Hey, it’s actually got quite interesting the last few weeks, hasn’t it? In fact, it’s been rather decent, don’t you agree? You weren’t exactly expecting us or anyone else to be saying that about the 2016 football championship, were you?

Imagine for a moment no Liam MacCarthy or Sam Maguire Cup presented to a winning captain on a September weekend. Or being kept off the field after a county final in which your club has outscored its opponent after years of you all dreaming of this moment, unable to greet and embrace neighbours and friends, any glorious autumnal homecoming and bonfire put on hold.

Everyone loves Shane Lowry. He’s not just one of us in that he’s Irish. He’s one of us in that he loves his GAA, he seems as if he’d be more at home in your local than some highlife nightclub; the kind of fella you’d love to have a pint with, all the more because he comes across as the kind who’d be all on for having that pint with you as well.

It’s as if this year, the 24-hour channels have effectively turned into around-the-clock tribute-obituary shows.

If you want to play to the galleries at this time of the year, then get out the violin and play a lament for the club. 

Kieran Shannon talks about the in-house game a week out from a championship match, commonly known as As versus Bs.

It would seem that if you were to come up with a two-year plan to win the national league, then get relegated in year one.