The sun was shining, the pitch was in pristine shape, and conditions were perfect for Championship football — yet an unmistakable air of melancholy hung around Celtic Park on Sunday.

Getting information out of South Armagh men isn’t easy.

As a journalist, my opinion on individuals and organisations is supposed to be based on a reasoned and objective appraisal of the facts.

It’s that time of year again folks.

For an organisation that loves to nit-pick at the smallest details, it’s amazing how long some utterly stupid rules and regulations are allowed to exist in the GAA.

If Tyrone are to gain a starring rather than supporting role then they need to clip Dublin’s wings, and they need to do it sooner than later.

The clocks have changed, birds are whistling in the trees, there’s a “great stretch in the evenings” and our fixtures page is bursting at the seams.

As a rule, I don’t believe in harbouring regrets, but it’s a damned hard rule to follow.

I reckoned he could give me an insight into the mindset of the men making these decisions.

Driving home from work on Friday evening, I decided to call into my mechanic and GAA counsellor, Francie John O’Kane.