SPORTING PREDICTIONS 2004: It's time to mark the cards for the coming year. Keith Duggan explains the annual urge to make bold predictions.

It is the time of year when everything becomes possible again. Just because your surefire bet disintegrated in 2003, just because the team or player you knew would deliver for you fell apart on the cusp of glory, doesn't mean they won't come good in 2004. With the chimes of the New Year dawns the new opportunity to claim all the big prizes.

Sports opens up again in January. The GAA's finest hit the frozen fields. The build-up to the Six Nations begins. Golf drifts gently and inexorably towards Augusta. Cheltenham is just around the corner. Premiership games acquire a meaningful edge and the Champions League pulse quickens. Formula One roars back to life.

In short, the whole magic carpet unfolds itself again and we find ourselves discussing the same likelihoods, the same shortcomings and the same theories as we did the previous year.

Except there is always a twist, some improvised moment of brilliance or freakish stroke of luck, good or bad, to give each story its own distinguishing angle, its own identity.

There is nothing new about Ireland versus England in the Six Nations but the next game will almost certainly contain something we have not seen before.

There is nothing new about Manchester United threatening to win everything in sight but still we watch. Derry will play Tyrone in the championship and still they will come.

This being an Olympic year, the sports calendar will be segued by what happens in Athens. An August festival celebrating the core feats of human athleticism restored to its spiritual and historical home during the very time when there are publicly spoken fears about the future of athletics.

Athens will explode in colour and controversy and because of its scale and ambition and money it will overshadow all the other big sports events of the year.

That doesn't mean it will necessarily be the best. Ask people what their favourite sporting moment of the 12 months gone was and their opinions will differ greatly.

We took 12 people whose lives are in some way or another dominated by sport and asked them to look ahead and predict how 2004 will unravel.

As ever, there was no absolute consensus on any one topic, which is a good thing. Six of the participants work in sports for a living; the other six perform at the highest level. Together they shared the agony of arriving at a credible contender for the green jacket, golf's most prized possession, or for the Sam Maguire.

We tend to forget that even though sportsmen and sportswomen are by nature immersed in everything to do with their own performance, they cannot resist peeking behind the curtain of the other games. They cannot but be moved by the spectacles that move the rest of us and wonder what it must be like to excel in that field.

Heroes have their own heroes. Hence, Brian O'Driscoll's favourite sporting moment had nothing to do with the Rugby World Cup odyssey or Ireland's Grand Slam run but was rooted in a story that had little to do with him other than engaging him as it did thousands of others.

The same is true of Padraig Harrington.

The great thing about tipping, about playing God, is that sooner or later you will get it wrong. Nobody has ever scored a perfect round on this early-season touch of nonsense and chances are nobody ever will.

And although our in-house experts could afford to be cavalier when picking winners in other sports, they agonised and fretted over the discipline they cover year in year out. Because although there is always a stand-alone favourite or two, they know from experience anything can happen.

As Ron Atkinson so unarguably put it during one of his soccer commentaries, either team could win it or it could be a draw. And that's about the truth of it. No doubt you have your own definite theories about who the winners of 2004 will be and why.

Good luck to them and to you and most especially to our panel of tortured experts.

CrystalBallGazing

Catherina McKiernan - Athlete
Favourite sporting memory of 2003?
Paula Radcliffe's run at the London marathon was a great moment in athletics and also a significant leap forwards for women's athletics. Who will win the All-Ireland hurling and football championships?
I am sure I am not alone in saying Kilkenny for the hurling. I think the football will stay in Ulster, with Tyrone marginal favourites.
Who will win the Premiership?
Manchester United.
Who will win the Champions League?
Real Madrid.
Who will win Euro 2004?
France, with the Czech Republic an outside bet.
Who will win the Six Nations?
England.
Who will win the US Masters?
Hopefully this will be Padraig Harrington's year. Will the Olympics still matter?
I think they will always be held in high regard by the public. But there is a sceptical attitude towards the Games now from many athletes. Still, I think we are beginning to see that sooner or later the cheats get exposed.
One for the future?
Mark Christie from Mullingar who finished sixth in the European cross country championships.
Hopes for 2004?
Simply to try to get a sustained training programme going. I think I realised late last year if my fitness returns I can again compete at the top level.

Philip Reid - Golf correspondent
Favourite sporting memory of 2003?
The way Padraig Harrington won the TPC of Europe in Hamburg. He left his putt on the diseased 18th green some 20ft short and bottled the next to go into a play-off with Thomas Bjorn which he won at the first hole of sudden death.
Who will win the All-Ireland hurling and football championships?
Kilkenny for the hurling and because I am a sucker for punishment, Dublin.
Who will win the Premiership?
Chelsea.
Who will win the Champions League?
Juventus - provided they start scoring more goals.
Who will win Euro 2004?
Spain are long overdue a major tournament victory.
Who will win the Six Nations?
England.
Who will win the US Masters?
Ernie Els.
Do you think the Olympics still matter? Absolutely. The Games are still the biggest show on earth.
One for the Future?
Kevin Na, a South Korean golfer of huge potential.

