So much to celebrate in another memorable year
IT’S been another sporting year packed with drama, excitement and controversy. Here’s my personal take on the first six months, with the review of July to December to follow next week.
January
The year started on a sad note with the death of golfer Christy O’Connor jnr at the age of 67. The Ryder Cup hero from The Belfry was to be joined in his eternal reward by his uncle of the same name later in the year. Lionel Messi collected his fifth Ballon D’Or award at a ceremony in Zurich. Longford beat Dublin 1-12 to 0-9 in the O’Byrne Cup semi-final, their only loss in 2016. Meath would beat them in the final. Louth were none too convincing in their first NFL Division 4 game against London in Darver, but victory was secured thanks to goals from Declan Byrne and Jim McEneaney.
February
Ireland started the Six Nations with a draw against Wales at the Aviva, but hopes of another tournament victory were dashed later in the month following successive away defeats to France and England. Manchester City confirmed the worst-kept secret in football - that Pep Guardiola would join them in the summer. Louth returned from Dungarvan with both points following a narrow one-point victory over Waterford and the winning run was maintained with a facile 10-point trouncing of Wicklow in Drogheda. GAA Annual Congress in Carlow brought in ‘the mark’ for 2017 and changed the Minor and Under-21 grades to Under-17 and Under-20. The Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50. March
UFC sensation Conor McGre- gor lost to late stand-in Nate Diaz in Las Vegas, but the year would get better for the Crumlin native. Annie Power, Sprinter Sacre and Don Cossack took the big prizes at Cheltenham as the Irish raiders clocked up a record-equalling 14 winners. Louth suffered a surprise defeat in Leitrim but secured promotion with solid wins over Carlow and Wexford. Ireland completed their Six Nations campaign with victories over Italy and Scotland to finish third in the competition. Dundalk suffered a 1-0 league defeat to Cork in Oriel Park but bounced right back with a 4-0 drubbing of St Pat’s in Inchicore.
April
Louth tasted National success as they beat Antrim in the Division 4 Final in Croke Park. Dublin won their fourth National League title in a row, hammering Kerry 2-18 to 0-13 in the final. Trainer Mouse Morris completed a Grand National double, with 33/1 shot Rule the World winning at Aintree. Katie Taylor lost a championship fight for the first time since 2006 at an Olympic qualifier in Turkey. Limerick beat Drogheda United 3-0 in the First Division at United Park, but wins against Waterford and Cobh helped get the Boynesiders’ season back on track.
May
Amazingly, Leicester City won the English Premiership following what was a fairytale season, while Liverpool were beaten 3-1 by Sevilla in the Europa League Final. Real Madrid beat city rivals Atlético 5-3 on penalties to win the Champions League and in his final game in charge Louis van Gaal helped Man United capture the FA Cup at Wembley. Rory McIlroy won the Irish Open at the K Club and donated his €660,000 winning cheque to charity. Connacht completed their own fairytale season by winning the Guinness Pro 12 Final against Leinster in Edinburgh. Louth made a winning start to their Leinster SFC campaign with a 2-24 to 3-11 victory in Portlaoise.
June
The entire country, North and South, was gripped by the Euros. We drew with Sweden in the opening game, suffered defeat to Belgium in the second but staged a grandstand finish to the group by beating Italy 1-0 in Lille. Northern Ireland also joined us in the knockout stages. After taking the lead with a first-minute penalty France replied with two Antoine Griezmann goals to end our Euro party. The North were beaten by the Welsh who went on to make the semi-finals. Louth bowed out of Leinster with defeat to Meath at a packed Parnell Park and fell at the first hurdle in the Qualifiers in Derry. The hurlers, however, won the Lory Meagher Cup, beating Sligo in an eight-goal thriller at Croke Park. Shane Lowry suffered a final-round meltdown as Dustin Johnston won the US Open in Oakmount and Ireland beat the Springboks in South Africa for the first time. Former heavyweight world champion Muhammad Ali sadly passed away on June 3rd.
SidelineBet
Our final bet of 2016, €10 each way on Minella Daddy at 10/1 in the Silver Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot, added €25 to the kitty after he was hampered by a loose horse and eventually finished second.
That leaves the grand total at €750, courtesy of Quay Sports and Kingbet, and the money will be handed over to charity early in the New Year.