HOLD THE BACK PAGE:It's a measure of the impact he made on the Dublin GAA scene that a number of senior ex-players, among them Jason Sherlock, made it their business to go watch Ciarán Kilkenny's swansong for his club, Castleknock, in the AFL Division 4 last Sunday.

The match itself provided a suitable send-off to the young Dub, as his team ran out 14 points winners over Scoil Uí Chonaill – who featured in this year’s Celebrity Bainisteoir – to clinch promotion and move within one rung of senior club football next season.

Kilkenny (picturedt) flies off to Australia to Hawthorns next Thursday for the start of a new sporting life, one away from solos and the clash of the ash. For now. Dublin’s loss is the Melbourne club’s gain.