Another championship year in the GAA world has come to a close and the two Ks - Kerry and Kilarney - stand imperiously on top of the pile having successfully defended their titles, amassing title number 35 and title number 30 respectively.

The football final proved to be a damp squib, Kerry literally bossed Cork out of it. The Rebels cut a sorry sight in the closing stages of the game as they were toyed with by the superior craft, strength and tactical knowhow of the men from the Kingdom. Liam Hayes of Meath seems to be the only modern football scribe who fails to see the sheer class of this Kerry outfit. Sunday was their 8th final appearance in 10 years. They have won 5 drawn 1 and lost 2. Of the major counties they have met, Tyrone are the only one they have failed to beat.

Kerry's strength emanates from the heartbeat provided by the O'Se brothers - surely the premier set of three brothers ever to have graced Croke Park. Daragh has entered the pantheon of the greats, never shirking the task of main provider, twelve years wearing number 8, picking up 5 Celtic crosses on his Brendanesque voyage, he surely ranks with the O'Connells, Kennedys, O'Sheas and Mallins of yesteryear. Donaghy and Gooch Cooper are destined to become the modern terrible twins - surely the best attacking twosome since Purcell and Stockwell hit the 50's with their impersonation of Bonnie and Clyde.

Kilkenny and Kerry sit on top of the world mainly because they combine huge commitments with their natural skills.

The last title is soon forgotten as new horizons are mapped. The year did not belong to them alone. Waterford were immense and one feels that they were asked to go to the well once too often. The fact that they had to play high intensity games against Cork on successive Sundays left them battle weary for their semi-final with Limerick.

In football Monaghan were the surprise package. They could have beaten Kerry in the quarter-final. In Finlay and Freeman they surely have all stars in the making. Dublin were almost there but short in a few vital places. With Caffrey at the helm they would surely unearth one or two players who will ensure that they will be there or there abouts.

Tipperary had a lovely minor team in hurling. Dublin surprised everyone by winning the Leinster title. Galway have an exciting bunch of under 21s, so maybe the Cats will have realistic opposition before the first decade of the third millenium concludes.

Galway won the minor football - in Reddington, Walsh, Conroy and Power they have material to add to Meehan, Fitzgerald and Coleman. Their day will surely come. Derry were unlucky - they were the best team of the championship but games are won only when the final whistle blows.

Kielt and McGeehan are the ones to watch. Laois provided us with the goal of the year with Touhy in the semi-final against Derry.

We wrap up for the year as our soccer and rugby teams flatter to deceive. I must say that my disappointment at the rugby team's shambolic display against France was tempered by my anger at their abandoning of the Irish National Anthem in favour of a wishy washy Phil Coulter Dublin 4 chant. Why do we always have to abandon our heritage to be politically correct?

Stand for nothing, fall for nothing.

The Rose of Tralee and the Rose of Mooncoin are destined for a happy Christmas.