10 YEARS AGO

DAVID Givney was the toast of Cavan as his two goals helped his side clinch a draw against Tyrone in front of almost 20,000 spectators at Clones. The Red Hands conceded three goals in total, and manager Mickey Harte remarked after the game that “you have to say Cavan did their homework, they had a good game plan and executed it very well. We have no complaints”.

Elsewhere, Derry minors edged a gripping Ulster Championship semi-final against Armagh after extra time. Midfielder Patrick Coney scored a crucial goal and sub Caolan Devlin was in inspirational form as they clawed back a five-point deficit, and then they finished the job in extra time.

Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh had a bad day at the office in the qualifiers, losing their Round 1A clash to Laois. It was their fourth loss in five championship outings since McGeeney took the reins – how things have changed!

Derry fared better in their qualifier match, however, clinching a hard-earned win over Louth on a scoreline of 1-18 to 2-10.

On the hurling front, there was a massive win for the Saffrons who ran riot against Derry in the Ulster Championship semi-final by 3-28 to 0-14. In the other semi-final, Armagh proved far too strong for 12-man Down.

20 YEARS AGO

WHILE there were only five points between the teams at the final whistle, there was no doubting Donegal’s supremacy as they booked their spot in the Ulster final with an assured performance against Derry. Rory Kavanagh was man of the match on a day where Donegal’s fast, positive approach paid dividends.

Meanwhile, Down and Antrim footballers were dumped out of the championship with qualifier defeats to Sligo and Clare respectively.

Tyrone came desperately close to being knocked out as well, only mustering a draw against Louth. It was a brilliantly entertaining game of football that went to extra-time, but the reigning All-Ireland champions were in the midst of an injury crisis at that point in time and they ended up having a short summer.

Down, meanwhile, edged a low-scoring encounter against Sligo.

The Antrim hurlers dished out an almighty hammering of Roscommon in a Christy Ring Cup encounter. The final scoreline of 9-39 to 0-5 says it all…

30 YEARS AGO

DOWN clinched a fairly unforgettable win over Monaghan in the quarter-finals of Ulster with manager Pete McGrath praising the contribution of veteran players Ross Carr and John ‘Shorty’ Treanor after the match.

Cavan’s resurgence under Martin McHugh continued when the county’s U21 team lifted the Ulster title with a 1-11 to 1-5 victory over Derry. The Breffni side contained 10 members of McHugh’s senior squad.

Down and Derry, meanwhile, played out a draw in a thrilling Ulster Minor Championship semi-final.

It was also a memorable weekend for the Derry hurlers, who landed the All-Ireland ‘B’ title for the first time with a 1-14 to 0-10 victory over Wicklow.