Now that a lot of the silverware is polished and shelved for another few months and a lot of mothers and wives are getting back to normal wash-loads, it would appear from a distance that the GAA was going into sleep mode. Certainly we are experiencing a wind-down period at the moment but we are most definitely not in sleep mode. Like a badger preparing for hibernation the GAA will find that this is a very industrious and busy time of year. Many teams are still involved in club competitions and many are battling through relegation/promotion play-offs. The fortunate ones are in preparation for the AIB Club championships and hundreds of players over the county are involved in county trials. Some players are involved in the Interprovincial championships - just Ulster and Munster players now - though some didn't show any interest in this once fantastic competition. (My memory of a fabulous Railway Cup stretches back to a Munster v Ulster final in Croke Park when I witnessed an outstanding game of football that was embroidered with some of the finest fielding from Eugene McKenna and the opposing Seanie Walsh. Brilliant! A large crowd attended Croke Park that day to witness an awesome array of talent and an equally awesome commitment to win. It was an honour for the players to be there. Something that's sadly lacking today and I believe it is much to the GAA's shame that this has been let deteriorate to such a level). Many young players are into heavy training with their colleges and will be expected to put their bodies on the line when these tough but exciting competitions start. Any teams now out of competition will be looking forward already to next year and many will have introduced winter training programmes for their players to complete over the next three or four months. Many clubs will be launching fundraising initiatives that will keep their members active over the winter months and will hopefully generate enough funding to afford that new training pitch or whatever other facility they deem is most needed for club progress. Scor and Scor na nOg will be handing out silverware to the eventual winners selected from the hundreds of participants all over the country. The old saying "Rust never sleeps" springs to mind when referring to the closed season in the GAA. The hibernating GAA member is becoming a thing of the past. Alternative All-Stars As mentioned above a lot of silverware has already been handed out and some of that was presented last Friday night at Dublin's Citywest Hotel where the 2009 Vodafone All-Stars were presented. It doesn't really matter how well the honoured recipients were scrutinised and judged over the season there will always be those that feel injustices were done to some individuals. We will always find argument as to why our choice should have been selected but at the same time we cannot argue that this years winners were all worthy of their award. Nonetheless, I feel that the following players could just as well have been selected; Stephen Cluxton (Dublin) - consistently reliable as ever. Marc O'Shea (Kerry) - shaky start to the season but finished very strongly. Justin McMahon (Tyrone) - athleticism and scoring ability unique for full-back. Anthony Lynch (Cork) - ask the Gooch or Stevie O'Neill! Davy Harte (Tyrone) - another consistent year for the attacking half back. Michael McCarthy (Kerry) - pivotal to Kerry's successful year. Jonathan Davey (Sligo) - this speed merchant stood out in every game. Michael McCann - one of Antrim's rising stars. Tough competitor. Kevin Hughes (Tyrone) - surprising omission from this year's recipients. Bernard Brogan (Dublin) - another superb season. Top forward. Trevor Mortimer (Mayo) - could have been the 3rd all-star award to the Mortimer household. Leighton Glynn (Wicklow) - forceful and incisive, had another energetic season. Colm Cooper (Kerry) - was always there when needed to bring them over the line. Michael Murphy (Donegal) - makes do with Young Player of the Year. Donnacha O'Connor (Cork) - prominent in all of Cork's victories. Admittedly there is room for debate in this selection but again you can easily see why all of these players would have merited an award. Championship Draw The wheels of county management are well and truly turning already. Be it on the football field in the form of trials or in the minds of management teams as they discuss strategies for the upcoming season. They now have a focus. The draw is made and the speculation over. They know now where they need to be come May or June of 2010. Of course their immediate focus will be on the Allianz National Football league for 2010 but their preparations will ultimately be scheduled to produce a team ready for championship and ready for that now known opponent. The draw itself was pretty devoid of any spectacular fixtures but this in itself will prove no bad thing for a couple of the teams who made great progress last year. Kildare have avoided Meath and Dublin in their side of the draw and their past experiences with Wicklow and Westmeath should help propel them to a Leinster final. Were Dublin forced to make the trip to Wexford for their opening game it would surely be a great incentive to the Wexford men and apply a little pressure to the Dubs. On the other hand, an away win could work wonders for Dublin. In the same vein, an improving Limerick side should make a Munster final by seeing off Clare or Waterford. If they continue to lengthen their stride under the tutelage of Mickey Ned then a provincial title is well within their radar. In Connacht the young guns of Roscommon will be happy with their draw and their good fortune at avoiding Galway and Mayo is just the tonic they required. Away victories to London and Leitrim are by no means certain but if they do secure them then it would put them in good stead at a crack for the title. Up North Antrim did not fare as well. While they were the toasts of Ulster last year they would have preferred a handier opener than a visit from Tyrone. It is certainly a game 'Baker's Boys' will have no difficulty getting up for and a packed Casement Park will be a great boost to them. Tyrone's first round performances in the past have been very erratic but I believe their sights will be firmly set on going through the front door again so they will certainly carry the favourites tag. The pick of the fixtures would probably have to be the Derry v Armagh or the Sligo v Mayo game. In previous years the Ulster clash would have had GAA followers rubbing their hands in anticipation but this year it will be somewhat subdued giving the form of both teams. Derry so unpredictable and Armagh under new management continuing their transitional period. Can Sligo put one over Mayo? Why not. They have loads of ability and experience. An interesting encounter. The Book Season The 'book season' is upon us once again as Christmas approaches and, like cd sales, the publicists are hoping that the festive season will promote sales of their product. Fortunately for us GAA groupies the festive season coincides with our 'off-season' and so our own personalities can now be found in book stores and shops throughout the country. (Further proof to add to our earlier conclusion that there is no such thing as an 'off-season' in the GAA). Irrespective of the content of the book, or indeed the author, it is great to see our top sportsmen adorning the windows and shelves of the country's top book stores and appearing with more frequency on national talk shows such as 'The Late, Late Show'. I am also aware that the recent spate of revelatory books has introduced some of the more 'traditional', countrified GAA follower to the more refined and leisurely art of reading. We are well spoilt for choice at the minute. Donal Og Cusack is surely the most controversial GAA production to date simply because of the deeply personal content. Not only are we spellbound by the initial revelations but we are so intrigued by how people responded to his situation and how he has coped to date. It would be very interesting to see how his life has developed in twelve months time. A little less shocking yet just as interesting are the books by winners such as Mickey Harte, Brian Cody and Tadhg Kennelly. Each in their own right are compelling reads for anyone who has an interest in the workings of a sports team or is intrigued by the deliberations of a winner. Some commentators and critics will try and sensationalise extracts from these books and may suggest controversy where none exists. But sure any publicity is good publicity when it comes to sales and I know that the authors are all strong personalities who will not be too disturbed by anyone who takes the negative from their writings. Another excellent production is 'The GAA: A People's History' that was unveiled at Croke Park recently. This is a social history of the GAA in which "the full spectrum of the Association's wide and divergent activities are represented." A vast array of photographs and authentic documentation from the past will make this a fitting publication to coincide with the 125 celebrations. Tweet

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