A Special preview of what Madrid may have in store

WHAT a week of snarling, no-holds barred, edge of the seat, competitive drama – and, no, I’m not talking about the Irish senior side taking on Paul Doolin’s Irish U23s.

Nope, this was the week when Irish sports’ governing bodies swapped the blazers for the kit, rolling up their sleeves and getting down and dirty in the face of a trenchant opposition.

And so we had the FAI v Limerick FC, the dreaded meeja and the court of popular opinion, the IRFU v The Minister and the GAA v players, managers and bewildered spectators.