sub sortKeys { my ( $l_mo, $l_yr ) = $a =~ /(\D+)(\d+)/; my ( $r_mo, $r_yr ) = $b =~ /(\D+)(\d+)/; my $left = $l_yr . $months->{$l_mo}; my $right = $r_yr . $months->{$r_mo}; return ( $left cmp $right ); }