State in safe hands with Michael in goal

Finance Minister Michael Noonan, the goalie for the Government and the last line of a stout defence.

Somebody remarked to me this week that Michael Noonan is now the goalie for the Government and is a safe pair of hands. And my friend stayed with GAA parlance to add that Noonan is playing far better now than when he was leading the outfield team as captain.

That is a matter of opinion of course but it struck me later that it might be an intriguing exercise to apply football parlance to the performance of the entire Government.