Faced with the unenviable task of coming up with new ideas for his annual report recently, Leinster GAA secretary Mick Delaney was advised by a friend to try rehashing what he'd written 20 years ago on the basis that, almost certainly, nobody would notice the difference. Facile or not, the suggestion moved Delaney to dig out his 1986 report, which on close inspection included mentions of such items as: thuggery in the International Rules series; the future of the under-21 grade and Railway Cups; refereeing inconsistencies and the need for better marketing of big matches. Plus ca change , as they say in Camrossf

TOOME' THE POSTER BOYS FOR 'STRONG BUT SILENT'

Driving through Toomevara last week, Sideline Cuts spotted a huge billboard advertising the AIB club championships. 'Be Part of It', the slogan declared. This was a day or two after the All Ireland club hurling "nal, which Toomevara had so narrowly and painfully missed out on (and would surely have won comfortably had they held on against Ballyhale Shamrocks in the semi-final).

And before you ask, the billboard wasn't defaced in any way. Clearly the strong but silent types in Toome'.

ANOTHER GOOD YEAR FOR GAA BOOKS

It's been a hugely successful last few years for GAA books, with titles like Hurling: The Revolution Years, Last Man Standing: Hurling Goalkeepers, Dessie: Tangled in Blue, Dublin versus Kerry, Every Single Ball, and Death on a Country Road all nominated for book awards. 2007 promises to be a vintage one too.

Kerry remains to football books what Muhammad Ali is to boxing ones . . .an industry in itself . . . with Jack O'Connor bring out a book in the summer, as will Radio Kerry presenter Weeshie Fogarty on another Kerry coach, the legendary Dr Eamonn O'Sullivan. TJ Flynn, formerly of this parish, along with Joe O Muircheartaigh is completing a book on the greatest Kerry footballers ever, while Michael Foley will have a book on the classic OffalyKerry All Ireland out for the 25th anniversary of that game. The Tribune's own stable will again be busy, with Ewan MacKenna guiding Oisin McConville's autobiography, while the gifted Keith Duggan is tackling Mayo's obsessive quest for the holy grail that's Sam.

Let's start saving up already.