There can surely only be a few striking days to Christmessi now.

THERE were plenty of household names, old friends, familiar faces and League of Ireland veterans in the Aviva Stadium the other night for the launch of a new book about the FAI Cup.

A MAN who walked free from court after beating up a pensioner on Halloween has thanked the 71-year-old man for giving him a second chance at life.

THE Queen might not have made it to the Aviva Stadium — or even to dear old Dalyer to doff her crown to the Jodi Stand — but Irish football had its own reasons to feel the hand of history on its shoulder this week.

THE household names have given way to the names of households.

AND so the last Sunday in September is almost upon us and there’s just a nerve-tingling 24 hours to go to one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar, as two ancient rivals and neighbours prepare to renew battle in the presence of a massive crowd and with millions more tuning in on television all over the world.

CORK CITY have overcome some big name opponents in the course of their 25 year history but none has proved quite as formidable as the tax man.

A CORK contributor to the Football365 website got me thinking the other day, always a dangerous thing as the Sports Editor will testify.

THEY are the boys of the 60s who have become men in their 60s but, when they get together in a room even 40 years on, there is still the warming afterglow of what must have seemed, at one time, like the endless summer of their youth.

SO HERE it is.

TWICE IN recent weeks I have found myself recalling the ancient art of Subbuteo.

EVER opened up a book and felt like you were looking in a mirror? Your correspondent had that experience this week and, no, before you ask, it wasn’t The Great Gatsby. Or even the latest Harry Potter.

CHECKING over my diary, I see that over the past three weeks I have attended the FA Cup final in Cardiff, the Champions’ League Final in Istanbul, the Jackie McNamara testimonial in Glasgow, the World Cup qualifier against Israel in Dublin and the World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands in Torshavn.

WITH Shamrock Rovers set to respond today to FAI questions about irregularities in their Club License application, the club were yesterday putting on a show of unity ahead of Friday’s night’s Premier Division game against Cork City at Dalymount Park.

Drogheda United manager Paul Doolin is celebrating a double boost for his high-flying side this morning after signing former Irish schoolboy international striker Mark Leech and persuading rising star Steven Gray to sign a new contract.