Celebrating One Year of the Blog by Writing in It.

To celebrate one full year of the blog, I am actually going to write something in it. I suppose it's a good example of how long I stick at something before quitting. Six months is consistent with other notions I've had over the years. Then it all just seems to tail off.

Have I learned anything from the year that was? Only that football can be a cruel game and that life is dreadfully unfair sometimes. Whether or not I learned it this year, I also realised that when you get knocked down, there is nothing for it but to get up, brush yourself down and drive on again. Was it Vince Lombardi who said that it's not about how hard you fall but how quickly you get back up?

Other things I've learned include:

1. It turns out that Stephen Ireland isn't all that good after all and we didn't need him to qualify for the World Cup;


2. The Limerick Hurlers are shit but then we knew that already. I don't think I'm even going to bother fooling myself into thinking they have a chance next year;


3. Getting a book published isn't all that easy;


4. Geovanni Trapatonni drinks whiskey straight, no ice;


5. Packie Bonner is huge in person (and also very cagey);


6. Paul McShane is sound, if a bit dodgey under a high ball;


7. People get genuinely offended when I slag off Munster Rugby;


8. Mark Foley is to Limerick hurling what Elin Nordregan is to Tiger Woods;


9. I was cheated into using Gillette shaving products, it's Wilkinson Sword for me from now. Two Blades, job done, no fuss, no lies;


10. The Robbie Keane debate is no closer to resolution;


11. Shane Warne made it acceptable (expected even) to burn the candle at both ends;


12. Being a substitute goalkeeper for a Championship side isn't all it's cracked up to be;


13. Face guards do work;


14. Clare U-21 hurlers showed that occasionally you get what you deserve;


15. If you get an opportunity and don't take it, it may not come around again;


16. Ireland will not be making a bid to host the 2016 European Championships;


17. Irish people like to whinge about injustice;


18. 5 a side soccer is awesome;


19. Andy Reid was fat after all and not just big boned;


20. The Irish taxpayer should not be paying Eamon Dunphy's wages (or anyone else's in RTE for that matter);
21. Darragh O'Sé did have one more season left in him;
22. Found out what the State of Origin is.

For all it's faults I do love sport, such as:

• Coming into work on a Monday morning and reading all the match reports from the weekend.


• Putting my heart and soul into Ireland qualifying for the World Cup and then being crushed when we didn't. To quote Lomdardi again: In great attempts it is glorious even to fail. I tend to agree.


• Watching Hurling matches.


• Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2 (I miss you both terribly).


• Reading well written articles, reports and interviews or listening to good discussions.


• Tracking the progress of young players and seeing them make a breakthrough.


• Scoring goals.


• Surprising yourself with a defence splitting pass or bit of skill.


• Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.


• Being right about something or even pleasantly surprised when you're not.


• A fit Fernando Torres.


• The Munster Championship.


• Meeting people more obsessed with hurling and soccer than I am.


• Pucking ball just for the sake of it of an evening.
  

I don't know when I'll write on here again. I don't think it really matters but one thing is for sure, out of all the bullshit that surrounds us it's important to have a passion in life be it sport, writing or whatever you're having yourself so throw yourself into it, don't worry about what anyone else thinks and if you stick to your guns, it might just get you somewhere.