A look into the archives

10 YEARS AGO

CASTLERAHAN’S dream of winning a first-ever Cavan Senior Championship remained alive but only just after a gripping county final against Ramor.

Ramor were in pole position with 57 minutes on the clock, leading by 2-11 to 2-6, but Sean Brady’s well-taken goal turned the game on its head and it was a stalemate at full time.

It was a similar story in Tyrone as Killyclogher and Coalisland played out an exciting replay in the Senior Championship final.

Killyclogher’s Nathan Donnelly fisted over the leveller in the third minute of added time and it was a fair result as both teams played positive football in a closely fought encounter at Healy Park.

The Sleacht Néill hurlers, meanwhile, proved too strong for Armagh champs Middletown in the Ulster Senior Championship semi-final, while Loughiel came through the other side of the draw with a big win over Ballygalget.

20 YEARS AGO

THERE were shades of 2003 All-Ireland final as Peter Canavan left the action at half-time of the 2006 Senior Championship final and reappeared to guide Errigal Ciaran to the county title.

Errigal stopped Carrickmore’s three-in-a-row bid and Canavan was the key figure in a tense, absorbing Healy Park replay. Damien ‘Daisy’ McDermott scored the only goal of the game while centre-half back Paul Quinn was in excellent form.

Elsewhere, Mayobridge proved too strong for Burren in the Down Senior Championship showdown, claiming their third title on the spin, their sixth in eight years.

In Derry, Ballinderry won the Senior Championship title with a 2-11 to 0-9 victory in a Lough shore derby against the Loup. Cargin, meanwhile, cruised into the Antrim SFC final with a 1-16 to 0-7 win over Portglenone.

In Monaghan, Clontibret booked their place in the Monaghan SFC final at the expense of Truagh, setting up a county final date with Magheracloone, who edged Castleblayney by a point.

30 YEARS AGO

THE National Leagues started much earlier in these days, and there were mixed fortunes for Ulster teams in the opening round of fixtures in October 1996.

In the most high-profile clashes involving Ulster teams, Anthony Tohill was in magnificent form in a low-scoring victory over neighbours Tyrone.

A last-gasp free from Colin Corkery earned Cork a draw against Donegal in terrible weather conditions at Ballybofey. Down coasted to a straightforward victory over Wexford in Division Three, while Antrim slipped to a five-point defeat to Wicklow.

Armagh lost their Division Two meeting with neighbours Louth, while Cavan did well to clinch a draw against Meath, who won the All-Ireland SFC just two weeks prior.