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A sideways look at the sporting year ahead...  Brian
to Biarritz, Derval to Beijing and El Tel to Dublin. An alternative look
at what’s in store for Irish sport in 2008.
A is for All-Stars. Will they continue to pick their
‘favourites’ or will they add some imagination to their selection
policy? The ‘honour’ faces losing real credibility if competing
in an All-Ireland final continues to be the most important criteria for
being picked.
B is for Brian O’Driscoll. The Dublin icon may
stand at a huge crossroads for his future and that of Leinster. Biarritz
are among his known suitors.
C is for Cricket. Now that expectations have been raised,
Ireland holds its breath for our boys to dominate the world.
D is for Derval. The ‘new Sonia’ will head
for Beijing with expectations, however distorted, extremely high.
E is for the Eddie O’Sullivan. If he doesn’t
make it through the year unsacked then he will certainly be very employable
as an agent. Who wouldn’t want him negotiating their terms and conditions.
F is for Fitzpatrick. The young Kilkenny midfielder
looks set to become a merited regular on the All-Star team. Legendary
status awaits for ‘Cha’.
G is for Ger Loughnane. The eccentric Galway chief
is unlikely to make life boring for anyone following the county this year,
County Board chairman included.
H is for Heineken Cup. Once again it looks like coming
down to Munster to represent us in a very open looking European Cup. Another
Cardiff final beckoning?
I is for Ireland. As in the man, rather than the country.
The young Manchester City midfielder had an eventful 2007. He will be
hoping to add to his growing reputation, for the right reasons.
J is for Jayo. The Dublin forward may consider his
future if his beloved blues fail again. Then again didn’t he do
that last year, and the year before, and the year before…
 K
is for Kilkenny/Kerry. Greatness awaits with the three-in-a-row. Can anyone
stop them?
L is for Long. Whether his future lies with Reading
or someone else (Sunderland?), the young Tipperary native can emerge as
a serious international prospect. A real bright spot on an otherwise murky
looking landscape.
M is for Mick McCarthy. Will he stick around at Wolves
or head for South Korea? Last time old Mick went to the far East he got
a bit of an ear-bashing from a certain combatitive midfielder. Unpleasant
memories but at least this time he almost certainly wouldn’t understand
if his captain tells him he can stick it up his b*******.
N is for the New Approach. The Jim Bolger-trained two-year-old
looks primed to take on all-comers next year — can he make up for
the loss of Teofilo?
O is for Olympics. The Beijing showpiece is something
for everyone to look forward to, unless you happen to be Irish.
P is for Pillar. Mr Caffrey is managing expectation
set against reality in the capital. Good luck with that.
Q is for Quinn. Will Niall be chairman of the Premier
League come May? If not, has he got the balls to sack the manager? Will
his manager just turn around and tell him: “I didn’t respect
you as a player. I don’t respect you as a chairman. You can stick
it up your b*******?”
R is for Royal County. Meath put on a real show last
year as they reached the semis. There is a lot of young talent there to
work with and the old steel may be coming back too. Kerry’s biggest
threat?
S is for Stan. Probably glad to see the back of 2007
and reviews thereof, which had the temerity to question his tactical genius.
T is for Titus Bramble. OK, he has nothing at all to
do with Irish sport, but come on, even the name is funny. Can he be even
worse in ’08 than he was in ’07? That’s not a rhetorical
question. The answer is yes he can. Go on Titus.
U is for Ulster. The toughest of the provinces by a
country mile. Tyrone, Derry, Donegal, Monaghan, Armagh. Who will win the
mock All-Ireland this year?
 V
is for Venables. Come on Terry, tell us you are the saviour and we will
believe it, at least until the first time the boys on telly don’t
agree with your formation then we shall descend upon thee with great wrath
and feast on your sun-leathered limbs.
W is for Waterford. The great Deise bandwagon will gather
momentum again come summer. The nation has come to regard Waterford’s
hurling team as ‘the Irish team’. Will this be their year?
X is for Xenophobia. After the disappointment of the
Six Nations and the debacle of the Rugby World Cup, it’s fair to
say we’re not the biggest fans of our Gallic foes. Here’s
hoping we can turn them over in 2008.
Y is for Yoghurt companies sponsoring GAA teams. It
will never be Waterford’s year until they get a different logo splashed
across their jerseys.
Z is for Zombies. AKA the Irish rugby team after two
months in France. Now they’re over the blip, which happened for
no particular reason at all, perhaps they can get back to playing properly.
The Six Nations is as good a time as any to begin.
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