10 YEARS AGO
CAVAN returned to the big time as they defeated Galway 1-16 to 1-12 to return to Division One.

In a winner-takes-all clash at Kingspan Breffni, they had to fight to the finish with Jason McLoughlin brilliantly clearing off the line in the final moments with Damien Comer looking certain to score.

The damage for the Tribe was mostly done in the first half as the inspirational Gearóid McKieran thrilled a home crowd of nearly 7,000 people.

Dara McVeety and David Givney, who got the early goal, also put in big performances.

It would be Cavan’s first time in the top flight since 2002, when it was a 16-team league, and their first time that high from 1996/97.

Neighbours Monaghan would be up there too after one of their famed final-day survival acts.

They took on Donegal knowing their top-flight status was on the line, and when they trailed by seven points they looked doomed.

However, they fought back against a county they usually trouble and it was left to defender Colin Walshe to kick the winner in a 1-10 to 1-9 win.

Down’s horrible league season ended up with a seventh straight defeat, but there were much better signs as Mayo beat them 1-19 to 1-16.

Donal O’Hare hit 1-5 for the Mourne County with goalkeeper Mick Cunningham coming forward to stroke over two frees.

However, Armagh were heading back to Division Three despite a 1-18 to 0-15 win over Derry.

Roared on by a boisterous home crowd hoping to see a positive outcome, the Orchard County played some good stuff and if they had tagged on five more points they would have stayed up.

Grange duo Ethan Rafferty and Miceal McKenna managed 1-8 between them, all of Rafferty’s seven points coming from frees.

20 YEARS AGO

LEAGUE games in football and hurling were set to be delayed by 15 minutes as Gaelic Player Association members protested.

Members of the players’ body had initially been weighing up missing a round of fixtures completely, in relation to player welfare standards, but opted to go with the less nuclear option for the round of games on the weekend of April 8-9.

Carrickmore added to their packed trophy cabinet with the Ulster League title following a 1-12 to 0-9 win over Clontibret in Emyvale.

The Tyrone side were out of the blocks fast with Mark Donnelly, Peter Loughran and Kevin McNally all scoring points while Michael Gallagher hit a 16th-minute goal to give them a real platform.

Despite a couple of Dessie Mone scores, the O’Neill’s were unable to get back into it.

It was a good weekend for Carmen fans at county level too as Tyrone edged closer to a National Football League semi-final spot with a 0-12 to 0-8 win over Cork in Omagh.

In horrid conditions, it was 0-2 to 0-2 after half an hour, but a quickfire trio of Red Hands points set them on their way with Brian Dooher starring on his return to the first 15.

30 YEARS AGO
THERE were two reasons for Derry fans to feel happy – Anthony Tohill was back after an eight-month injury lay-off and the side booked a league semi-final spot with a one-point win over Cavan.

Brian McGilligan was the hero in the 0-12 to 0-11 quarter-final win at Clones with a late score.

In a sign of the times, there were rumbles of complaint as it was £7 into the stands for this St Tiernach’s double-header, with Antrim beating Fermanagh 3-6 to 0-6 in a Division Three relegation play-off beforehand.

Donegal got a Croke Park outing for their quarter-final with Wicklow, and they proved far too strong in a 2-12 to 1-8. Tir Chonaill fans may be interested to know that the game is on the Wicklow GAA YouTube page.