They will mention 2002 and 2008 as ones that got away, but for ex-Kerry star, Darran O’Sullivan, the All-Ireland loss that cut deepest was the classic Stephen Cluxton final in 2011.

It sounded like a parting shot as Kevin Walsh hit out at those who have depicted his tactics as ‘negative’.

As a referee, there are games you look at and are so glad that you aren’t involved in. Mayo-Galway on Saturday night was as difficult a match to officiate as you can get.

James Horan believes Kerry won’t care about his remark that his Mayo team should have beaten them by 12 points in March’s Division 1 final.

A short-term gain for Davy Fitzgerald yesterday could turn out to be a long-term pain. His intervention seemed to upset Galway’s momentum and got his players going.

The game was played without the controversial hand-pass rule which had just hours earlier been ditched by Central Council, and Sunday’s FBD Connacht League final between Galway and Roscommon at Tuam will also be played without the ill-fated regulation.

Two years ago, Gaoth Dobhair were beaten by 12 points in the Donegal Championship and walked out of the ground a broken team. Mervyn O’Donnell took over as manager and made one pledge — that he was going to restore honesty to the club.

YESTERDAY’S events in Thurles told us more about a man who wasn’t on the field than one who was. If anybody was in doubt about the Westmeath man taking charge of the All-Ireland final, they aren’t now.

As has been their habit since the innocent summer of 2011, the Mayo football team hasn’t been short of takers lining up to bury and praise them in recent days.

Leitrim 0-10 Roscommon 0-24

Galway football captain Damien Comer has credited Paddy Tally with bringing greater directness to the county’s attacking play.

UCD 1-13 NUI Galway 2-9: Tipperary's Liam Casey emerged as UCD's last action hero at Santry Avenue where the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup final favourites eventually edged an epic encounter.

A sporting autobiography confirms some street truths and puts others to bed as nonsense. Tony Leen analyses the nuggets, the insights, and the revelations in Colm Cooper’s book — which is published today.

The Dubs have secured an inconceivable four one-point wins in All Ireland finals in the last 7 years, writes Mike Quirke.

Dublin win not only because they are the best but because they are the boldest too, writes John Fogarty.

Lee Keegan and Eoghan O’Gara could join Donie Vaughan on the sidelines for the first round of next year’s Allianz League.

Strange days. The RTÉ panel, not exactly a trio of giggly teenage girls at the best of times, are being sexist. Male-on-male sexist, that is.

Dublin, by the skin of their teeth, dragged themselves over the line and ensured their place in history as one of the all-time great GAA teams.

Strange days. The RTÉ panel, not exactly a trio of giggly teenage girls at the best of times, are being sexist. Male-on-male sexist, that is.

It’s almost time for Jim Gavin to go into hibernation. From the day after the All-Ireland final to the start of the 2018 League, his public utterings will be minimal. Dealing with media, he once claimed, was the most difficult part of his position. From the bizarre to the brilliant, John Fogarty picks 10 memorable Gavinisms

Former Armagh star Aaron Kernan has credited Kieran McGeeney for ensuring his 12-week ban earlier this year didn’t become a distraction for the squad.

Down look like a team who would love to play open and expansive football. Yet they know to do so would be folly.

It is to O’Shea’s immense credit that in the face of constant provocation he has not succumbed to being a reactor, says Kieran Shannon

The greatest provincial rivalry of this decade has often been damned as excuses for cynicism, over-aggression and downright defensive football.

A chequered past, to say the least.

What does it say when yet again a match official is unable to take matters into his own hands during a game, asks John Fogarty.

Your stand-out Neil Gallagher memory? His virtuoso performance against Cork in the 2012 All-Ireland semi-final? Lifting the 2007 Division 1 cup as captain with a black eye due to a cut above it that required suturing, but no substitution? Bare-chested in Ballybofey having had his jersey ripped as he was sent off against Tyrone in 2015?

Kilcoo (Down) 4-13 Maghery (Armagh) 0-12: It was far easier than they expected, and Kilcoo impressive enough yesterday to suggest they’re going to take a lot of stopping in the Ulster Club SFC final.

On March 19, 2017, Kerry are set to entertain Dublin in their round five Division 1 game. Should Dublin extend their current 29-game unbeaten run to that point, they will have the opportunity to match the greatest invincible stretch set by the Kingdom between 1928 and 1933 when they went 34 matches without a defeat.

Trust us when we write this: there is enough reason to believe the war waged against Lee Keegan by Dublin GAA figures since the drawn All-Ireland final is a campaign.

The GAA’s former referees chief Pat McEnaney insists there is nothing inherently wrong with the black card.