With the 2010 NFL now headed for the results archive, it’s time to reveal the final table in our mini-league (with thanks to facetheball.com for providing all that under-the-bonnet IT plumbing, which made it all possible).  Unlike the real thing, there’s no need for any post-match analysis as to how this finished up the way it did, as Mick C was already safely ensconced in the winner’s enclosure before the ball was thrown in at Croke Park on Sunday.  And not just for our little parochial set-to either – he had the overall prize in the bag by then as well.  Who said Mayomen can’t come out on top?

I’ve having a little snigger at the expense of my old pal, ontheroad, as I managed to elbow past him into the bronze medal position in the mini-league.  Just to make you feel even better, OTR, I made a mistake in my predictions, as I thought I’d gone for Down to win but must have opted for Armagh by mistake.  Like shite refereeing, however, what’s done is done and so I’m not giving back the bauble for third for love or money.

Which reminds me – Mick will, for his efforts, shortly be getting two books and a DVD.  The books are The GAA: A People’s History, which I reviewed here late last year and which I thought was excellent and Ireland’s Professional Amateurs, an interesting outsider’s account of a year spent traipsing round the country learning at first hand about the GAA.  It’s also very good and I might get a chance to do a proper review of it at some point before the championship action gets underway.  I’ve got one of these already but I still have to get the other one so I’ll be in contact with you, Mick, once I’ve done so.

Oh yes, the DVD – Gerry at Club Mayo (who knows Mick) tells me that he has a DVD of last year’s quarter-final defeat to Meath which he reckons will fit the bill perfectly.  Add in last Sunday’s one and that’s halfway to a box set.

The 2010 championship is, of course, just around the corner now and I’ve already got an email from the Face the Ball lads telling me what great crack it would be to organise a mini-league.  Sure, don’t I know that already?  I’ll do the necessary admin to set up one for the championship and hopefully a good number of you will take the plunge.  I’m expecting Mortified back in the field for that to defend the title he won in fine style last September.  He decided, like half the Kerry team, to sit out the league but I’d say that, like those cute hoors from down South, he now has his eye on back-to-back championship titles.