Ireland's Euro 2000 trip to Belgrade was postponed as the threat of NATO air raids became apparent. The Aussies arrived in Dublin, denounced the round ball as a ludicrous object and promptly won the first International Rules Test. Ireland, though, took the Series.

Sligo cyclist Mark Scanlon went to Valkenburg in Holland and won the World Junior Championships. Across the big pond, the New York Yankees swept the San Diego Padres for the World Series to merit inclusion in the ongoing `best team of all time debate'. The women of Waterford took the All-Ireland football title from Monaghan and Kenyan Joshua Kipkemboi took his second successive Dublin marathon. The untimely death of Noel Carroll left a void in Irish athletics.