With all the excitement about the drawn hurling final there’s very little being said as yet about the football decider even if there’s only twelve days to go now until it takes place. That doesn’t mean, however, that nothing is happening – just that perhaps it’s time to wheel out that old analogy about the duck (floating serenely on the surface, paddling like crazy underneath).

So who is paddling at the minute? Well, Cáirde Mhaigheo over in London are for starters. They’re holding a race night fundraiser next Sunday evening (16th) in the Oxford Arms, 265 Camden High Street where throw-in takes place at 6.30pm. There’ll be races and music and a few chances to win All-Ireland tickets over the course of the evening. Full details on the event are in the poster opposite – double-click on it for the high resolution version. Further information on the event is available from cairdemhaigheolondon@gmail.com.

There was – if all those photos tweeted by @officialdonegal are to be believed – total mayhem up in Ballybofey last Saturday morning when over 6,000 people turned up to worship at the church of Jimmy The Redeemer and to witness his disciples being put through their paces. Not to be outdone, our lads are having an open evening for supporters at McHale Park this coming Friday (14th) between 6.30pm and 7.30pm where you’ll be able to meet the players and management, get your face painted, jersey signed and so forth. Unlike the Donegal one, though, our one isn’t slated to last half the day – the shutters will come down at 7.30pm sharp after which anyone betraying any hint of a Donegal lilt will I’m sure find themselves being escorted rapidly from the premises.

The County Board is also organising a Green and Red Fun Day this Friday, with workplace and school variants both planned. The intention is to create a bit of a buzz about the final and, while doing so, to raise some dosh for the training fund. Prizes for participants will include that precious commodity of tickets for the final.

Finally, on a totally separate note I see that An Fear Rua has decided to close what must surely be the longest-running online GAA discussion forum in existence. I can sympathise with what he has to say about the perils of overseeing internet comment although, based on my own experience here, I wouldn’t agree 100% with his take on it either. By coincidence, An Spailpín Fánach tackles the same thorny topic over at his place today.