Inside Track: Surprise, surprise, Inside Track comes up with a few 2025 winners

Before taking the crystal ball down from the shelf, let’s first of all take a look at how Inside Track’s predictions for the year just ended fared out.

Not too bad as it turned out, 23 made and over a dozen of them coming to pass. That’s good for a scribbler who each year loses the increasingly unequal annual battle with the bookies.

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Some were nailed on, such as Celtic to win the SPL two-horse race, Liverpool to stay in front in the Premiership, Aidan O’Brien to win the Irish trainers’ championship, and Southampton to be relegated.

We said that Davy Fitzgerald would complain if his Antrim side got beaten. Beaten the Saffrons certainly were, and while there was no public outburst from Davy, it’s for sure he had some harsh words to say, maybe even in his own dressingroom.

Liverpool were comfortably in front at the beginning of the year, as were Celtic; but the picture is different twelve months on.

Celtic have only to find a rhythm to overhaul the surprise league leaders, Hearts, but it’s not for sure the ‘Pool will finish better off than Arsenal or Man City. They might win the bronze medal.

But that’s for debate further on in this story – back to some more back-slapping.

This is the one we’re shouting loudest about: “Dessie Farrell to quit as Dublin manager. Ger Brennan is favourite to take over after leading his Louth side to a Leinster Championship.

Now with two titles in the back (Louth were also tipped to win the league’s Division Two, but didn’t), supporters here are revising upwards their All-Star figures.”

Dundalk FC were chosen to win the league, Andy Farrell tipped to lead the Lions Test victory, and it was said, more or less, that there would be activity on the site chosen for Louth GAA’s new stadium.

This one was neither a hit nor a miss: “Jim McGuinness to pull a rabbit or two from the hat as he deals with the GAA’s new rules.” The Donegal guru won the Ulster and then made the All-Ireland final, but couldn’t solve the David Clifford problem.

Has Katie Taylor retired, or just taking time out? We said she would quit the boxing game because she was fed up beating Amanda Serrano. The score stands at 3-0.

We thought Luke Littler would be named the BBC Sportsperson of the Year. He wasn’t. Instead, he had to satisfy himself with the World title.

Israel Olatunda didn’t run faster than before, “putting himself on line for the Los Angeles Olympics.” Immediately after that, in the preview... “Kate O’Connor has the same ambition (to make the 2028 Olympics)” She has, and lots of prizes to win in the meantime.

(Willie Mullins....could come under pressure to retain his two titles. Photo by Sportsfile)

MULLINS MIGHT HAVE TO PLAY SECOND FIDDLE

So, what’s in store for ’26? Let’s start with horse racing. Willie Mullins to lose his two crowns, top National Hunt trainer in England, to Dan Skelton, and in Ireland, to Gordon Elliott.

It’s not unusual for these two challengers to get a head start, since it’s usually not until the big meetings are staged that Mullins makes up ground.

One of those meetings was held at Leopardstown over the Christmas holiday, and it wasn’t that good for the champion.

But Elliott scored heavily, adding to the big lead he had already built. Skelton is tipping along nicely on the other side of the Irish Sea.

Joseph O’Brien to come second to his father in the race for the Irish Flat title, and his first-choice jockey, Dylan Browne-McMonagle, to again be champion jockey.

Before soccer’s World Cup finals come along, we’ll know if the Republic of Ireland have qualified. Two wins will be required in the play-offs coming up in March.

Win the first, away to the Czech Republic, and there’ll be a home game for the decider. If this happens, there’ll be a huge demand for tickets. Too great for the Aviva to meet demand? Anyone for Croker?

FIFA are already in the mire with their pricing of tickets to the World Cup finals matches. It could get worse if they allow Trump do more than confine himself to presenting the trophy to the winners.

One thing is for sure, this huge soccer fan wouldn’t be welcome in either Mexico or Canada, where, along with the USA, matches are to be played.

And to whom could Trump be presenting the trophy? When it comes to the final, there could be a lot of comment on it being 60 years since England last won it. Harry Kane to follow in Bobby Moore’s bootprints.

By the time it comes to the summer extravaganza, Manchester City will have the Premier League in the bag, with Aston Villa, in their attempt to do a ‘Leicester’, coming up short.

Arsenal to finish in the other medal position, and Liverpool, with Mo Salah back scoring goals, winning the head-to-head with Man United, and, as said earlier, taking third.

Celtic fans to fall in love with Nancy after the Frenchman leads the Bhoys to a record number of SFL titles. Rangers to come second, with Hearts’ failure to hold off the Glasgow rivals painful for supporters.

Dundalk to do enough to retain their place in the Premier League, and Louth seniors to stay in touch with the league’s Division Two. After that, if Devlin’s students get to meet and beat Dublin, successive provincial titles could be on.

Being the fanatics that most of them are, local GAA and soccer followers usually confine themselves to only reading reports and stories centred on their own sports. This year, however, they might be taking in other pages, or looking elsewhere on their mobiles.

Kate O’Connor has added considerably to her fan base with her exploits over the past number of years, 2025 in particular. She is taken to continue on a winning trajectory.

In golf, Rory McIlroy could win another Major, and maybe Shane Lowry as well. But around here we’ll be more interested in Caolon Rafferty, looking in to see if the Dundalk lad can keep burning up courses, housing major amateur events.