YOUR columnist has been colder than he was yesterday in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, but not often. Thurles Sars and De La Salle played in what Sylvia Plath called the light of the mind: cold and planetary.

AFROS and handlebars on Tuesday, side-creases and smooth chins on Sunday.

THE eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that Tipperary outfit Aherlow collected a second Tipperary SFC title last weekend.

RAYMOND WILLIAMS, the Marxist scholar, had an interesting take, not on sport per se, but on people’s attitudes – one that could easily be applied to the non-stop erotic cabaret on offer across the water in the Premier League.

“LET’S HAVE a chat,” said the sports editor, who, newly returned from holidays, usually has a new broom air about him for the first couple of days back in harness.

COUNTRY versus a continent?

THE departure of Seán Óg O hAilpín from the inter-county scene is one of those events that comes along to remind you that you’re getting older, not younger.

EVERY year we have them.

EVERY county final exists on two levels.