IN THE ARCHIVES: Boylan hits out at Aussie tactics

10 YEARS AGO

THE Eoghan Rua hurlers got off to a blistering start against Bredagh en route to booking their spot in the Ulster Intermediate Hurling Championship final.

Elsewhere, there was good news for Tyrone fans as Sean Cavanagh confirmed via social media that he was set to commit for another year in the county jersey. The Moy man had been mulling over his future since the Red Hands were knocked out of the championship by Mayo at the quarter-final stage, but he ended speculation that he could retire on his personal Twitter account, saying that he “hoped to be fit and healthy enough to pull on my beloved Red Hand jersey in 2017. Couldn’t finish like that.”

20 YEARS AGO

IRELAND fell to a heavy defeat in the second and final International Rules test against Australia on a scoreline of 69 to 31 at Croke Park. The game was marred by what Ireland manager Sean Boylan perceived as deliberate Australian aggression. Speaking after the game, he said that he wanted to abandon the game after the first quater, but was convinced by the players that they should finish out the game. There were a number of very unsavoury incidents. Most notably, Meath’s Graham Geraghty was admitted to the Mater Hospital after eing knocked unconscious by a takle from Danyle Pearce. Boyle also had strong words for the Australian umpire Shane McInerney, describing him as the most biased refereed he had ever witness.

Elsewhere, Dungiven were handed a reprieve in the Ulster Senior Hurling final, Geoffrey McGonigle clinching a draw when he arrowed over a last-puck 65 against Cushendall. In total, the dual star scored 2-4 across the hour.

30 YEARS AGO

TYRONE fell short in Division One against Kildare in front of an 8,000 strong crowd at Newbridge on a scoreline of 1-9 to 1-7. The Red Hands produced a gutsy display in a much-improved second-half but it wasn’t enough in the end up.

Derry played out a draw with Cork at Celtic Park in a game that ended in a fast and furious fashion with a flurry of scores at either end. Joe Brolly, who came on in the second half, popped up with the score of the game with a beautiful left-footed effort. Down the other end of the pitch, Colin Corkery scored 1-6 despite also missing several chances.

In Division Two, Clare proved too strong for the men from Monaghan, and in Division Three, Antrim clinched a 1-9 to 0-8 win over Longford, while Down maintained their unbeaten record with a seven-point win over Wicklow.