County finals and the privilege of training on dark, cold autumn nights

There’s a moment every September as you head out training, when the evening is still dry and warm, and you struggle to imagine going out of the championship this early in the year. It seems to have gone by in a flash, and one finds oneself desperate for one more win, just to make the year feel like it hasn’t been woefully, drastically cut short.

Two weeks later, you could be at the same pitch, at the same time of the week, asking yourself how much longer a season can possibly go on for. These are liminal times. It’s suddenly dark at 7pm, and now being finished for the year seems, if not preferable, then maybe just about right.