10 YEARS AGO

HAVING watched their four-in-a-row hopes dramatically ended by Sleacht Néill, Ballinderry looked like men possessed as they eased past Dungiven in the Derry SFC.

The Shamrocks scored three times in their first three attacks and they were always able to hold the upper hand from there, winning 3-10 to 0-11 in the end.

Conleith Gilligan helped himself to 2-2 while Enda Muldoon also raised a green flag with Ryan McElhinney carrying the fight for Dungiven.

In Donegal, holders St Eunan’s delivered a statement of intent as they beat Glenswilly 3-7 to 0-8.

With Kevin Rafferty starring in midfield, the Letterkenny side were able to get into a gallop and Lee McMonagle (2) and Conall Dunne got the goals with Michael Murphy held to four frees.

St Michael’s and Kilcar eased into the semis against Malin and Four Masters respectively while Naomh Conaill had to battle hard to get past Termon with Ciarán Thompson dragging them through it.

Cork retained the O’Duffy Cup after a comfortable 1-13 to 0-9 win over perennial rivals Galway.

The result was all the more remarkable as the Rebels had lost 13 players from the side that triumphed the previous year, but it didn’t knock them out of their stride.

It was a special day for Briege Corkery as she secured her 15th All-Ireland title across dual codes by slamming home the decisive goal minutes from time.

For a side who had finished third in the group stages and lost a league decider to the Tribe County, it was a sweet ending on the biggest stage of all.

20 YEARS AGO

THE GAA were set to start an inquiry into how some 1,000 premium seats were left empty for the All-Ireland SHC final between Cork and Galway.

“We’re as baffled as everybody else,” said GAA press officer Danny Lynch.

On the pitch, new Cork manager Ben O’Connor was the star as the Rebels claimed an ultimately comfortable 1-21 to 1-16 win.

O’Connor finished with a 1-5 tally as Cork moved to 30 on the roll of honour – a number they sit on 20 years later.

Galway were right in it during the first half and only for a fine Donal Óg Cusack stop from Alan Kerins, they could have been leading at half-time instead of facing into a two-point deficit.

Damien Hayes did goal in the 49th minute to keep them right there, but Cork upped the ante in the final quarter and deservedly prevailed.

There was some solace for Galway fans as their minors won a thriller against Limerick in the curtain-raiser.

The young Treaty squad came in as massive underdogs, but they gave absolutely everything in a 3-12 to 0-17 loss with a certain Joe Canning amongst the goals for Galway.

In the All-Ireland Ladies SFC, Galway were too good for Dublin while Cork saw off a spirited Mayo challenge.

The Connacht outfit were left enraged by some of referee Joe Murray’s calls in the final moments of their one-point loss with Juliet Murphy sending the Rebels through with a point with just 28 seconds remaining.

30 YEARS AGO

BY no means a classic, but it mattered little to Mullghbawn as they claimed a first Armagh title since 1964 following a 0-10 to 1-5 win over Armagh Harps.

The Harps had led 1-2 to 0-4 at the break thanks to an opportunistic Malachy Gribben goal, but with Justin McNulty and Nial Smyth excelling, Mullaghbawn always looked like they could find a way to get the job done.

With future Armagh managers Peter McDonnell on the line and Kieran McGeeney on the pitch, the south Armagh side were worthy winners in the end, even if the final wasn’t memorable.

It was similar in Monaghan as Castleblayney strolled to a 0-14 to 0-8 final win over Clontibret.

Like Mullaghbawn they had been behind at the turn, but they were dominant from there with Peter Duffy excelling as the third midfielder.

Six points without reply helped Killybegs to the Donegal title at the expense of Naomh Columba – the eventual champions again having to overcome a half-time deficit.

In Cavan, Gowna were dethroned by Bailieborough, the Shamrocks winning 0-13 to 1-8 with Roy Brennan top-scoring for Seamus Bonner’s side.