Malachy Logan - Sports Editor
Favourite sporting memory of 2003?
The drawn All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Cork and Wexford. It was a fantastic game with a great finish and it redeemed what had been a fairly muted hurling season.
Who will the All-Ireland hurling and football championships?
Cork for the hurling and Seán Boylan to work the oracle for Meath.
Who will win the Premiership?
Arsenal.
Who will win the Champions League?
AC Milan.
Who will win Euro 2004?
Holland to put their usual squad problems to one side and lift the title for the first time since 1988.
Who will win the Six Nations?
France.
Who will win the US Masters?
Vijay Singh.
Do you think the Olympics still matter?
Absolutely. Despite the scandals, it will be the sports event of the year and Athens could be a watershed where athletics takes significant strides to sort out its difficulties.
One for the Future?
US tennis player Taylor Dent to make a big breakthrough at one of the Grand Slam events.

Seán Moran - GAA correspondent
Favourite sporting memory of 2003?
The Melbourne Cup. I don't see many international events as a matter of course and I was struck by the way the city was dominated by the event. It was as if the entire population was heading out towards the race track and it did draw a crowd of 125,000.
Who will win the All-Ireland hurling and Football championships?
It is hard to foresee any team tripping up Kilkenny. Tyrone seem well equipped to defend their title.
Who will win the Premiership?
Manchester United.
Who will win the Champions League?
Real Madrid.
Who will win Euro 2004?
Italy. They are due a big tournament.
Who will win the Six Nations?
It is hard to look past England.
Who will win the US Masters?
I'll go for Vijay Singh.
Do you feel the Olympics still matter?
Decreasingly. I think people still tune in for the athletics but the world championships diminishes the importance of the Olympic athletics and its image is in poor shape now.
One for the future?
Graham Canty. It may seem strange to pick someone who has captained Ireland at International Rules. His career with Cork has been constrained by injury.

Jack O'Connor - Kerry football manager
Favourite sporting moment of 2003?
No particular memory, just a good year for sport. I'm still waiting for something to touch Paul McGinley's Ryder Cup-winning putt.
Who will win the All-Ireland hurling and football championships?
The holders, Kilkenny and Tyrone, look to be in the strongest positions.
Who will win the Premiership.
It's a tight call but Manchester United.
Who will win the Champions League?
More out of hope than expectation, United.
Who will win Euro 2004?
France.
Who will win the Six Nations?
Well, France seeing as they host England.
Who will win the US Masters?
Tiger Woods.
Do you think the Olympics still matter?
People have become cynical about athletics and I think that is unavoidable given the scandals. I don't think the Games matter in the same way as they once did. I am sure I will watch some of the events but not with the same interest or perhaps belief as I would have.
One for the future?
Well, if Dublin have a good season then I think Alan Brogan will again distinguish himself as one of the finest young players in our game.
Hopes for 2004?
Just to try to get Kerry playing to their potential and with pride again and to hopefully make it to the latter stages of the championship.

Mary Hannigan - Sports journalist
Favourite sporting memory of 2003?
Stephen Paisley, one of the good guys, scoring for Ireland against the Ivory Coast in the World Youth Cup after the most miserable year imaginable in his young career. The look on his face suggested there must be a God.
Who will win the All-Ireland hurling and football championships?
Cork and Donegal respectively.
Who will win the Premiership?
Arsenal.
Who will win the Champions League?
Chelsea.
Who will win Euro 2004?
Spain.
Who will win the Six Nations?
England.
Who will win the US Masters?
Jim Furyk.
Do you think the Olympics still matter?
Not nearly so much. But I do think if the drug testers take a stance and actually indict a few big names in Athens it would go a long way to re-establishing the credibility of athletics and then we might be able to believe in the Games again.
One for the future?
Stephen Kelly of Spurs and Ireland.

Brian O'Driscoll - Leinster and Ireland
Favourite sporting memory of 2003?
I have to say seeing Peter Canavan lift the Sam Maguire in Croke Park struck a chord. It was a well-deserved moment for a player who set the standards of excellence over so many years.
Who will win the All-Ireland hurling and football championships?
Cork nearly got there in September so I will stick with them. I think Galway might have a good run in the football.
Who will win the Premiership?
Manchester United.
Who will win the Champions League?
Tempted to go for Bayern but they are in a tough group, so Juventus.
Who will win Euro 2004?
Home advantage appears critical, so Portugal.
Who will win the Six Nations?
If not ourselves then England.
Who will win the US Masters?
David Toms did reasonably well last year so I will persevere with him.
Do you think the Olympics still matter?
Given Sydney seems relatively fresh in the memory, yes. The Olympics is the second biggest sporting event on the planet and they draw people in. Athletics has been presented in less than flattering terms of late but I think people will be engaged by Athens.
Hopes for 2004?
Ireland should keep building on the hard work of the last couple of seasons and that Leinster can achieve a bit of European glory.

