We revert once again to our dog-eared Soundings poetry book in a vain attempt to encapsulate Paul Galvin’s retirement.

This morning, GAA director general Páraic Duffy delivers his sixth and possibly penultimate annual report.

In the dark recesses of January, few would say football is any fun — but then less and less of the current crop remember when it was actually enjoyable.

In the end it was no more than a rehearsal but that didn’t stop some reviewing the black card’s debut like it was its opening weekend.

Just over a week now, folks, until the dawn of a new age in Gaelic football.

Mutual consent.

Last Saturday in Claremorris’s McWilliam Park Hotel, the Mayo management and backroom teams gathered to formulate their 2014 plan of attack.