Sharper Brian Cody has made this a race rather than a lap of honour

"Germany going out is going to be a great study for coaches. Not simply bad coaching or mismanagement. What worked today may not tomorrow. So many variables required to win persistently. How did team tactically evolve since 2014? Was there enough adversity in qualifying campaign?"

The most important match for Galway hurling this week? Take a wild guess. On second thoughts, don’t. You’re bound to get it wrong.

Not Croke Park last Sunday, even if it served as a necessary wake-up call to dozing champions, the contemporary equivalent of the slave leaning over to the emperor and whispering in his ear, “Dude, you’re mortal.” The Leinster final was a test they didn’t pass but they didn’t flunk either.