10 YEARS AGO 

PLAYER power came to the fore in Connacht GAA circles.

Mayo’s joint-management ticket of Noel Conneely and Pat Holmes stepped away after relenting after pressure from the squad to walk away.

The pair had just completed the first year of a three-year initial term, a season that saw them bring Dublin to a replay in an All-Ireland semi-final, but they would not be around for year two.

“By resigning we wish to remove any obstacle that the players might have perceived as preventing them from winning the All-Ireland,” they said as they exited stage left.

Meanwhile, Galway hurling was in a state of flux with Anthony Cunningham’s managerial future in doubt just days after being ratified for another year.

That ratification came after some players had expressed disillusionment with the situation, with county officials having to meet the squad after Cunningham’s extension.

Eventually the pressure would tell and Cunningham would step aside.

In Ulster, there were football title wins for Derrygonnelly and Sleacht Néill.

Derrygonnelly took the crown off Roslea in Fermanagh – a first county title for the Harps since 2009.

Shane McGullion struck for two goals and Paul Ward was also on target in a 3-16 to 3-7 win.

Up in Derry, Sleacht Néill were one-point winners over Eoghan Rua as they retained their Oakleaf title.

Sé McGuigan’s goal in the 41st minute looked like it would help them ease to the line, but Coleraine fought back before losing 1-7 to 0-9.

20 YEARS AGO

ARMAGH were crowned All-Ireland Ladies Junior champions after a 0-12 to 0-9 win over Sligo – an event that has been tinged with sadness in recent weeks following the death of Aoife Lennon in a traffic accident last month.

The Orchard County did their best to lose the game at Croke Park as they racked up an incredible 25 wides. However, Caroline O’Hanlon and Mags McAlinden kept the scoreboard ticking over enough for the Ulster side to lift the trophy.

In the senior final, Cork were crowned champions after a 1-11 to 0-8 win over Galway with Valerie Mulcahy hitting 1-5.

Mayobridge made it four titles in five seasons in Down as they defeated Bryansford 0-13 to 0-7.

Bryansford had won the 2003 final against the ‘Bridge, but there was never any chance of that here even with Benny Coulter missing an early penalty.

He remained a thorn in the Bryansford defence though, as did Robbie Coulter, with veteran Mickey Linden coming off the bench to make an impact too.

Bellaghy were crowned champions in Derry as they saw off the Loup on a 2-7 to 1-6 scoreline.

Gareth Doherty and Loup’s Joe O’Kane swapped first-half goals, with Bellaghy edging a tight second half and Declan Graffin securing the win with a late goal.

30 YEARS AGO

IT was a busy weekend on the Ulster Club scene with four teams advancing to the latter stages of the provincial competition.

Performance of the weekend belonged to Tyrone champions Errigal Ciaran who blitzed Donegal’s Killybegs on a 3-18 to 0-9 scoreline.

Only for goalkeeper Ian Cunningham, the Fishermen would have lost by much more with Peter Canavan starring and Eamon McCaffrey hitting 1-5 from play for the Red Hand side.

Armagh champions Mullaghbawn also advanced after a 1-11 to 2-5 win over Antrim side Cargin – Fergal McDonnell top scoring with 1-5.

Castleblayney, with Aidan Tavey starring, had a hard-fought 1-12 to 1-10 win over Castlewellan while Cavan’s Bailieborough needed only four scores to advance as they defeated Derrygonnelly 2-2 to 0-4.