The then Ireland boss insisted we should aim higher, and expect better for ourselves. 

Growing up, there were two photos in the kitchen. One, the Sacred Heart, was partially obscured by books and newspapers and other necessary day-to-day paraphernalia. The other photo was much more prominent.

How does a man of such years and experience have the energy to keep going?

The Cork native is a revelation on TV and podcasts.

El Ghazi an out-of-work professional footballer who last week had his contract terminated by Bundesliga side Mainz 05 over social media posts related to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Rugby World Cup, which began a lifetime ago in the summer sun in Saint-Denis, ended in the winter rain in Paris, with the majestic Siya Kolisi being handed the William Webb Ellis trophy by A Question of Sport's greatest captain, Bill Beaumont.

What we needed was someone throwing a pen across the studio desk. 

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.