In a perfect world, the sporting year would be recalled for outstanding achievements by teams and athletes whose skill and dedication set new standards, nationally and internationally. But the reality was different in 1998. The great memories and wonderful individual feats were overshadowed again by drugs. Almost daily revelations of high-profile events being tainted by drug abuse soured sport and, in turn, cast doubts on the integrity of the vast majority of clean, drug-free sportsmen and women.
France and the rest of the world were still celebrating one of the best soccer World Cup tournaments in recent decades when another of sport's great events, the Tour de France, turned into a nightmare. Many of the world's best known teams and cyclists - who had only just left these shores after the opening three stages - were found to be using sophisticated drugs in an effort to stay one step ahead of their rivals. Ironically, it was left to French and Belgian customs officials to lift the lid on the Tour de Pharmacie rather than cycling's controlling body or the Tour de France organisers, themselves keenly aware of rumours about the event over the last 30 years.
If the Tour de France was the most high-profile casualty in 1998, there were many other sad reminders of athletes who felt the need to risk their own health in misguided efforts to gain an unfair advantage. Irish sport was not immune from these revelations with Michelle de Bruin being banned from swimming for four years for tampering with a urine sample and a number of positive tests involving senior Irish rugby players.
As depressing as these scandals were, most Irish sports lovers will remember 1998 for the uplifting achievements of Brian Kerr, Sonia O'Sullivan, Catherina McKiernan and the footballers and hurlers of Galway and Offaly. Kerr restored some of sport's pride and innocence by nurturing two Republic of Ireland under-age teams to success in the UEFA under 16 and 18 championships, an unprecedented double in European football.
Kerr's achievements were mirrored by Sonia O'Sullivan who completed a wonderful recovery after the personal disasters of the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and the World Athletics championships in Athens last year. The Cork runner followed up on a double gold at the world cross country championships in Morocco by winning the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at the European championships in Budapest to re-establish herself as one of the world's leading athletes. Irish dominance of women's middle and long distance running was underlined by Catherina McKiernan, who captured two of the world's most competitive marathons in London and Amsterdam.
If individual performances like these were the highlights, some of the most sublime moments of 1998 were provided in the All-Ireland winning performances by Galway footballers and Offaly hurlers. Both teams matched exquisite skills with astute management to give the GAA one of its best and most controversial championship seasons in recent memory. The biggest sports association in the country might prefer to dwell on its thriving games and superb Croke Park development as a barometer of its robust health. But its poor handling of the Rule 21 debate, which ended in an embarrassing fudge, should be a powerful reminder that its responsibilities go beyond events on the field.