LAST SUNDAY the 2012 football and hurling championship draws were made, amid much trepidation and expectation. The new twelve-team system at Senior grade will be tested for the first time, and the draw was certainly a reality check for all of the teams involved.

Both groups in each code are very competitive and all games will be of equal importance. Every team will be hoping to get off to a good start, and with first round football games fixed for the second week in April, preparations have begun in earnest in all clubs.

Perhaps the most competitive grade will be Intermediate football where teams relegated from Senior status over the last two years will strive to return to the top grade. When I look at the list that includes Starlights, Glynn-barntown, Bannow-ballymitty, Taghmon, St. Mary's (Rosslare) and Ballyhogue, I don't envy any manager in charge of these sides.

All will feel they have the players to win the championship, and when you add in the other clubs involved we should be treated to some cracking games throughout the year. The next seven weeks will fly by for all clubs involved and the first couple of league games will be crucial for championship preparation.

Credit is due to the County Board for the way they conducted the draw last Sunday night. They showed how up to date they are by broadcasting live on radio, streaming it live simultaneously on the web, updating on Twitter and posting all the groups and draws within minutes on the G.A.A. website. It gave everyone the chance to access the information whether they were at home, in the car or out and about, so well done again.

On Saturday I travelled to Portlaoise to watch Crossmaglen take on Dr. Crokes in the All-ireland Club semi-final. Both teams served up a game of a really high standard, but the Rangers men once again showed tremendous resolve in winning a game they should never have won. They were seven points down after 20 minutes of being totally outplayed, but somehow found the will and the desire to turn the game around.

Both teams were filled with class players, Crokes with the excellent Eoin Brosnan, Jamie Doolan, Ambrose O'donovan and Brian Looney, and Crossmaglen with the four Kernan brothers and young Jamie Clarke, a certain star of the future.

The battle of the veterans was won hands down by the wily Oisín Mcconville whose contribution far outshone that of Kerry star Colm Cooper. The 'Gooch' was marked closely by 20-yearold James Morgan and his influence on the game was nowhere near what everyone expected.

Despite speculation to the contrary, no women or children were injured in the making of this classic game. As expected, both sets of supporters behaved impeccably and applauded players on both sides when a particular piece of play deserved it. The G.A.A. can feel safe in the knowledge that the North/south-west perceived divide has been put out to pasture, for a while anyway.

BOXING SHAME

In the last few weeks it seems that every sport is taking a turn at making the headlines for all the wrong reasons and bringing shame on their respective associations.

Professional boxing stepped up to the mark last weekend when two British fighters embarrassed themselves and brought shame on their sport when they became involved in a brawl in Munich.

Normally confrontations of this nature are choreographed by management teams to sell tickets or create the demand for a particular contest. David Haye and Derek Chisora went beyond the boundaries this time with a row that involved punches, striking with a glass or bottle and threats of shooting.

Both should be banned for life for the disgraceful scenes. But in the wonderful world of professional heavyweights, when the dust settles what are the odds of a grudge match live on Sky Box Office with both of them getting a couple of million each?

Don King must be seething with jealousy, and the Hollywood scriptwriters are probably already penning a screenplay. If they are stuck for a title perhaps they could call it 'Inglorious Boxers'.