Watching Des Bishop travelling and breaking China the other week, it struck us just how far a certain sport has travelled as well.

mickey Linden’s sporting career was as long as it was illustrious but two All-Ireland titles and three Ulster crowns don’t tell half the story about a man who, along with Peter Canavan, was probably the most electrifying inside forward in the country during the 1990s.

He’ll always be Wee James to us and nearly anyone who saw him play, but when it comes to inter-county management there’s a case a certain Mr McCartan could be termed Old James.

The name probably means nothing. If some radio sports show were to have a panel discussion about top coaching and top coaches in this country, it’s doubtful Liam Moggan’s name would crop up. His profile is hardly prominent.

Turns out, there is something like it.

They haven’t come up with a term for it yet. Maybe they’ve developed an aversion for such things in Kilkenny since the ‘Drive for Five’ didn’t work out as they wanted.

We wanted it to work out for David Moyes.

It’s torture and in a way he’s tortured, but Pádraig Harrington has the good grace and awareness to realise he’s still one of the lucky ones.

Sorry, but is that it? Nearly a week on from all the hype and hysteria and no little fear that was triggered by the GAA’s new TV deal, has anyone actually looked at the games Sky has won exclusive rights to show?

I don’t think I’m alone in this, but more and more recently I find myself saying something which I once thought would be the last words I’d ever say: I hope Liverpool win the title.