10 YEARS AGO

CHAMPIONSHIP restructures were on the agenda as GAA’s Central Council floated the idea of a B competition.

A motion was to go to Congress that would see Division Four teams excluded from the All-Ireland Qualifiers and enter a B All-Ireland if they failed to make their provincial final.

It sparked memories of the ill-fated Tommy Murphy Cup and the reaction to the motion was met with anger from those in the bottom tier.

Carlow boss Turlough O’Brien called it “a slap in the face”.

On the field, Derry and Tyrone set up a McKenna Cup final date.

Derry were 1-17 to 1-10 winners over Cavan in their semi-final in Armagh.

New boss Damian Barton had promised more attacking football and that was evident with eight different Oakleafers scoring from play.

Ballinderry’s Ryan Bell top scored on the day with 1-5 for the victors while Seanie Johnston and Eugene Keating were both on target for Cavan as they made their return to the county scene.

Clones hosted the other semi-final as Tyrone defeated Fermanagh 1-13 to 0-9.

The game was tighter than the scoreline suggests with two big moments going against the Erne County in the second half.

First, star midfielder Eoin Donnelly was sent off before Connor McAliskey rattled the net for the game’s only goal.

The Clonoe man finished with 1-3 with Mark Bradley adding three points. Seán Quigley contributed six points for Fermanagh.

20 YEARS ON

WEXFORD GAA were to consider their options after one of their players was allegedly punched by a member of the Dublin management team in their O’Byrne Cup clash.

Colm Morris claimed he got “a box in the chin” and a member of Dublin’s management team was eventually hit with a one-match ban from the pitch enclosure.

Jordanstown took down county opposition in the McKenna Cup as they defeated Cavan 0-14 to 1-8.

The damage was done in the first half as the students hit a dozen points – Michael McNamee and Mark Lynch scoring heavily – with Paul Brady’s goal keeping Cavan in touch.

The hosts improved dramatically after the break but couldn’t find a way back into it.

Armagh were another side to hold off a second-half comeback as they beat Fermanagh 0-12 to 1-7.

Liam O’Hare’s point put them 0-12 to 0-3 ahead early in the second half, but they wouldn’t score again with Mark Murphy’s goal bringing the Erne County back into it.

Tyrone hit the goal trail against St Mary’s as they won 4-9 to 1-9.

Ryan Mellon hit a brace with Seán Cavanagh and Tommy McGuigan all raising green flags with Conor Gardener scoring the goal for the students.

30 YEARS AGO

BAILIEBORO completed the Cavan double by winning the 1995 Cavan Division One title, albeit played in 1996.

In a repeat of the championship final, they got the better of Gowna on a 1-8 to 1-6 scoreline.

Charles Clarke score the goal for the winners with Brendan Morris raising a green flag for Gowna.

The league action was still going in Tyrone too with Carrickmore booking a final date with Moortwon following a hard-fought 1-9 to 0-8 win over Beragh.

Kieran Loughran’s second-half goal ultimately killed of Beragh’s hopes.