Emmet Malone - Soccer correspondent
Favourite sporting memory of 2003?
Ronaldo's performance against Manchester United in April when he scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 win.
Who will win the All-Ireland hurling and football championships?
Kilkenny and Dublin.
Who will win the Premiership?
Manchester United.
Who will win the Champions League?
Juventus.
Who will win Euro 2004?
Well, the current Portugal team came together by winning the World Youth Cup in 1990 and I think they could bookend their story with a win this summer.
Who will win the Six Nations?
England.
Who will win the US Masters?
Davis Love.
Do the Olympics still matter?
Not as much. I think the scandals have hit athletics hard and also the profile of other major tournaments have risen enormously since the heyday of the Olympics.
One for the future?
Stephen Kelly made his debut for Spurs recently and I think we can hope to see him feature quite regularly.

Willie Mullins - Racing trainer
Favourite sporting moment of 2003?
I am going to be boring and say it was watching my father after winning the Oaks this year, a day that gave me immense personal pleasure.
Who will win the All-Ireland hurling and football championships?
Kilkenny and although football wouldn't be my strongest suite, I think Armagh could do well again.
Who will win the Premiership?
Manchester United.
Who will win the Champions League?
Real Madrid.
Who will win Euro 2004?
Oh, probably England.
Who will win the Six Nations?
England again.
Who will win the US Masters?
Tiger Woods is due a turn again.
Do you think the Olympics still matter?
Not as much as they used to, I feel. I will probably watch the major track events - the mile, the marathon, the 100 metres but after that I would not be too pushed. The reputation of the Games is in need of a lift if what all we read is true.
One for the future?
That's a tricky one. I'll go with a specific possibility - my own horse Davenport Millennium for the Champions Hurdle next year.
Hopes for 2004?
Davenport Millennium for the Champions Hurdle? No, just to have a good and safe year.

Kenny Cunningham - Birmingham and Ireland
Favourite sporting moment of 2003?
There were two, both from the Rugby World Cup. The  manner of England's final victory, with Jonny Wilkinson's drop-goal. The most poignant moment was the sight of Keith Wood leaving the field after Ireland's loss to France.
Who will win the All-Ireland hurling and football championships?
Dublin for the football. The hurling I couldn't really say as I lost interest after getting a clatter from a hurl at under-12s.
Who will win the Premiership?
A tight call between United and Arsenal.
Who will win the Champions League?
Real Madrid are strong contenders and I would not be surprised to see an English team there but Juventus are the most consistent.
Who will win Euro 2004?
It is hard to see past France.
Who will win the Six Nations?
England.
Who will win the Masters?
Tiger Woods. But I would love to see Padraig Harrington making the big step in Augusta.
Do you think the Olympics still matter?
I would love to think so and  I will be tuning in for Athens.
One for the future?
Andy Reid.
Hopes for 2004?
Well, we play Blackburn in the FA Cup and I would love to get a good run in that as I never did get a real cup run.

Gerry Thornley - Rugby correspondent
Favourite sporting memory of 2003?
Although it was early on, nothing topped Munster versus Gloucester in the so-called miracle match on January 18th last. Munster needed four tries, got those and then took the game with the last kick of the game. One of the most astonishing comebacks I have seen.
Who will win the All-Ireland hurling and football championships?
Galway for the double.
Who will win the Premiership?
Arsenal.
Who will win the Champions League?
Juventus.
Who will win Euro 2004?
Italy.
Who will win the Six Nations?
As they have England in Paris, I think it will be France.
Who will win the US Masters?
Vijay Singh.
Do you think the Olympics still matter?
Less so, I would feel. Because it is becoming increasingly hard to believe in the purity of the sports but also because of the strident armchair nationalism that has crept into the Games. It is as if the medal hauls are representative of the given country's power and that side of it just leaves me cold.
One for the future?
Rory Wilson, a 22-year-old with huge promise who has been making  great strides with Ulster.

Padraig Harrington - Golfer
Favourite sporting moment of 2003?
It was not a competitive moment but the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics was most memorable, a truly wonderful production that made me proud.
Who will win the All-Ireland hurling and football championships?
Kilkenny for the hurling and Armagh to rise again in the football.
Who will win the Premiership?
Manchester United, unquestionably.
Who will win the Champions League?
That's a tough one but I'll go for Real Madrid.
Who will win Euro 2004?
Portugal are in a strong position with home advantage.
Who will win the Six Nations?
Don't like saying it but England.
Who will win the Masters?
I won't include myself so Vijay Singh.
Do the Olympics still matter to people?
When all is said and done, I think the Olympics will be as big as ever.
One for the future?
A young South African golfer called Charl Schwartzel.
Hopes for 2004?
To take more steps on reaching my potential - I don't know if I can reach it fully in 2004 but I want to start on that.