Some day we will never have to hear of the 'new normal' or 'strange times' again, but 2020 was a year none of us would ever hope for again. The sporting world took as big a hit as every other sector of society.
We revisit it here.
January
The curious thing is that the year began with a highlight. Ballyhale's 2-24 to 2-19 win over Slaughtneil in the All-Ireland Hurling Club semi-final, a clash that immediately assumed instant classic status, was one of the best games of hurling seen in the province in decades.
In the other semi-final, Brendan Maher of Borris-Ileagh scored a point against Galway's St Thomas' with a broken hurl and created a tale that is destined to become ever more heroic in the retelling.
Kilcoo tore Ballyboden St Enda's apart in the football semi-final, before being edged out by a Corofin side that showed their pragmatic attitude towards tactical fouling as well as their commitment to attractive football in an All-Ireland final that went to extra-time.
Tyrone defeated Monaghan 0-11 to 1-5 in the Dr McKenna Cup. Does anyone, even those playing that night, have any recollection of it?
February
The start of the National Leagues actually got under way over the last weekend of January, but by week three they had caught fire.
Monaghan found themselves with a 10-point lead over Dublin at one stage, six points by the time it reached time added on, but still had to content themselves with a draw.
Tyrone found themselves scrambling for a semi-dry patch of land to play Kerry on and were rescued by Edendork, leading to a fairytale for local lad Darren McCurry who kicked a sideline while picturing his late mother at the window of their nearby house. The dismissal of David Clifford via two yellows impressed people less.
The Red Hands had a busy month of it, beating Dublin in the teeth of Storm Ciara and also rescuing Cathal McShane from the clutches of a move to Aussie Rules Football.
Tipperary headed off to a training camp in Spain and by the time they returned, the world was a different place.
Armagh's Jarlath Burns comfortably won the first-preference votes for the GAA presidency, 80 votes to the next challenger, Larry McCarthy of New York (67), but lost out in the voting transfer.
March
This was where it began to get eerie. On March 12, the first hints of what was to come began when schools in the Republic closed down. In time, schools here followed.
The GAA showed rather decisive action by deciding to shut down all activity. As a means of ensuring compliance, insurance schemes were pulled from all units.
The Cheltenham Festival went ahead, much to the disgust of pretty much anyone else.
April
Desperate times called for 'Special Emergency Circumstances' as GAA Congress met virtually to grant a slimmed-down committee special powers to make decisions on behalf of the Association.
There was talk that any potential Championships would be limited to crowds of 5,000. At the time, it seemed a major imposition.
Everyone seemed to be pulling on trainers to do (and in many cases cheat!) 5k runs and Zoom sessions were attempted to little enough success.
May
On the first day of the month, things were becoming a little clearer about what life might really be like in a pandemic. Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar floated the idea that a GAA Championship might well be planned, but it could be behind closed doors.
For his part, GAA President John Horan doubted there could even be games when he stated: "I can't see it happening to be quite honest because if social distancing is a priority to deal with this pandemic, I don't know how we can play a contact sport and that is what Gaelic games is - it is a contact sport."
GAA staff - those who had not been furloughed already - were asked to take a second pay cut. The traditional summer Cúl Camps were cancelled, while Feile was also shelved.
June
GAA clubs took the first tentative steps, and walkways were opened. Gradually, activity got going, starting with training sessions in small pods in a non-contact fashion.
Clubs were now to have Covid Officers, one-way systems, hand sanitisers at entrances to pitches and spectators were no longer allowed.
Cavan’s Raymond Galligan and Gearoid McKiernan celebrate their Ulster final win
July
Actual Gaelic games returned, with vastly reduced numbers of people being allowed to attend. In the fine weather, this was ignored at venues up and down the island. A first of its kind case occurred in Tyrone when a player from a competing team tested positive for coronavirus and members of a rival side they recently played against had to go for testing themselves. Nobody subsequently tested positive.
August
Club action continued but wrangling over the numbers allowed deviated. While the GAA hoped to get 500 into games, the Irish government ordered all matches behind closed doors.
September
The conclusion of Club Championships witnessed some emotional scenes, not least from Ederney St Joseph's bridging a 52-year gap back to their only Fermanagh Championship and Dungannon Clarkes winning their first Tyrone title in 64 years.
The aftermath of that latter win, however - with fans rushing onto the field in mass celebration - came in for some serious criticism.
October
Seven and a half months after they were halted, the National Leagues got under way again.
A Covid outbreak in Fermanagh left manager Ryan McMenamin with only 11 players for a training session before they had to travel to Clare to play a league game.
November
This month belonged to the good old-fashioned knockout provincial County Championship. For a while it looked great with Tipperary winning Munster 100 years and one day after Bloody Sunday, and later that evening Cavan defeated Donegal in the Ulster final. A rare highlight of the year.
December
Antrim won the Joe McDonagh Cup and crowned a remarkable year in terms of hurling, securing a Liam MacCarthy place for 2021. In football, reality ensued as Dublin cruised to a sixth consecutive All-Ireland title as the rest of the island switched off.
