The decision to run this year’s Gaelic football championship on a straight knockout basis was an understandable one, but at the same time it raised concerns about an even greater level of predictability than before.

With no back door for beaten counties, the carrot of a place in the Super 8 was gone for the teams for whom a provincial title was an unlikely prospect, so the potential for interesting sub-plots was lessened.

Mayo were too strong for Leitrim and then Roscommon in the Connacht championship, advancing to the final against Galway, who have yet to play after receiving a walkover from Sligo – a game where they would have been strong favourites in any case and Dublin saw off Westmeath at their ease as they began the quest for six in a row in Leinster.

To be fair, the Ulster championship is always the most competitive of the four and there was a heavyweight clash between Donegal and Tyrone in the quarter-finals, meaning that a blue-chip contender was gone early, while Cavan’s win over Monaghan after extra time also took out a big gun.

Aside from the action up north, there was a sense that everything else was plodding along until things got interesting in the All-Ireland semi-finals in December (even now, it seems strange to write such a sentence).

Having taken Dublin to a replay last year and with more experience under their belts after winning the national league, Peter Keane’s Kerry team were seen as the likeliest pretenders to the crown.

Not since 2012 had the Kingdom failed to win the Munster championship and, even though Cork had improved – going from a 17-point loss in 2018 to losing by only three last year – there were few who felt that the Rebels could emerge victorious from Sunday’s clash in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. While they had won Division 3, the Rebels were still playing league football at a level below Kerry and the group of players had come in for a lot of criticism, some unwarranted, over the past few seasons.

It’s funny how history can repeat itself. In 1983, Kerry were aiming to win a ninth straight Munster title when they came to the old Páirc Uí Chaoimh but, in the rain, they were denied at the death as Tadhg Murphy popped up with a winning goal for Cork. Last Sunday, the Kingdom looked to have done enough in extra time as they led by two points with time almost up but Cork sub Mark Keane struck for a goal in the 92nd minute.

Keane had been a talented underage star for Cork but when he was offered the chance to join Australian rules side Collingwood at the end of 2017, he moved down under. While many others who have moved to the AFL have been losses for their native counties and clubs – Kerry’s Mark O’Connor, who is with Geelong, was prevented from playing for his club Dingle last year, for example – Cork asked Collingwood if there was a possibility of Keane lining out for them and permission was granted. On such things can whole seasons turn.

It means that Kerry are out – the first time since 1999 that they won’t have taken part in the All-Ireland quarter-finals or beyond – while Cork face Tipperary in the Munster final on Sunday week. Either Cork, Tipp, Galway or Mayo will be in the All-Ireland final, which is a huge carrot for that quartet.

Munster final

With the Munster final falling on the day after the centenary of Bloody Sunday, it is fitting that Tipp are taking part and they will play in white and green jerseys similar to those worn on that fateful day when Michael Hogan and 13 others died.

Stranger things have happened than Tipp winning – they won’t have any fear of Cork, having beaten them in the league and championship in recent times – and the challenge for the Rebels will be to show that they can put two good performances back to back.

It certainly makes for a novel pairing. With no slight intended against Kerry, who will come back stronger – after their last elimination by Cork, in 1999, they won the All-Ireland in 2000 – it has added some unpredictability to the championship.

McIlroy gores in search of winter mastery in Augusta

We are still at a stage where spectators are having to stay away from sporting events – apart from in Australia and New Zealand, and some limited attendances in the US – but this lockdown is made more bearable by the fact that we have sports to look forward to and enjoy.

This weekend sees golf’s Masters Tournament take place at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia and, while the lack of patrons (as the host club insists on broadcasters calling them) will make things strange. It is an event arguably more associated with televised coverage than any other.

Rory McIlroy. \ Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Usually, the late Sunday finish – apart from last year, when Tiger Woods’ epic victory was in the afternoon Irish time due to weather concerns – is a staple of the arrival of spring. The fact that it is held at the same venue each year provides a familiarity that isn’t present when watching the other two American-based majors, the US Open and the PGA Championship.

It has allowed us to become used to the blast of colour at the signature holes, but of course the change in the time of year means that there will be a noticeable visual difference in the foliage, leaving aside the swathes of green that are usually covered by those lucky enough to be able to attend in person.

The big question in golf right now is whether Bryson DeChambeau, who won the US Open, will be able to overpower Augusta after bringing prodigious length to his game. He has certainly made the traditionalists a bit wary, and if he were to win again then we could expect more debate about whether the golf balls should be made heavier at professional level.

From an Irish point of view, the question once again will be whether Rory McIlroy can get the Masters victory that would give him a ‘career grand slam’, i.e. at least one win in each major.

Ever since his collapse from a winning position in 2011, his capability to win at Augusta has been questioned and it will continue to be until he manages to claim a green jacket.

Such is the nature of top-level sport. Perhaps the Down native can take inspiration from the Cork footballers.