Good to see inter-island sport return

Yes there has been inter-insular sport of a kind since last autumn, but the football Muratti is the ‘daddy’ of all the inter-island clashes and its return on a ‘Super Saturday’ which saw Muratti, Siam Cup and cricket inter-insular all competed for, means that after two years, inter-island sport is back.

And whatever the result or your island persuasion, it’s a cause to celebrate. Our islands may not always be well-matched in certain sports – either island dominant for whatever reason, which makes the annual occasion less of a competition and more of a ceremonial thing.

But for those involved it’s a welcome chance to reconnect, to enjoy what is often the biggest moment of the sporting calendar, and, let’s not under-estimate this, to travel again.

There are issues of course. Travel costs and constraints, and once again the Siam Cup is mired in selection controversy, and it seems will need both clubs to get back around the table to make it the contest both islands crave.

But as more sports conclude their seasons with an inter-insular, let’s take a moment to appreciate how fortunate we are to enjoy this rivalry and our many differences.

It is hard to see the islands ever seriously coming together politically, but may we long enjoy coming together to pursue bragging rights.