Are you a part of the Culchie Amnesty?

IN the run-up to any All-Ireland final, there are feet and yards of newsprint written about the usual suspects: The teams, the players, the managers, their families and the fans, writes Colm O'Regan.

But what about that forgotten constituency: The neutrals?

It’s all very well being a fan. You’ve got skin in the game. But think of us, the poor neutral. We get taken along for the ride, we share the emotion. We read the same previews you do. We watch the match and shout for you. And if you let us down, we’ve nothing to show for it. No cathartic long car journey home, shouting at the Marty Squad or a rake of pints in a salty pub somewhere in the north inner city that’s operating a Culchie Amnesty.