Well, that's January done and dusted, tough too for those of you on the outside. That new place up in Castlerea was warm and comfortable, no worries, no need to order the oil and gas, no hassle with the ESB, got the meals prepared too. Handy, local y'know. Anyway, nothing happens in sport in the month of January. Should be still up there. Just the Diary's luck, out after a month on good behaviour. But who said nothing happens in sport in the month of January?

Who's this guy Mark Webster from North Wales and where did that great world champion, a model for the youth and all sports orientated people, Phil 'the power' Taylor, disappear to. And what about Oscar Perpeleas, a double leg amputee, deemed to have an unfair advantage in the Olympic 2008 sprints over 'normal athletes' because of his prosthesis! Jimmy Rhattigan was obliged to wrap up Kilkenny City FC and leave the coast clear for Brian Cody. But c'mere did you see where Antrim beat Kilkenny 21/20 in a competitive hurling game, a Walsh Cup SF, Antrim won the final since. And nothing happens in January! Something else that happened in January was that that great bastion of Irish University sport Trinity College suffered the loss of six state of the art rowing racing craft, on a rowing camp in Villierstown Co.Waterford, the home town of John Treacy, destroyed by thugs, the sporting crime of the year! Awful! Denis Wise got an unspecified job with Newcastle and one suspects that Kevin Keegan did too but may not know it! When it comes to sport January was a great month except for Anthony Foley saying this was his last season! Suppose some things are inevitable.

Still, indoor sport brightens things. Right enough, the hall has to be heated but no matter. Boxing is in full swing and two All Irelands have already been won in the water. The Corrib Water Polo Under 16s won All Ireland glory in Belfast with their captain Adam Caulfield leading the way and Brandon Nestor from the Bish is an Irish Schools champion at the backstroke and the Jes girls Rachel Keogh, Emma Kate Lally, Kerrie Horkan and Grace McCabe won the Irish schools intermediate relay. The girls from Calasanctius College in Oranmore won All Ireland Basketball titles at Under 16A and Under 19A with Ailish O'Reilly and Claire Rockall excelling, following in the footsteps of Irish Basketball captain Michelle Fahy from Oranmore who starred when winning national honours with Glanmire of Cork. And there was more, maybe unprecedented success for Galway clubs, when the Maree Under 18 Mens and Maree Under 18 Ladies and the Moycullen Under 20 Mens won national honours. The new year is off to an explosive start on many levels!

And the nominees are Julieanne Russell (Salthill Devon), capped at under 16, under 17 and under 19, all in the one season, for the FAI Womens Under 17 International Player of the Year. And Niamh Fahey (Salthill Devon), All Ireland football winner with Galway 2004 and FAI Cup winner 2007 for the Women's International Player of the Year. And Seamus Crowe (Athenry FC), All Ireland winning football (Senior with Salthill Knocknacarra) and hurling (Junior with Menlo Emmetts) for FAI Junior International Player of the Year. No further awards but take a bow. Proud of you all.

The army in Renmore made a big fuss of the Western Brigade teams that won the Defence Forces Rugby Championships when holding a reunion of the victorious teams of 1978, 1986 and 1989. Lt. Col. Ian Hanna, the bossman in Renmore and a member of all three winning teams of 1978, 1986 and 1989 welcomed all to Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Johnny Ridge was the MC, Dick O'Hanlon organised and Mick Brennan (89 captain) and Mick Stapleton (78 captain) said the few well chosen words. All the army rugby names that we know so well attended such as Pat O'Halloran, Paul O'Halloran, Gerry McNamara, Tom Conway, Paddy Keogh and present day activist Kevin Dinneen among many others. The gathering was very pleased to welcome back Brig. Gen. Kevin Murphy a star of the victorious 1950 side. Not surprising this very special sporting occasion went to extra time!

Galway United Supporters Trust is running a bus for the international against Brazil in Croke Park this evening. It will leave from Fox's Bar @ 1.00pm. For last minute enquiries call Ronan Coleman on 087 6972823.

Staying with soccer, it is only right that Italian coaching legend, Giovanni Trapattoni should be appointed Irish Soccer Manager. After all he was born on St.Patrick's Day, even if it was 69 years ago.