‘I would’ve gone mad’: Cian O’Sullivan didn’t know his parents were on Up For The Match until after All-Ireland final

It was only later that he found out the extent of the “espionage”.

The All-Ireland final may be the goal that consumes Gaelic football’s elite but the likelihood is that most, if not all, of those Dublin and Mayo men due to play a part in Croke Park on Sunday will spend the next two days trying to forget all about it, writes Brendan O’Brien.

Training sessions have long since morphed from the penance of boot camp to pampered spa break. DVDs on the opposition have been diced and dissected, tactical meetings all but ended. It’s nearly time now to dim the lights, sit back and let the day come to them.