IT HAS been a crazy year in Irish sport.

In 2008 we have had the introduction of two international managers. We won two bronze and one silver medal at the Beijing Olympics. Padraig Harrington won two golfing majors. Kilkenny won the All-Ireland hurling final (well some things never change), and Tyrone beat Kerry to win the football final.

The main events didn’t truly begin until the announcement that Giovanni Trapattoni would take over the national football team at the beginning of May. In his first game Ireland drew 1-1 with Serbia but three days later defeated Columbia 1-0 to give Trappatoni
his first victory.

Since those two games we have played four times, winning two and drawing two. We currently sit second in Group 8 of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, behind Italy. Although we are yet to be seriously tested, it has been a good start to the Trapattoni era, after the disaster that was Steve “the Gaffer” Staunton’s reign, long may it continue.

In rugby, Munster won the Heineken Cup for the second time in three years by defeating Toulouse 16 to 13. It was the last game in charge for Declan Kidney, who took over the national team job following the resignation of Eddie O’Sullivan. Kidney will have a tough task ahead of him. It is likely the public will demand instant results of the Cork man considering his record at Munster, however he does seem capable of delivering.

On September 7 Kilkenny won their 31st All-Ireland Hurling Championship. They defeated Waterford in an extremely one-sided game that was reflected in the scoreline, 3-30 to 1-13. Kilkenny have dominated hurling this decade, appearing in nine All-Ireland Finals since 1998 and winning in 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008, thus becoming the first team to win three All-Ireland hurling finals in a row.

In football, Tyrone defeated Kerry who were attempting to win three All-Irelands in a row. Kerry were heartbroken by the final scoreline of 1-15 to 14 points. This gave the Ulster team their third All-Ireland success, all coming in this decade after triumphs in 2003 and 2005.

Dubliner Padraig Harrington has come of age as a golfer winning two major championships in 2008. In July he won his second consecutive Open Championship at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club, defeating Englishman, Ian Poulter by four strokes. Harrington played the final six holes in an almost incomprehensible four under par to finish with a three over par total. His second major of 2008 came in the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan. He defeated Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis by two strokes to finish at two under par.

He is now one of few men to win the Open Championship and the PGA Championship in the same year and only the second Irish winner of a golfing major, following Fred Daly’s Open victory in 1947. ‘Patch’ as Harrington is affectionately known, had less success in this year’s Ryder Cup winning none of his matches as the United States defeated Europe 16 and a half to 11 and a half. It was the first US victory since 1999.

Ireland returned home for the Beijing Olympics with three medals, one silver and two bronze. All came from the boxing ring. Paddy Barnes advanced to the light flyweight semi-finals, losing out to China’s Zou Shiming by 15 points to 0, picking up the Bronze medal in the process. DCU student, Darren Sutherland also advanced to the middleweight semi-finals, this time losing out to the British boxer James DeGale with a score of 10 points to 3. He also picked up a bronze medal.

In the light heavyweight division, former Kylemore College (secondary school facing BCFE Arts Block) pupil Kenny Egan advanced to the finals. There he was judged to have been defeated by the hometown fighter, China’s Zhang Xiaoping. There was controversy surrounding the fight. Judges clearly failed to score several punches landed by Egan. NBC announcers believe Egan should have won. Unfortunately he was left a silver medal.

The scoring system in Olympic boxing was the topic much debate throughout the games. The judging was so bad that Paddy Power even paid out on all bets on Egan to win the Gold.

Overall 2008 has been a sporting year that won’t be forgotten. The extreme highs of Munster’s Heineken Cup success and Padraig Harrington’s majors, contrast with the dramatic lows of Egan and Barnes. We’re left with the old adage, ‘There’s always next year.’