An end to debate on the dual mandate

And so it goes. This romantic notion we had that dual players had a lasting future at the pinnacle of Gaelic games.

Make no mistake: Aidan Walsh’s decision to concentrate on one game next year signals the end of the high-functioning codebreaker.

He didn’t know it, thankfully, but on his shoulders the future of the dual player rested. If an athlete and as gifted a footballer and hurler as he comes to a point where he realises he can’t do it, nobody can.