A step back in time

10 years ago

SLEACHT Néill created hurling history on an emotional afternoon by winning their first-ever Ulster Senior Hurling Championship title. The Derry side overcame Loughgiel on a scoreline of 2-14 to 1-13 at the Athletic Grounds with captain Chrissy McKaigue paying tribute to the late Thomas Ó Caiside in his acceptance speech, saying that “he was the main driver of this dream. His spirit today lived in all of us.”

The two clubs also met in the Ulster Senior Camogie Championship final in the curtain-raiser, playing out a stalemarte. Eilis, Aoife and Brona Ní Chaiside all lined out for Sleacht Néill, less than a week after the death of their father Thomas, who was joint-manager of the team alongside Dominic McKinley and Damien McEldowney.

20 years ago

ANTRIM overcame New York (that’s right) in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship final with Johnny McIntosh inspiring the Saffrons to a 46th Ulster title with a personal haul of 1-7 in Boston.

Elsewhere, Clontibret came up trumps in the Monaghan Senior Championship final with a 1-8 to 0-9 victory over Magheracloone. While it was close on the scoreboard, Clontibret never really looked like losing after scoring a fortuitous early goal.

It was also a big weekend for Bredagh in Down, who won their first county title with a 1-8 to 0-5 win over Teconnaught in the Junior Championship replay. The Gormley trio were stars for the winners, with Jody along with Paddy Heaney controlling midfield against battling displays by Damien Mulholland and Simon Kerr.

30 years ago

CUSHENDALL edged Portaferry by 3-9 to 2-8 in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship final.

Portaferry trailed by 10 points at a stage but trimmed that back to four before time ran out. Ryan McNaughton, Ciaran McCambridge, Aidan McAteer and Donagh McNaughton was outstanding in the Ruairí Ógs defence as they held out to clinch the provincial prize.

Elsewhere, there was a big weekend of National Football League matches and here’s a taster of what went on.

A last-gasp equaliser from Damien Diver against Tyrone gave Donegal their second draw in a row.

Armagh also played out a share of the spoils against Dublin in a Division Two encounter at Parnell Park, while Cavan could have no complaints about their 0-17 to 1-6 defeat to Kildare in the top flight.