IT has been a very good year for the game of football and one that the Cork team and followers will never forget.

WHEN Liam Sheedy was appointed Tipperary senior manager three years ago, the astute hurling hero, Donie Nealon said to me: “Seán, we have appointed a good one.”

AS was mentioned here a few weeks ago, the annual race by county boards to fill vacant managerial posts at senior inter-county level is in full swing.

I HAVE been following the story of the summer, banning all GAA fans from invading pitches especially Croke Park, with a mixture of interest and trepidation.

IT has started already. Over the last decade we have seen year on year the retirement (forced or otherwise) of manager after manager as their charges exit the championship. Then the race to appoint a successor begins.

WHERE now for the All-Ireland senior football championship?

AFTER the turmoil of the Louth saga, romance returned to the football championship again last weekend.

WHAT a graveyard the qualifiers have become for the runners-up in provincial finals.

THE people of Louth will never forget the past week.

JUST as the season was moving nicely into top gear without too much controversy, along come a moment of grand larceny, that robbed little Louth of their first Leinster SFC crown in over half a century.