Cats no longer possess the resources for a 20-man game

Of all the things that will exercise Brian Cody ahead of the All-Ireland hurling final replay, few will grate more than the thought that Anthony Cunningham has his measure.

On the basis that it was the least interesting of the myriad of talking points to emerge at Croke Park last Sunday, best to begin with Joe Canning’s equalising free.

Of course Davy Glennon threw himself forwards and downwards. What player wouldn’t have done the same? And of course Barry Kelly gave it. His choice in the circumstances was no choice at all: either cause a small fuss by awarding a free or cause a huge fuss by not awarding one. It is not in the DNA of referees to make a name for themselves at the supreme moment of an All Ireland final. Nor should they try.