When he returned home to Dublin this time last year to defend his national squash title at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, Derek Ryan was ranked 18 in the world, dropping to 21 in January, the first time he had been outside the top 20 in three years. A string of poor results and a slump in form had, by his own admission, left him at his lowest ebb.
What a difference a year makes. This weekend the Dubliner goes in search of his fifth national title, and fourth in a row, ranked as the world's 10th best player, a position achieved after the most successful season of his career.
On Sunday afternoon he will be expected to wrap up the year by winning the Irish title, beating, if the seedings work out, his old rival Willie Hosey in the final. The Toronto-based Carlowman, who competes mainly in doubles tournaments in Canada these days, won his 10th national title in 1994, beating Ryan in an epic decider, and returns home again this year in search of his 11th success. Seeded three is Ulster's Stevie Richardson, a finalist two years ago, who should be in good shape after playing in September's Commonwealth Games in Malaysia and winning the Westwood Open in Dublin the following month. Dublin brothers Maurice and Chris Collins are seeded four and five, respectively, followed by the Manchester-born Irish international Patrick Foster and Galway's John Rooney, perhaps the country's most promising young player. Competing for the first time in four years is Belfast's Graeme Stewart, a former finalist who has been based in Austria for the last seven years.
Banbridge's Madeline Perry is top seed in the women's event, which has been weakened by the withdrawal of two members of the Irish team in November's Women's World Championships, Laura Mylotte (leg injury) and Eleanor Lapthorne (college commitments). Olivia French is seeded to meet Perry, who won the title for the first time last year, in the final, with Sligo teenager Aisling Blake (who won the under-19 title at the Irish Junior Open last weekend) and Jenny Dillon seeded at three and four.
