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GAA fans in the Kingdom and Tyrone are gradually winding down at work these few days before they head up to Dublin for the weekend and the craic.

Fans in both counties are going frantic buying t shirts, spraying cars, braiding their hair – and of course growing beards. In other words, whatever they can be at to avoid doing a day’s work. A spokesman for the Confederation of British Industry had no idea at all of the effect on productivity of an Ulster team appearing in an All Ireland final.

Of course Tyrone’s ridiculous beards have been grabbing the headlines and last week in Armagh at the Irish News Awards, Kingdom Legend Eoin ‘The Bomber’ Lison claimed kinship with his beardfellows in the Tyrone camp. Many across the county have now set aside the razor ahead of the big day.

But for other fans there are more ingenious ways of showing your support. Sheep and some white geese were seen cowering against a wall in Plumbridge, fearful of another spraying with red paint. Down in Kerry, where they scarcely get excited about these things, there were a few signs of enthusiasm when Paddy Heaney headed down that way last week to report for the Irish News. Aparently he couldn’t walk down the street without bumpinig into another legend.

One thing’s for sure no matter which way the game turns, Sunday in Croker will be a riot of colour and noise. If you’re there make sure you make yourself heard.