10 YEARS AGO

THERE was no shortage of controversy as Mayo and Fermanagh went their separate ways in the All-Ireland championship, a late penalty goal from Cillian O’Connor proving crucial as Mayo booked their spot in Round 3B of the qualifiers.

The big talking point was Joe McQuillan’s decision to award Mayo a penalty in the 62nd minute. Fermanagh boss Pete McGrath claimed that Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea had taken a dive under the challenge of Che Cullen, saying that “the referee bought it hook, line and sinker. That penalty was the defining moment in the game.”

Elsewhere, Derry kept their championship hopes alive with a qualifier victory over Meath on a scoreline of 1-14 to 1-11. Meath boss Mick O’Dowd stepped down after the game and took a swipe at GAA pundits for ‘ripping decent people apart.’

Cavan, meanwhile, bounced back from a one-sided replay defeat to Tyrone in the Ulster Championship semi-final. Terry Hyland’s side proved too strong for Carlow on a scoreline of 2-13 to 0-12.

Antrim hurlers won a high-scoring Ulster Senior Championship final against Armagh by 6-21 to 4-14. It was also a good weekend for their counterparts at minor level, overcoming Down by 2-15 to 0-11 in the Ulster Minor showdown.

20 YEARS AGO

THE Armagh footballers became the first Ulster side since the great Down team of the sixties to win three Anglo Celts on the bounce with a 1-9 to 0-9 victory over Donegal at Croke Park.

Over 50,000 fans flocked to Croker to witness a compelling tussle with the defining score a sweet goal from Paul McGrane just 51 seconds into the second-half. Full-forward Ronan Clarke was also in top form for the Orchard County in their inside line, plundering three points from play.

Donegal minors, meanwhile, clinched the Ulster Championship title with a 2-12 to 1-5 win over Antrim in the curtain-raiser.

And it was a hugely disappointing weekend for reigning All-Ireland champions Tyrone as their title defence came to an end with a 0-9 to 0-6 defeat to Laois. In truth, the result had been coming as they were decimated by injuries that year.

The Fermanagh footballers got back on track with a qualifer win over Clare with a five-point win at Cusack Park, Ennis.

Down hurlers maintained their unbeaten record in the Christy Ring Cup with a comfortable win in Ballycran against Meath. Played in continuous rain, Down never looked like losing.

The Antrim hurlers likewise had too much for London in another group-stage encounter, rolling through the gears to cruise into the Christy Ring semi-finals with eight points to spare.

30 YEARS AGO

ANTRIM clinched Ulster Hurling Championship honours at Casement Park over Down during a period of tension and unrest with marches held at the Garvaghy and lower Ormeau roads against the wishes of residents.

A hastily arranged rally brought the people onto the streets while during the half-time interval a protest demanding re-routing of Orange matches was staged on the pitch.

Down joint-manager Paddy Braniff admitted that Down fans ‘stayed at home’, making it difficult for his side to get motivated as they slumped to a 1-20 to 2-12 defeat.

Antrim manager Dominic McKinley also said that it had been a difficult week during the turmoil, saying that training was ‘badly disrupted’ as a result.