The Finnegan household is always busy with visitors in the run up to Christmas and with family on the day itself.
This year however, in our own little bubble my wife and I told our children the following true story as we sat around the dinner table on Christmas day.
I’ve removed the names to spare embarrassment to those involved.
My mum’s lifelong friend finished work and got into the back seat of her husband’s waiting car.
“We’re just dropping Tommy off at the top of the Whiterock on the way up to the cemetery” explained the husband.
At the top of the ‘Rock Tommy alighted from the front passenger seat and thanked his friends for the lift. The husband then headed for Hannahstown.
On arriving at the cemetery and looking over his shoulder into the back, the husband realised his wife wasn’t there.
He drove as fast as he could back to his last stopping point and there was the wife standing at the side of the road, not pleased in the slightest.
I believe there were a few choice words exchanged.
When he stopped the car to let his friend out, the husband hadn’t noticed that his wife had also exited in order to get into the front passenger seat.
She and Tommy had closed their doors at the same time.
Needless to say we had a right laugh as we sat around the table imagining the wife’s face as the husband drove off in the direction of the cemetery.
In sport this year, there were no surprises when it came to the winners of this year’s All-Ireland Hurling Championship.
Limerick produced a power packed skilful performance against a resurgent Waterford team, who in the past couple of years seemed to be in decline.
The Hurling Championship delivered yet again.
Joe Canning’s side-line cuts, interspersed with Richie Hogan’s introduction off the bench and subsequent goal in the quarter-final between Galway and Kilkenny were the standout performances for me.
Outrageous skill from both men.
Dublin were their usual methodical, consistent selves, powering away to a sixth successive football title.
No matter what people think about the current financial disparities, we must acknowledge their ability to deliver consistently, even with the loss of personnel such as Brogan, Connolly and McCaffery. Not to mention Jim Gavin himself.
It is also that time of year that I get to remind people that Brian Fenton made his debut for Dublin in November 2014 at the DeterMND ‘Game For Anto’ in Kingspan stadium, the home of Ulster Rugby and since then neither he nor Dublin have lost a championship game.
It’s like the Mayo curse, but in reverse.
While those from Dublin may be thanking me, the rest of the GAA world reading this are likely to be firing curses my way.
The surprises came in the earlier rounds of the Championship, with Cavan and Tipperary delivering long awaited provincial titles.
My own county, Antrim, completed a welcome League and Championship hurling double, with fellow St Paul’s clubman Stephen Rooney playing a starring role.
A blistering 10 minutes from Sarsfields' Niall McKenna at the start of the second half laid the foundations for an historic win after a nervous first 35 against a Kerry outfit that had learned some lessons from the three previous meetings between the teams.
It was also great to see elder statesman Neil McManus coming off the bench and instantly show his class with a score from play 65 yards out under the Cusack stand.
To achieve a league and championship double with McManus side-lined for most of the season is a tremendous achievement by Antrim and points to a real strength and depth to the panel that hasn’t been visible in a while.
The step up to Division one and participation in the Leinster Championship will be a steep learning curve, but one I’m confident the team will relish.
The footballers missed out on promotion from Division Four, a loss to Wicklow in the penultimate round in October proving to be pivotal.
Had the game been played in March as originally scheduled after Antrim defeated eventual league winners Limerick comprehensively, I believe Antrim would be playing in Division Three in 2021.
Antrim’s appointment of Tyrone’s Enda McGinley and Stephen O’Neill, assisted by my old county team-mate Sean Kelly is one I’m looking forward to following.
A successful transition into management can only help unleash the potential of the county.
Promotion from Division Four has to be the priority and will not be easy, especially with Mickey Harte taking the reins in Louth.
I was also delighted to see Paddy Cunningham committing to another year with his ‘One last dance’ tweet recently.
His performance against Cavan in the Championship would suggest he has plenty to still offer in terms of ability, as well as experience. 2021 will also see Kieran Donaghy on the Armagh side-line as Kieran McGeeney’s assistant. Ulster football will be anything but dull.
For me, the Club Championships were the winners in 2020.
With inter-county Leagues and Championships rescheduled and condensed into a smaller playing calendar, we witnessed the emergence of internet streaming services.
The combination of Freeview and pay-per-view games proving popular with viewers.
Antrim GAA treated us to a hurling semi-final double header that will live long in the memory, not least for Johnny Macintosh’s performance in the commentary box.
Although North Antrim’s Dunloy and Loughgiel came out on top on the day, we could just as easily have been looking at an all-Belfast final between St Johns and Rossa. It was that close.
Not to be outdone, the football final, also streamed by Antrim GAA on Facebook, saw Cargin clinch a third title in a row after an extra-time thriller with the emerging Creggan.
The Peter Pan of Cargin, Ciaran Close, grabbed the decisive late goal.
During a relaxation in lockdown restrictions we were fortunate to attend and witness St Paul's lift the Antrim Junior Hurling Championship, overcoming a stubborn Rasharkin outfit in the September rain at Dunsilly.
In a year where family and friends conversing through windows has become our norm, this little escape from our new reality was most welcome.
Additionally the green light announcement for the redevelopment of Casement means we can expect to see the first sod of turf turned in 2021.
2020 has been a year like no other and the GAA must be commended for their contribution, providing facilities for Covid testing and organising food drives.
Clubs have also been instrumental organising food drives and community contact initiatives.
The players, referees and administrators who made the playing season possible also deserve huge credit.
At the start of the pandemic I was of the view that the GAA should write 2020 off and use the time to prepare for 2021.
Looking back on the season, I am happy to have been proven wrong.
The areas of science, medicine, business and sport have been challenged like never before.
They have had to adopt and be inventive in order to survive.
Rather than bemoan the challenges faced, we should be looking at the opportunities this year has given us.
Within the GAA for example, it would be a travesty if we did not capitalise on the opportunity of a split season between club and county.
There should also be an acceptance that internet streaming is here to stay and should be utilised to enhance the current viewing options.
We can always learning something from looking back, especially when it comes to the things that mean the most to us.
Just ask the unfortunate husband.
