Gaelic football, at inter-county level particularly, has changed dramatically in recent years.

‘Celebrity’ is a label that doesn’t sit comfortably with most GAA players, regardless of the public and media interest during the summer months.

As the dust settles on what will arguably go down as the Republic of Ireland’s greatest sporting anti-climax, sports followers in this country can be thankful they have a summer of exciting GAA action as an antidote to the national side’s dreadful Euro 2012 campaign.

Last week, work took me to the German capital Berlin, where I spent four days in the company of cement kiln refractory specialists from around the globe.

Back in 2008, during my Business Masters at DCU, I came across an article by a Seth Godin who talked about the concept of ‘The Purple Cow’.

So, I’m back at the keyboard and looking forward to another Championship season both on and off the field.

Towards the end of last year, I realised that if I was to have any chance of continuing to perform at the highest level, then things would have to change.

As the evenings grow longer and waistlines shrink, panels across the country are champing at the bit, all believing this could be their year.

ALL that was missing from last weekend’s All-Ireland football semi-final was Jim McGuinness’ trademark jet black curls and goatee, thus giving our commentators their archetypal GAA arch villain!

WATCHING the All-Ireland minor football semi-final between Tipperary and Roscommon from the Croke Park press box last week, a number of thoughts were floating around in my head.