It’s almost three years to the day that ESPN’s fabulous 30 for 30 series came into this column’s life.

Dave Malone refused to allow disability prevent him from becoming a world class swimmer. And now he is bringing his message to a new generation of Irish youngsters hungry for success.

At first glance, it seems preposterous, a shambles, a fudge, the proverbial camel you invariably get when a committee tries to draw a horse.

The weekend proved it again.

Let’s be blunt: do you deserve to win when you fail to score in the entire second half and manage only three points in the last 60 minutes?

Jose Mourinho and Roy Keane have a bit in common. If anyone in the party is travelling business class, it shouldn’t be the suits.

Having been rejected once for being too small, Clare’s Podge Collins made one vow — if he wasn’t going to catch ball above lads’ heads, he wasn’t going to get pushed off it either. The season he doesn’t want to end takes another twist today with Cratloe in a Clare football final.

This time it won’t quite feel like walking on eggshells with Roy around.

By his own reckoning, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín was probably the least skilful hurler to ever put on a Cork jersey — but has there been a more dedicated person to wear it? “That’s what made me survive,” he suggests. Now with his life thoughts put to paper, he’s ready to reflect, without bitterness, without rancour. Anyone looking for sly digs won’t find them here.

So it's official. Two men from opposite ends of Ireland have been tasked with working together to deliver Irish soccer to new heights. In this article Kieran Shannon asks if the Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane combination is destined for success.