A family friend, who spent about 40 years in America, was a regular visitor at Lincoln Financial Park, home of the Philadelphia Eagles.

In the copy of the Ulster secretary’s report that was sent to the media last month €2,798,435 was completely unaccounted for.

The league is never as important as it seems in February and March.

When I bumped into an old friend last Friday evening, he recounted a story which will be depressingly familiar to many readers.

Exactly a decade ago, I was in Ballinascreen on the day Eoin Bradley broke his leg playing for Derry in the Dr McKenna Cup.

A few years ago I read a column by a sports journalist who recalled the night he got locked into a GAA ground.

“Until the countdown to an event we are obliged to adhere to social conditioning even to the extent of chatting to the timekeeper, officials or other riders.

Ghost-writing a Gaelic footballer’s autobiography can be a daunting task and the horrific experience suffered by one journalist a few years ago provides a lasting reminder of how it can all go horribly wrong.

I was at a function recently with a few people and we bumped into Anthony Tohill, the four-time All Star and All-Ireland medallist. Tohill stands 6ft 4ins tall.

It’s not well known, but hurling and football are two of the most potent aphrodisiacs on the planet.