Paul Rouse: How challenge games went from real deal to today's phoney war 

Snow on the pitch at Castlebar ahead of the recent Mayo v Monaghan challenge game. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

Two of the emperor Charlemagne’s grandsons – Louis the German and Charles the Bald – ruled rival kingdoms in ninth century Europe.

In the middle of that century, these two brothers engaged in a series of negotiations which carried huge importance for the future peace and stability of the continent.