Two years ago Covid-19 robbed the great and the good in Irish football of their annual knees-up in RTE.
Instead of the usual drinks reception and finger food buffet, followed by a glitzy hour-long studio production, the FAI International Awards were belatedly announced online in July 2020.
It was no-frills, which was appropriate, given the lack of frills in the year being honoured.
Despite playing Gibraltar twice in 2019, the senior side scored just 13 goals in 10 games under Mick McCarthy.
And only one of those was deemed worthy of making the shortlist for the ‘Three’ International Goal of the Year category - Conor Hourihane’s free-kick against Georgia on the infamous night of the tennis balls.
There was a quick check of the rulebook before two Under-21 goals - from Troy Parrott and Lee O’Connor - were allowed onto the three-strong shortlist.
It won’t be easy selecting the nominees this year - but for an entirely different reason.
How do you whittle down what we’ve seen so far from the Boys in Green - and it’s still only June - to just three?
Time to dust down the rulebook once again. Can we have a shortlist of five? Six?
Last night it was the turn of centre-half Nathan Collins to put his name forward. He won a strong defensive header inside his own half and then disappeared off our screens as the camera panned upfield.
Ireland lost the ball at the edge of the area and Ukraine looked to mount an attack.
But suddenly a flash of orange darted into the picture to intercept the ball yards from the centre circle.
Collins raced forward between two Ukrainians, dribbled past another and then, with the outside of his right boot, curled the ball around the goalkeeper and inside the upright.
Sensational!
How many centre-halves would win that initial header and then settle back into position?
Not Collins. His first thought was to push forward, putting him in a position to intercept and score.
In any other year, he’d be a shoo-in for Goal of the Year. But not this time.
He might well win the popular vote - this award is decided by the fans - but the competition is stiff.
Remember how we purred at Chiedozie Ogbene’s overhead kick against Belgium in March - and Troy Parrott’s volleyed injury-time winner against Lithuania a few days later?
Parrott’s header against Scotland is a contender, as much for the sensational assist by Michael Obafemi as for his composure to nod the ball past an oncoming Craig Gordon.
Up to last night, Obafemi had probably edged ahead in the betting for his turn and wonder-strike in the same game.
Then up stepped 21-year-old Collins and his mazy dribble into the area and classy finish.
For the record, Parrott won the 2019 award - the first underage player to do so, while Ellen Molloy (Women’s Under-17s) claimed it 12 months later.
The virtual awards ceremony two years ago also crowned our Senior Player of the Year. David McGoldrick was 32 when he beat Glenn Whelan (36) and Enda Stevens (29) to the honour.
The rules were stretched when it came to the Young Player of the Year category, with Alan Browne (25 when the awards were dished out) winning.
Another reflection of how Irish football has changed in such a short time is the likely ages of our next senior nominees - with Parrott, Obafemi, Collins and Jason Knight all still eligible for the Under-21s.
Years ago the FAI International Awards was a slap-up banquet in City West. Then the crash came and it was moved to Montrose.
Irish football might still be cash-poor, but right now some of the football is deserving of a return to the tux and top-table stuff of old.
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