Odd the things you notice when you’re early.

They say Irving Berlin kept a musical genius chained up in his attic — starving, shoeless — and whenever the composer of White Christmas needed another hit, he lowered the Stira, climbed up and told his resident hit machine to crank out another one.

It’s a scenario that’s become depressingly familiar to members of sports clubs all over the country.

Last week there was something of a ripple about Michael Bent, a rugby player lately qualified to play for Ireland.

For purposes of illustration, I delve back into the chapter of my life working in the Dáil.

Perhaps the odd Aberavon player looked up last Saturday from the on-field combat in O’Dowd Park and thought he was back in Wales.

True confession: your columnist had forgotten all about Ireland playing Germany until I stumbled across the post-match analysis on Friday night’s television.

The end of an inter-county season usually brings with it reflection and peace.

Coveted like a neighbour's wife, the Michael Moynihan End of Hurling Season Awards are back for 2012.

It’s about that time. Again.