Dual star

Last year you may remember that the Dublin and Offaly footballers had a right go at each other, sending the media into editorial overdrive over the issue of violence in sport. There wasn't a gallows high enough in the land to hang most of the young upstarts. The shame of it. The shame of the GAA.

Kilcormac/Killoughey player Stephen Byrne was playing in that match and, so the story goes, he delivered an emotional speech to the `Mercy Commission' to the effect that he took no part in the pitch battle. They believed him and so justice was done.

This week Byrne turned up in the papers again, this time as the GAA writers' best young hurler of the year. The goalkeeper was again judged, this time to have had an exceptional season, especially in Offaly's re-fixed Championship match against Clare in Thurles, where his saves were adjudged responsible for preventing four goals and a point.

Suddenly he finds himself in the company of hurler of the year Brian Whelahan and footballer of the year Jarlath Fallon. Byrne must surely feel that six months is a long time in sport and can work either way for a career. Just ask Denis Hickie. You remember him? Ireland rugby winger. Oh, come on . . .