That’s that, then. The last box finally ticked after eight largely forgettable friendlies that yawned across the course of 10 interminable months, in four different countries and against opposition from three continents.

Just over three weeks ago, James Horan sat in Hotel Ballina’s Ox Room and dished out quotes ahead of last Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry with all the usual boxes being ticked before journalists, players and coaches went their separate ways into the still balmy night.

Last June one year, a Scottish team replete with journeymen pros without a win in any of the six competitive games they had played up until then in their World Cup qualifying campaign, travelled to Zagreb and came away with a 1-0 win against the world’s then fourth-highest ranked side.

Three days on and the soul-searching continues.

If you have yet to see Magali Harvey’s try for Canada against France in Wednesday’s second Women’s World Cup semi-final then all that can be said is get thee to a computer or a smartphone ASAP.

Sports journalists, like the people they write or talk about, are creatures of habit. It’s human nature to lean on the familiar, of course, but this job sure does reinforce that point.

Last April one year, Carol Sharp picked up the phone in Edinburgh and put a call through to her daughter Lynsey in the United States.

Should Ireland ever commit to the Commonwealth again, it would only be to the benefit of its sports men and women in the 26 counties, smack bang in the middle of every Olympic cycle

Conor McGregor has a different perspective than most when it comes to what the Irish sporting public holds close to its heart.

Three days on and the images from Belo Horizonte that stick in the mind are not those of David Luiz’s Sideshow Bob- standing-on-a-rake routine, nor Germany’s seven wonders, but instead it’s the youngsters and grown men crying in the stands.