 (a comparatively free-scoring effort in Monaghan).
No one beats Roscommon anymore so perhaps one shouldn't read too much into this latest result. However, the broader trend should be of interest to those running things in Donegal. Stay away from the capital. Ballybofey is their home for a reason.
This stat comes courtesy of Chris McNulty. Not only that but Kieran Cunningham pointed out that they are unbeaten in 14 games in their other home.
On Sunday, Waterford suffered their first loss since they were 'relegated' from Division 1A in 2014.
Salvation arrived in the shape of some GAA structural jiggery-pokery. The upshot of the heirarchy's tinkering was that Waterford remained at the top table and - until Sunday - they hadn't lost since.
Longford's determination not to hang around in the one Division for too long may persist for yet another season. In the last six years, they have gone from Division 4 to Division 2 (2011 - 2013), Division 2 back to Division 4 (2013-2015), and (gratuituous jumping of the gun alert) they are already over half the way towards going from Division 4 to Division 2 again (2015 - 2017). They have defeated Sligo and Tipperary in successive weeks and are giving promotion a good rattle.
Following the Rossies smash and grab win in the 2010 Connacht championship, they got a land in the following year's League.
They were down mixing it with 'your Kikennys' and 'your Londons'.
They're in a different room five years later. They have won away games in Cork, Kerry and Donegal.
