Hurling's Christmas Day has finally arrived

I remember going into an exam and just as the paper was being handed out I thought to myself, I'm goosed here today.

I knew it before I even opened it up. I did not have the work done, I barely had the book for it to be honest.

When you are that lost in an exam hall you try to lock onto someone who feels equally as lost in the forest of this exam as you do in an attempt to make yourself feel somewhat better.

I found that soldier and every now and again we gave each other the eyes up to heaven glance as if to say what are we doing here?

The mandatory time to stay had elapsed. I scribble down an apology to the corrector of what I had put them through in trying to make sense of this and a promise to try harder in the repeat, I actually did this would you believe.

I came out and went straight to my brother in arms who looked as lost as I did for the post mortem or lack thereof. I said 'oh Jesus, that was brutal' and ever the optimist, he said, 'I actually don’t think I did too badly'.

I could only burst myself laughing and this was proven right when the results came out.

What has this got to do with anything that will take place at 3.30pm in Croke Park?

It’s often said that you can’t get cleaned out in the parade but what it does offer you is that final moment to look around, take it all in and know that when that ball is thrown in, like the paper being handed out, that you are ready to answer whatever question is about to be asked in the next 75 minutes.

That is a beautiful feeling to have and when you know that every lad in that line and over underneath the Hogan Stand is feeling the same way that really is a powerful thing to have.

Each team will try something different to get that extra 1% pre game. It might be a video clip with