Indeed, throughout the world and Ireland, a myriad of athletes have put their bodies and souls through the wringer, gone for the six in the morning run on the beach and pushed that one last bench press in the gym at 10 o'clock at night. Blood has been spilled, tears have been shed and every last ounce of energy has been expended. There has been ecstasy and agony, hope and despair. Certainly 2011 has had it all.
Hurling
The demise of Goliath in 2011 turned out to be greatly exaggerated. Every intercounty team in the country must still live in fear. Once again the Kilkenny cats were purring as they lifted the Liam McCarthy for the fifth time in six years, their eighth success in twelve years.It wasn't quite the same ferocious Kilkenny team who obliterated everything in sight like in years gone by. Indeed their injury ravaged side managed to negotiate their way to a League decider where they ran into a perhaps hungrier side that needed the win more on the day. The 0- 22 points to 1-7 score line however left question marks as well as scars in equal measure. Their obituaries were indeed being written.
It was of course foolhardy to write off this Kilkenny side and even more so in the knowledge that they were without undoubtedly two of their greatest servants in the form of the all action Tommy Walsh and the cerebral Henry Shefflin. Added to that the eventual player of the year Michael Fennelly also did not start the League final.
Indeed Kilkenny waltzed through the Leinster Championship dismantling Wexford and also brushing aside Dublin in the process gaining revenge for their League final humbling. In the All-Ireland semi final Waterford stood in their way and whilst it was not a stroll in the park for Kilkenny they always had enough in beating their near neighbours.
Of course there was still one final score to settle. Tipperary lay in wait in the final. They too were presented with an exceptional challenge in the semi final by Dublin but eventually came through by the skin of their teeth. Once more another classic was eagerly anticipated. Tipperary were still favourites as youth and glory were both on their side allied with the trouncing they handed out to Waterford in the Munster final still fresh in the memory.
Admittedly it was not the rip roaring score fest that the first final between these two sides was, but it epitomised everything else that is wonderful and exhilarating about hurling. The athleticism and accuracy of Michael Fennelly's goal, the artistic nature in which Richie Power casually volleyed home Kilkenny's second goal. The metronomic King Henry slotting over frees like he has done all his life and returning better than ever from his cruciate injury.
Yet there was so much more to the decider than that. Indeed the 2011 finale was much like the 2006 decider when Kilkenny dethroned a proud and gallant Cork outfit. On that occasion Kilkenny's aggression and hunger proved too much for their Munster rivals. On that particular day they only won by three points but were obviously the better side.
It was the same this year and that too is a credit to this Tipperary team that they never threw in the towel. They were outgunned in almost every sector of the pitch, with their own mercurial marksman Lar Corbett remarkably quiet, yet with five minutes remaining they were still only a goal behind. Undoubtedly the loss was a huge disappointment, but Tipperary still has much youth on their side. It will not be the last we see of them.
Elsewhere the Championship was not so invigorating. Old powers like Cork, Wexford and Clare continued to decline whilst Galway persisted in flattering to deliver whilst possessing the best attacking talent in the country in the form of the imperious Joe Canning.
On the other hand Dublin continue to progress steadily under the guidance of Anthony Daly whilst Dónal Ó'Grady stabilised a Limerick team who were rapidly on the slide and were involved in one of the games of the year against a Waterford unit who continue to toy with the hearts of their supporters. Agony and ecstasy followed them around all year like a starving dog hungry for a bone.
Fortunately however old heroes have returned from the past to steer their respective ships to safer waters. Without doubt Jimmy Barry Murphy, Liam Dunne and Davy Fitzgerald should all be able to improve the fortunes of their new sides. Of course nobody is expecting All-Ireland glory, but more competitive and technical showings are earnestly required.
Offaly meanwhile will surely feel the blow that is the loss of Joe Dooley as manager. They may not been pulling up trees but they remained competitive under his reign. Let us hope they can turn some of those performances into results in the coming years.
Indeed the chances of Kilkenny and Tipperary ousting once more in 2012 are extremely high, but with some old faces returning allied with other teams continuing their own journeys 2012 promises to outshine this year's showing.
Indeed Kilkenny waltzed through the Leinster Championship dismantling Wexford and also brushing aside Dublin in the process gaining revenge for their League final humbling. In the All-Ireland semi final Waterford stood in their way and whilst it was not a stroll in the park for Kilkenny they always had enough in beating their near neighbours.
Of course there was still one final score to settle. Tipperary lay in wait in the final. They too were presented with an exceptional challenge in the semi final by Dublin but eventually came through by the skin of their teeth. Once more another classic was eagerly anticipated. Tipperary were still favourites as youth and glory were both on their side allied with the trouncing they handed out to Waterford in the Munster final still fresh in the memory.
Admittedly it was not the rip roaring score fest that the first final between these two sides was, but it epitomised everything else that is wonderful and exhilarating about hurling. The athleticism and accuracy of Michael Fennelly's goal, the artistic nature in which Richie Power casually volleyed home Kilkenny's second goal. The metronomic King Henry slotting over frees like he has done all his life and returning better than ever from his cruciate injury.Yet there was so much more to the decider than that. Indeed the 2011 finale was much like the 2006 decider when Kilkenny dethroned a proud and gallant Cork outfit. On that occasion Kilkenny's aggression and hunger proved too much for their Munster rivals. On that particular day they only won by three points but were obviously the better side.
It was the same this year and that too is a credit to this Tipperary team that they never threw in the towel. They were outgunned in almost every sector of the pitch, with their own mercurial marksman Lar Corbett remarkably quiet, yet with five minutes remaining they were still only a goal behind. Undoubtedly the loss was a huge disappointment, but Tipperary still has much youth on their side. It will not be the last we see of them.
Elsewhere the Championship was not so invigorating. Old powers like Cork, Wexford and Clare continued to decline whilst Galway persisted in flattering to deliver whilst possessing the best attacking talent in the country in the form of the imperious Joe Canning.On the other hand Dublin continue to progress steadily under the guidance of Anthony Daly whilst Dónal Ó'Grady stabilised a Limerick team who were rapidly on the slide and were involved in one of the games of the year against a Waterford unit who continue to toy with the hearts of their supporters. Agony and ecstasy followed them around all year like a starving dog hungry for a bone.
Fortunately however old heroes have returned from the past to steer their respective ships to safer waters. Without doubt Jimmy Barry Murphy, Liam Dunne and Davy Fitzgerald should all be able to improve the fortunes of their new sides. Of course nobody is expecting All-Ireland glory, but more competitive and technical showings are earnestly required.
Offaly meanwhile will surely feel the blow that is the loss of Joe Dooley as manager. They may not been pulling up trees but they remained competitive under his reign. Let us hope they can turn some of those performances into results in the coming years.Indeed the chances of Kilkenny and Tipperary ousting once more in 2012 are extremely high, but with some old faces returning allied with other teams continuing their own journeys 2012 promises to outshine this year's showing.
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