This Week's Kick Up The Noel Goes To Kieran McGeeney 

It was clear Kildare weren’t one bit serious about that game last Sunday. I could see it in them. They were smiling and joking beforehand. I saw two defenders high-fiving in the kickaround.

Kieran, you’d want to cut out this excessive frivolity now before it seeps into the psyche.

My advice, Kieran, would be to lay down the law in training. A ‘my way or the highway’ attitude will stand to you at this difficult time. It’s up to you to set the example so arriving at training a few nights with a cranky head on you wouldn’t do any harm at all.

Undoubtedly, your natural inclination would be lighten things up even more, but that just won’t work, as you’ve found out. Suggest you study the closing stages of Celebrity Bainisteoir. See how Marty Whelan kept it high-octane all the time.

Pay close attention, too, to the Mayfield maestro with the reddest tie in Christendom, Patrick ‘Pudge’ Duggan. There’s a fellow who doesn’t play it fast and loose when it comes to championship football. Pudge would never require a kick up the Noel.