There are a number of positive developments deemed to have arisen during the two years we spent sub-servant to Government proto-call with regard to COVID.
The way the GAA operates ticketing and attendance at our games though was not one of them.
In order to re-start games at all levels, the GAA adopted a ticketing policy by which numbers were restricted and all games became ticketed.
It meant, of course, that the spread of the disease could be restricted insofar as possible.
Since then, only our local home and away club league games have returned to 'payment at the gate'.
Most counties now have adopted a ticketing system where the patron is requested to purchase the game day tickets prior to attending a championship match – this relates to both the club and county championships.
Interestingly the Galway County chairman was very open is detailing that they had collected over '1.4m in club championship receipts, of which only '200k originated from on-line sales relating to streamed live games.
He also noted that at each game, a turnstile was left available for payment on the day for those who didn't purchase a ticket on-line.
Galway adopted a sensible approach in recognising the rural nature of their own county and the fact that a generation still exists who do not use the world wide web.
County games had adopted a 'ticket-only' approach in recent times, but I do recall a time when I was playing you could pay at the gate.
Club championship matches in a great many counties have become all ticket affairs.
You can no longer simply turn up and pay at the turnstiles.
For many, particularly the older generation, who do not, cannot and will not have the access to on-line technology, this is preventing them from going as GAA fans.
Ulster GAA and the authorities in Croke Park in general should understand the challenges here and conclude that at least one turnstile at every single ground in the country have the ability to accept payment on the day.
It is that simple.
Whether this is a Croke Park fixture or Provincial ground club championship fixtures, I do not understand why the decision-makers have obstacles in the way when it comes to having patrons attend games.
I can understand the security element of it all – having cash transported from the ground to the bank could be viewed as an unnecessary risk to take.
However generally this has never been an issue in the past.
Even so banking technology exists now when a simple tap of the card via a remote terminal is a simple way of accepting payment nowadays.
Taxi's in cities across the globe now increasingly use this service.
I do accept that the on-line payment method prior to fans arriving at the ground is a much simpler and better way of tracking county funds in terms of money management as it saves the counting and man-power required.
All banks, as we have seen via the closure of local branches, are changing their operations however they too are still accommodating the public were possible.
Again, I go back to the fact that it is an unfair system now operating in many counties toward those GAA people who do not purchase on-line tickets, or those who wish to be impromptu and turn up and watch a match.
There is a point when the GAA has to ask itself – what best facilitates the supporter.
The Galway county board appear to get it – it is time that other counties receive the memo.
On a football front, the Ulster Club final takes place this weekend with Kilcoo vs Glen Maghera facing off in an eagerly awaited clash.
Given the closeness of last year's affair between both sides when one point separated the teams, All-Ireland Champions Kilcoo would go on and win the competition against a much fancied Kilmacud Crokes side who appear to be buoyed this season via the addition of the brilliant Shane Walsh.
Both the Derry and Down men will be wary of this threat down the line, but for now, they must get over each other.
Make no mistake about it, Glenn Maghera will believe that they could have been sitting here today as All-Ireland club champions but people have written off this Kilcoo team for a number of years now – the result being the opposite, they have thrived on this.
So far, the Magpies toughest encounters have been in the Down championship, winning a quarter-final against Clonduff by a point, and again a final by the minimum against an unfancied Warrenpoint side who I felt had missed the boat a number of years ago.
Perhaps the familiarity across Down is a factor here.
Kilcoo is the epitome of 'getting the job done'.
It may not be pretty, however winning championships normally never are.
They are one of the best teams I have seen at keeping possession – they are experts in working the best players into the right positions and will take their time in the build-up.
They are also goal hungry and as demonstrated last season, ultimately will not be afraid, when they get a sniff, to hammer the back of the net.
Obviously, I know far less about Glen Maghera but it wouldn't take a footballing genius to see that Conor Glass return from Aussie Rules football has played a significant part in their Ulster rise.
Kilcoo have comfortably won their Ulster championship games to date, while Glenn have been pushed that bit harder by the opposition.
This has its advantages and disadvantages.
Historically though, it should be noted that this is more or less deemed irrelevant in how the magpies approach their games.
The closer, the better, from their perspective.
This game will probably be won by the team that manages to minimise their mistakes.
Of course, there is a negative connotation in viewing the resultant outcome in this manner, however put it this way, I cannot see it being a free flowing, open game of football.
That is just not the way the game is played at this time of the year.
I do suspect that the winners will see their way to the final, however with a strengthened Kilmacub Crokes team angered by last season's final defeat, a greater war lies ahead.
But for now this battle is for the Ulster title.
For me, it is hard to see past Kilcoo.
Nothing this year suggests that they are weakened – quite the opposite, they appear stronger.
