Watching people watching sport is a great way to get an impression of how deep the love of the game can run.

Step forward Ritchie Ryan, a Kilkenny native living in Canada, watching yesterday’s All-Ireland final on a small laptop screen.

The excitement, fear and devotion he has to everything happening on screen suggests he wasn’t even aware his friend was filming him. But his reaction to the game play is familiar to anyone who’s ever had a relative get really into the clash of the ash like only Irish people can.

Of course, like any superfan, Ritchie’s language occasionally commits enough fouls to merit getting a black card – so you might want to watch this one with the sound turned down a bit.

But you cannot deny that the pure passion for the game that has him rapt to the action is instantly recognisable as uniquely Irish.