We are all supposed to learn from mistakes, aren't we? Yet the over-riding impression after watching the '20 Moments Which Shook Irish Sport' on RTE on Monday night is the next bout of incidents are just waiting to happen.

The Galway connection in a predictable list was Jimmy Cooney's decision to call a premature halt to Clare's battle with Offaly in the All-Ireland semi-final of 1998.

The Sarsfields clubman, one of the few to win an All-Ireland senior medal and then try give something back by taking up refereeing, blew up a few minutes early as Clare, bidding to retain their All-Ireland win their third in four seasons, led by a goal.

Of course Offaly, with Ardrahan native Michael Bond in charge after Babs Keating was dispensed with for his 'sheep in a heap' comment about the Faithful county's players (why wasn't that or any of Babs' other outbursts in the Top 20?) went on to win the re-fixture and then win the All-Ireland by defeating Kilkenny.

What happened to Cooney ? who packed in refereeing as a result ? was unfortunate. Promises were made that the timekeeping job would be handled by another official but a decade down the track the hard-pressed refs are still left with the task.

Take last Sunday, Teddy Kerin was in charge of the senior football final at Pearse Stadium and aside from refereeing the game ? not an easy task given the one-to-ones taking place all over the pitch ? he also had to keep an invasion of trainers/coaches/bottle-carriers/selectors in check.

In the minor match it was signalled that two minutes extra ? this is supposed to be the minimum added ? would be played but the final whistle went after 1.46 minutes with just a point between the sides.

And we are supposed to be learning from mistakes?

Sporting Success

Westside Kickboxing Club was set up a couple of years ago to give kids in council estates in Rahoon, Ballinfoile, Knocknacarra and a few other areas a chance at sport.

Well away from the glamour sports which usually populate the sports pages, the move was an effort to get kids off the street and focus their minds on a disciplined sport.

But while participation was the main aim, success has come their way. Three of the youngsters won the national title in their age groups during the summer and are off to Portugal next week for the European championships.

Head coach is Denis Brosnan (085-7407990) and a bit of sponsorship would mean the world to them.

Flogging a dead horse

A long time ago I remember reading the late Jack Mahon's 'Twelve Glorious Years', his excellent chronicle of the glory era for Galway football in the 1950s and 60s.

He recounted that once Christmas was over there would be great anticipation of the announcement of the provincial squads to contest the Railway Cups.