Keith Duggan Sideline Cut

Early reaction towards 2004 among the sporting community has not been favourable, with one forthright RTÉ pundit noting that, as a year, 2004 would "need to be pulling her socks up". A poll commissioned for The Irish Times, incorporating a thorough cross-section of the national sporting community and posing the primary question "2004: How Has It Been For You - So Far?" has been met with an alarmingly glum response.

"There's not much to her yet anyways," responded a long-serving Meath footballer often described in match programmes as a "utility player". "Meself and the lads got together for a few pots of tay and the afternoon show of The Sound of Music and that's been about it so far. 2003 was miles better, even if we did get bate by Fermanagh."

The generally dismal quality of 2004 has led to the widespread portrayal of its predecessor 2003 in a wonderfully syrupy and fondly remembered light.

"Aye, you'd have to say, 2003 was a fair exciting year, now, as they go," acknowledged one Northerner celebrated for his tactical acumen and a growth of stubble that falls loosely into the category of "designer"."It was the best of times and the worst of times," he concluded, borrowing from the classics.

In contrast, the general complaint against 2004 is that it is unspeakably bland. One successful League Of Ireland manager said that he when he awoke in 2004 it was with renewed excitement, so much so he jumped into the Mondeo looking for a bit of action around the soccer grounds. "But it was like the oul tune by Bono and the lads - All is Quiet on New Year's Day," he groaned. "Everywhere was closed, the weather was awful and I have to say 2004 is a disgrace, for me, at the end of the day."

It should be stated that the poll was conducted at 2.45 p.m. GMT on January 1st so all judgments concerning the actual final section of the day were premature.

"That's just splitting hairs at the end of the day," argued the soccer man. "You have to call a spade a spade."

If that is the case, then 2004 promises to be a bleak year for the Ireland soccer team, the so-called Boys in Green. Although they enjoyed many a year being hailed as the best this or any nation has seen, a spokesman very close to the Boys in Green conceded that, as a group, they had more or less written off 2004. In fact, they weren't bowled over by the notion of 2005 either.

"To be honest with you, we have our sights fixed firmly on 2006," he clarified.

All of which does not bode well for 2004. One respondent, who repeatedly referred to himself as Only The Man On The Street, was adamant the problem was down to hype. During the glorious summer days of 2003, which began in early March and carried through until late December, when we were blessed with a beautifully crisp and white Christmas, "people were never done bangin' on about this being an Olympic year and openin' up Croke Park and all", he said. "Where," he demanded, "are your Olympics now?"

And indeed there has been precious little heard about the Games. One athlete said that as far as she was concerned 2004 had differed little from 2003. She started the year in her regular fashion, with a lengthy dawn run across a glorious panorama of lakes, mountains and forests and had only just returned to her log cabin, where she was enjoying a healthy home-made muesli concoction. Although not necessarily down on 2004, she agreed that for an Olympic year, it was not exactly buzzing. She added, though, that she was confident the Games would take place.

Nor has any light been shed on the whole Croke Park debate. Asked whether the great stadium would, in the words of one former Congress man, "open up quicker than a Broadway dame trying to turn a fast buck", a spokesperson for the stadium replied, "Not to my knowledge, no." He stressed it would be premature to label 2004 as a key year for policy change. 2004 was, he said, the same as any other year. "Mind you," he added thoughtfully, "it hasn't been a bloody patch on 2003."

As for the logistics of the parting of the gates of Croker, he made it clear that for now the place would remain steadfastly closed as the caretaker was off on pilgrimage in Lourdes and had accidentally taken the master keys with him. France or no France, he quipped, not even Pope John Paul would be able to get in for a game of soccer, GAA or even cricket. He clarified, however, that, as an association, the GAA had nothing against 2004 and would generally adhere to its calendar.

The IRFU similarly acknowledged that as far as they were concerned, it was business as usual in 2004. The FAI admitted they were still more or less fixating on the Year of Our Lord 2002 and that whatever happened in 2004 they could not be blamed for it.

The trouble, as most of those polled saw it, was that little or nothing was happening in 2004. One participant happened to mention that among the many personal highs of 2003 was his successful climbing of Mount Everest, a historic feat he celebrated by hitting a sliotar off the summit. So far, he complained, nothing that 2004 had offered came close to that sense of elation and satisfaction. Similarly, a former Formula One driver reputed to live life in what is knowingly referred to as the "fast lane" moaned that 2004 was "rubbish". Admitting that 2003 was a haze of sunshine, yachts, champagne, jet-skis and beautiful women, he said that so far 2004 had consisted of a spot of mediocre lunch in Belfast followed by a recorded appearance on The John Daly Show. "Kinds of blows as a year," he chuckled grimly.

Half of those polled were dosed with a flu they insisted had been contracted in 2004. Some 30 per cent said the thing they were most looking forward to in 2004 was the Olympics, 15 per cent said it was Euro 2004 and six per cent said it was the final season of The Sopranos.

But the majority agreed they were not quite ready to say goodbye to 2003. Several had spent the first hours of 2004 watching recorded reviews of 2003, which officially excelled in terms of weather, fun, prosperity and the hosting of prestigious international events. So far, 2004 had no such qualities to recommend it.

"If this is the future," joked one young rugby star, "then I want my old year back."

The good news is that 2004 has 362 days left to get its act together.

"We will certainly be taking it one day at a time," declared a celebrated Kilkenny hurling man with a strong tone of caution.

"The day you start taking days for granted is the day you can forget about it."