In the midst of the unfathomable human tragedy unfolding in the Middle East, the political and commercial ramifications of “picking a side” have quickly evolved from ripple to tidal wave.

This is going to be uncomfortable, mostly because the topic is heavy and about as far from the Cork senior football championship as this column is willing to stray

On the face of it, beating the World Champions South Africa in an absorbing (there’s a “only in rugby” word for you) encounter on primetime TV should only be a positive thing.

Ulster football, once erroneously branded as the third rail of Gaelic football, is easily now the most compelling show in town.

It’s a World Cup, but only because it’s marketed as such. For at least the first month of it, there is little or no substance or drama or intrigue.

The Deepest Breath will see you subconsciously holding your own breath.

There are worse ways Ireland could squander the money we have sloshing around. 

I do realise that all Cavan are doing is what is expected of them; by their players, their fans and GAA society generally.

Winning once is hard enough, but doing so in consecutive starts is ridiculous, especially for a man with a well documented decade-long battle with the yips which almost saw him resorting to putting left handed.

Andy Farrell is a veteran of England's disastrous 2015 campaign, and his forwards coach Paul O’Connell could do a series of Ted Talks on successive abysmal Irish experiences at World Cups