Seriously now, did you ever think you would see this in a football game? A player in possession goes unchallenged in a central area for 23 seconds before an opponent meanders in his direction, forcing him to move the ball.

Pat Spillane has claimed the role of goalkeepers has turned into a “joke” under the new rules, saying he wouldn’t even wait until the league is over to make changes.

Joe is joined by eight-time All-Ireland champion Philly McMahon to take stock after the opening three rounds of the National Football League.

Nine-time All-Star and Sunday World contributor Pat Spillane joins Irish Independent columnist Dick Clerkin and Michael Verney after a football week that saw mother nature play its part as Dublin defeated Kerry in the league.

Just when you thought the GPA would content themselves with the worthwhile initiatives they are involved in — like third-level grants — they manage to generate a lot of publicity and come across as a self-serving group reeking of entitlement.

Cavan won’t look to replace coach Colm Nally after he stepped away from the set-up due to commitments elsewhere.

The first inkling any member of the public would have had that Michael Murphy’s long-awaited comeback was imminent was when he got off the Donegal team bus in Ballybofey on Sunday afternoon, clutching a gear bag.

At this stage, there is nothing in Michael Murphy’s box of tricks that would shock Ryan McHugh. Well, almost nothing.

Joe, Will and Conor team up for this Monday edition of Bits & Bobs, which comes off the back of the tragic news of the death of Cheltenham Festival-winning rider Michael O'Sullivan.

Here’s the good news: this column is a new rules free zone today. I’ve decided to cast my eye over what else is happening in the world of the GAA.

Division 1 of the Lidl National League. A haven for scientists.

After a weekend of dramatic scoreboard oscillations, it was all starting to look a bit squeaky-bum time for Donegal. A two-point lead, momentum lost … time to put up the Bat-signal.

To paraphrase from Bill Clinton’s well-worn political cliché from the 1992 US presidential campaign against George HW Bush – “It’s the goalkeeper, stupid.”

Kieran McGeeney has conceded that Armagh were “the architects of our own downfall” as they lost their discipline and shooting boots against Donegal in the Allianz NFL Division 1 encounter at Ballybofey.

Jim McGuinness has hailed the on-field return of Michael Murphy after the Donegal talisman played a pivotal role in a spiky victory over All-Ireland champions Armagh in Ballybofey.

Seriously now, did you ever think you would see this in a football game? A player in possession goes unchallenged in a central area for 23 seconds before an opponent meanders in his direction, forcing him to move the ball.

Pat Spillane has claimed the role of goalkeepers has turned into a “joke” under the new rules, saying he wouldn’t even wait until the league is over to make changes.

Joe is joined by eight-time All-Ireland champion Philly McMahon to take stock after the opening three rounds of the National Football League.

Nine-time All-Star and Sunday World contributor Pat Spillane joins Irish Independent columnist Dick Clerkin and Michael Verney after a football week that saw mother nature play its part as Dublin defeated Kerry in the league.

Just when you thought the GPA would content themselves with the worthwhile initiatives they are involved in — like third-level grants — they manage to generate a lot of publicity and come across as a self-serving group reeking of entitlement.

Cavan won’t look to replace coach Colm Nally after he stepped away from the set-up due to commitments elsewhere.

The first inkling any member of the public would have had that Michael Murphy’s long-awaited comeback was imminent was when he got off the Donegal team bus in Ballybofey on Sunday afternoon, clutching a gear bag.

At this stage, there is nothing in Michael Murphy’s box of tricks that would shock Ryan McHugh. Well, almost nothing.

Joe, Will and Conor team up for this Monday edition of Bits & Bobs, which comes off the back of the tragic news of the death of Cheltenham Festival-winning rider Michael O'Sullivan.

Here’s the good news: this column is a new rules free zone today. I’ve decided to cast my eye over what else is happening in the world of the GAA.

Division 1 of the Lidl National League. A haven for scientists.

After a weekend of dramatic scoreboard oscillations, it was all starting to look a bit squeaky-bum time for Donegal. A two-point lead, momentum lost … time to put up the Bat-signal.

To paraphrase from Bill Clinton’s well-worn political cliché from the 1992 US presidential campaign against George HW Bush – “It’s the goalkeeper, stupid.”

Kieran McGeeney has conceded that Armagh were “the architects of our own downfall” as they lost their discipline and shooting boots against Donegal in the Allianz NFL Division 1 encounter at Ballybofey.

Jim McGuinness has hailed the on-field return of Michael Murphy after the Donegal talisman played a pivotal role in a spiky victory over All-Ireland champions Armagh in Ballybofey.