How was it for you?
JANUARY starts with a bang in the Kingdom as Páidi Ó Sé mentions in an interview that the entire population of the county are animals. RTÉ fly Marty Morrissey to Cape Town to sort out the mess ... in a bizarre piece move of reverse Cromwellism, the IRFU decide to disband Connacht ... in an obvious portent of the summer to come, Mick O'Dwyer begins his 50th year in competitive football with defeat to Longford. He still smiles. Think he knew something we didn't ... in the Premiership, West Ham revive fading survival hopes with a couple of draws before Glenn Roeder details Gary Breen to shadow Ruud Van Nistelrooy in the FA Cup. No prizes for guessing what happens next ... England convinced Wayne Rooney is heading on the same road to ruin as Gazza because he chews gum on a TV show ... relations between the GAA and the GPA are described as cordial ... hearts murmur in tabloid offices as Anna Kournikova ponders her future in tennis.
FEBRUARY and with impeccable timing, Roy Keane finally closes the lid on his international career, the evening before Brian Kerr's first match in charge ... an exhausted Armagh demolish Dublin in Croke Park. Dubs hearten themselves, saying no All-Irelands are won in February. Or June or July ... Mike Tyson's behaviour is said to grow more irrational because he gets a tribal tattoo. Granted, it covers half his face, but those whom the media wish to destroy ... the Six Nations begins promisingly enough. England look ominous but the other five console themselves by saying 'at least, we score tries' ... well apart from Wales, where there are riots after defeat to Italy ... On the day millions march against the impending war in Iraq, Ryan Giggs misses the easiest chance of the season and Arsenal beat United at Old Trafford in the Cup ... everyone agrees it is an omen for the Premiership ... Mick McCarthy is back in gainful employment Bookies stop taking bets on Sunderland falling ... The Aussies beat the Poms at another sport football. The gloating is heard around the world.
