A couple of months ago, the small matter of a playoff match against Bosnia would decide just how exciting 2016 would be for Irish sports fans.
And thanks to Jon Walters’ double at the Aviva Stadium, Euro 2016 will capture all our attention.
But that’s just one major event to note in your diary, so here is all you need to look forward to in the sporting calendar this year including the Olympics in Rio.
January
18th - As ever the Australian Open gets the tennis season off to a bang and Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams will be aiming to defend their titles from their last visits to Melbourne Park.
30th - The inter-county GAA season begins in earnest after the opening pre-season salvos with the first round of the Allianz Football League.
February
1st - Last time out, Katie Taylor made it five gold medals in Jeju, Korea. This year, the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship is in Kazakhstan where the Bray boxer will hope to make that six golds - with the Olympics around the corner.
7th - Ireland's 2016 Six Nations begins with the visit of Wales to Dublin.
7th - The American sporting calendar comes to a temporary standstill as all eyes turn towards California for a very special Super Bowl 50.
13th - Ireland visit Paris' Stade de France to take on the hosts in the second week of the Six Nations.
14th - The Allianz Hurling leagues throw-in.
27th - Twickenham is the venue Ireland will hope to conquer as they clash with England in Six Nations week 3.
Ireland's Jonathan Sexton, Rob Kearney, Dave Kearney, Robbie Henshaw, Cian Healy, Keith Earls and Sean O'Brien ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
March
12th - The Italians are in Dublin for Six Nations week 4.
17th - It's St Patrick's Day, so the traditional All-Ireland club football and hurling finals take place at Croke Park.
19th - If Ireland were to win a Grand Slam in 2016, this would be the date when they finish their Six Nations campaign against Scotland at the Aviva.
20th - Lewis Hamilton will be looking to make a fast start on the grid as Formula One returns with the Australian Grand Prix.
25th - Ireland's first Euro 2016 warm-up is at the Aviva Stadium against fellow finalists Switzerland. The fact we've qualified for the tournament, means this fixture generates more interest than usual.
29th - A few days after the Swiss match, it's the turn of fellow qualifiers Slovakia to visit Dublin for a pre-Euro 2016 friendly.
April
7th - Who will win the green jacket worn by Jordan Spieth at the end of last year’s Masters? We’ll know on April 10th for the final round - provided there are no delays at Augusta this year.
May
18th - T’is the night of the Europa League final and perhaps Liverpool, Manchester United or Tottenham might be there.
22nd- The French Open tennis gets going at Roland Garros.
28th - The ever-glamorous San Siro stadium in Milan plays host to the Champions League final when we will know if Barcelona will become the first club to retain the European Cup since the great Milan side of the late 80s, early 90s. That’s assuming Barcelona reach the final again.
29th - The Monaco Grand Prix remains F1’s most prestigious.
June
10th - Ireland are among the 24 lucky nations as Euro 2016 gets underway in France with the opening game featuring the hosts at the Stade de France.
13th - It's the day we've all been waiting for as Ireland open their Euro 2016 campaign against Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sweden in Paris.
Former Greece international Angelos Charisteas pulls Republic of Ireland out of the hat for the Euro 2016 draw ©INPHO/Gwendoline Le Goff
18th - Belgium are the favourites in our group and we go head-to-head with them and their golden generation in Bordeaux for our second group game.
19th - The US Open golf major takes place at Oakmount, Pennsylvania.
22nd - By the time we finish the group against Italy in Lille, we'll have to hope we're either already qualified or in a very good position in Group E.
27th - Wimbledon returns to provide more thrills and spills from centre court and beyond.
July
2nd - Chris Froome will be aiming for a three-in-a-row as the Tour de France begins in the French department of Manche.
3rd - It's the day of the Leinster hurling and Munster football finals.
5th - With an eye to the upcoming Olympics, there is a week of action at the European Athletics Championships.
10th - If Ireland can do a Greece 2004, they will be playing in the Euro 2016 final on this day.
10th - Also on this day, the Connacht football and Munster hurling finals throw-in.
14th - The 2016 Open tees off at Royal Troon Golf Course in Scotland.
17th - The Leinster and Ulster football finals share a date.
28th - The PGA golf championship takes place.
August
Katie Taylor and Ireland's boxers did themselves and the country proud at London 2012. So more of the same this year ©INPHO/James Crombie
5th - What does Rio have in store for us? We find out as the 31st Summer Olympics, running, jumping, sailing and more until August 21st.
29th - The last tennis major, the US Open, begins.
September
4th - The hurling season culminates with the All-Ireland final.
7th - The Summer Paralympics begin in Rio de Janeiro.
11th - Who will be crowned All-Ireland Camogie champions? This is the day, we'll find out.
24th - If the hurling final ends in a draw, the replay is set for this day.
25th - The All-Ireland Ladies football final takes centre stage.
30th - Darren Clark is Europe’s captain this time as they take on the USA in the Ryder Cup.
18th - Will Kerry and Dublin be in the All-Ireland football final again? Either way, the finalist play on this day at Croke Park.
October
1st - The date for the All-Ireland football final replay should that come to pass.
25th - Major League Baseball’s World Series starts.
30th- The Dublin Marathon takes place.
November
27th - The F1 season ends in Abu Dhabi.
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