Mick Clifford: Micheál Martin sidelined Bertie Ahern just as Bertie ditched Albert Reynolds

Fianna Fáil’s decision to sideline Bertie Ahern for an outside candidate reflects Micheál Martin’s mastery of his mentor’s tactics

28 years later: Ahead of the 1997 presidential election, Bertie Ahern purported to support Albert Reynolds for the FF nomination but was actually canvassing for an 'outsider', Mary McAleese, who won the nomination and the election. File picture: Leon Farrell/Photocall

There is something sad in seeing a footballer go on longer than they should. It might become apparent through a missed tackle, a hopelessly stray pass, an incapacity to do at all what they once did with aplomb.

That’s the sign that the game is well and truly up.