Even with ample reason to think about what might have been, Paul Azinger prefers to wonder what’s next.

Jerome Boateng has provided a boost to Germany's World Cup squad by stepping up his return to training following a hamstring injury.

Lee Keegan’s criticism of the “very dirty tackle” which left Evan Regan with a broken jaw was “way off the mark”, according to Kerry manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice.

Munster captain Peter O’Mahony, an injury doubt for Sunday’s Champions Cup clash with Castres, says he and his squad will stand by Gerbrandt Grobler, as the debate continues over the decision to sign a player who served a two-year doping ban.

Paul Dunne may be starting his 2018 campaign on Thomas Bjorn’s European team at this weekend’s EurAsia Cup in Malaysia but the Irish star will not be fooled that he has one foot in the door for this year’s Ryder Cup.

Most of us would be thrilled to be granted the one wish — and even a genie only offers three — but Irish sport is a vast tent that covers many tribes so here are 10 stories we hope to see written in the 12 months to come.

Here's all you need to know.

Ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has criticised the passivity of European politicians in denouncing the prosecution of dismissed secessionist officials.

A far-left pro-independence party in Catalonia is calling for "mass civil disobedience" in the region.

One of Catalonia's top separatist leaders pushing for a break from Spain has called for unity as disputes over strategy threaten to split the secessionists.

Keepers’ conundrum

Shane Lowry will forever remember 2016 as the year he got married and then learned he will become a father five weeks before the 2017 Masters.

The Tour Championship is a lot tougher than it needs to be for Justin Thomas.

Rory McIlroy will be judged by his major wins but some victories are more significant than others and Monday’s comeback triumph in the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston may well go down as a watershed in the Co Down man’s career.

Paul Casey might not be available for Darren Clarke’s Ryder Cup team but the Cheltenham thoroughbred could change his mind if he wins the Masters.

Rory McIlroy was left with questions to answer after he slumped to a two over 74 to let the WGC-Cadillac Championship slip from his grasp last night.

The managers have their say...

Tipperary 2-17 Offaly 1-15: Michael Ryan declared himself pleased with his first outing in charge of Tipperary’s senior hurlers, as the Premier County scored a five-point victory over Offaly in yesterday’s Templemore challenge outing.

Pádraig Harrington is no longer searching for ‘the secret’ in the autumn of a glorious career, but he remains just a little bitter nobody told him where his ball was at St Andrews this year, writes Brian Keogh.

Ospreys 25 Exeter 13: Exeter became the first English club to lose in this season’s European Champions Cup after Wales star Dan Biggar led the Ospreys’ Liberty Stadium victory march.

The regional parliament of Catalonia approved a plan to set up a roadmap for independence from Spain by 2017, in defiance of central government.

The Spanish government has vowed to take immediate legal action against the regional parliament of Catalonia if it approves a proposal to formally start a bid for independence.

Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke says there will be no controversial gamesmanship at next year’s competition following the uproar at the women’s Solheim Cup.

Pro-independence parties pushing for Catalonia to break away and form a new Mediterranean nation have won a landmark vote by capturing a regional Spanish parliamentary majority – setting up a possible showdown with the government in Madrid.

European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke will gain pre-Hazeltine leadership experience in being named today as captain of the 2016 EurAsia Cup.

Voters in Catalonia participated in an election yesterday that could propel the northeastern region toward independence from the rest of Spain or quell secessionism for years.

Munster 12 Connacht 28: Connacht scrum-half Kieran Marmion could hardly be blamed for feeling more than a little aggrieved last week when he was released back to Connacht by Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt without having had a reasonable chance to press his claims for a place in Ireland’s World Cup squad.

Olivia Mehaffey continued her amazing run in strokeplay competitions when she came within an ace of winning a fourth major title this season at Moortown in Leeds yesterday.

Simon Zebo admits he would have little difficulty in settling into a new life as a rugby player in France, but the Munster and Ireland wing is postponing all thoughts on his club future until after the upcoming World Cup.

Rory McIlroy’s chances of defending his British Open title are almost certainly in the bunker after weekend football antics resulted in an ankle injury that could see him off the greens for months.

After more than a year on the sidelines with a foot injury, Donnacha Ryan is just pleased to be back on the field and in line to help Munster toward a Guinness Pro 12 title when they play Ospreys in Saturday’s semi-final at Thomond Park.

Drinking three alcoholic drinks a day can cause liver cancer, research has suggested.

The whizz at Greek grammar, nicknamed ‘Snowball’ by his classmates, yesterday recalled clandestine bets at the bookies, porridge without glucose and compulsory hurling on Wednesdays at his alma mater.

Munster assistant coach Ian Costello last night dismissed media reports that Robbie Henshaw could be on his way to the province at the end of next season. 

European rugby bosses have confirmed internal wrangling and moving competition headquarters from Dublin to Switzerland could delay the appointment of a figurehead chairman for the revamped continental game by five months.

World number one Rory McIlroy has won the Golf Writers Trophy for the second time in three years following a stunning season that saw him claim two major championships and play a leading role in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory.

Alex Ferguson has spoken of his delight at being involved with Europe's victorious Ryder Cup campaign.

It would be an exaggeration to say that Paul McGinley’s course design style is based on ‘Little Old Lady Theory’ but it’s not too far from the truth.

When Tom Watson was appointed captain of the US Ryder Cup team he talked openly about having finishers in his team — players capable of closing the deal when the chips were down — and yesterday in the morning fourballs he got his wish.