The scramble for tickets for a Klopp Dublin farewell will be like if Taylor Swift was lining out for Mayo in an All-Ireland final.

Do we really want to go through a now familiar cycle with one of our most beloved football sons?

It’s not perfect but there are raw materials there and Barry/Sagnol/Renard/Bruce/Mattress Mick or whoever is next will be watching keenly to see if the interim gang can put some shape on them.

Caoimhín Kelleher has made it possible to enjoy that rare, rare thing – an Irishman on the world stage, mixing it with the best of them.

Is Kane some missionary of Spursiness, travelling to foreign shores to preach the good word about flopping under pressure?

Is there a point when the Limerick hurlers will become the proper bad guys like all those dynastic regimes before them?

Small international teams tend to be coached either by jobbing domestic insiders or legendary ex-players acting out a labour of love.

The direction of travel has shifted, the mythical thing has been glimpsed, the shining city spotted on the distant hill: being a proper football country.

Captain Evan O’Connell, nephew of Paul and veteran of last year’s success, claims the U20s are “next moment focused”, one of the senior team’s favourite catchphrases under Andy Farrell.

Farrell was asked if Ireland would have to become a different team without Sexton, like when Queen went on the road without Freddie Mercury.