The huge crowd from Slaughtneil who attended the chat show ahead of this year’s All-Ireland club final provided a damning indictment on the state of inter-county football.

Some fixtures transcend the importance of the Allianz Football League and Sunday’s clash between Donegal and Tyrone is one such game.

With a bit of luck and good sense, the St Patrick’s Day finals in Croke Park will soon be consigned to history. Starting next year, the GAA’s leadership wants to play the All-Ireland club finals on the second Sunday of December, writes Paddy Heaney.

When it comes to interviewing Gaelic footballers, the face-to-face conversation always delivers the best results.

I once read that the average American big-game fisherman spends $10,000 before he hooks his first marlin, writes Paddy Heaney.

When outfoxed by superior coaching methods or tactics, Kerry have been swift to absorb lessons and make the necessary changes, writes Paddy Heaney.

Have you ever experienced something in your life that was so magical that you’ve come to doubt that it actually took place? It has happened to me only once, writes Paddy Heaney.

When Anthony Tohill played a game for the Manchester United reserves, the reports in the local press referred to him as Tony Tohill.

It’s not just Unionists who have a deep-rooted pride in their northern identity. Ulster Gaels also possess a loyalty to their province which simply doesn’t exist in the other green fields.

Every year provides an opportunity to reach a new height. Once you go past your prime, that’s it. You can never scale those summits again, writes Paddy Heaney.