10 YEARS AGO

ANTRIM trio CJ McGourty, Kieran McGourty and Conor Burke were dropped for the Qualifier with Laois for disciplinary reasons, but the Saffrons still managed to cause a big upset as they defeated Laois 2-14 to 1-15 in their Qualifier clash in Portlaoise.

The trio had played for St Gall’s in a club hurling match against Clooney Gaels as they fought relegation, and they found out they were no longer starting on the bus to O’Moore Park.

Ryan Murray was one of those to benefit from the decision as he was handed a starting jersey and he took full advantage with a 1-4 haul from play.

It was his goal that sparked an incredible turnaround as the Saffrons came from eight down in the second half to win by four.

“We tried to get it off. The club secretary and the county manager were liaising with everyone, but the county board just wouldn’t call the game off,” CJ McGourty said afterwards.

It was a weekend of football shocks, Sligo earning a 1-14 to 0-13 win over a fancied Roscommon.

Niall Carew’s side were full value for their win with Adrian Marren, who finished with 1-7, and David Kelly causing real bother for the Rossie backline.

A flat Monaghan booked their place in another Ulster final after finally seeing off a gallant Fermanagh.

Malachy O’Rourke’s side won the game 1-20 to 0-13, but the scoreline was not reflective of the encounter with the Oriel men tagging on a series of scores late on after Ryan McCluskey was dismissed for the Erne County.

As the game approached the final 10 minutes, a couple of Declan McCusker points had the gap down to just three points, but it was all one-way traffic from there with Owen Duffy making an impressive cameo off the bench while Karl O’Connell was the best player on the pitch.

20 YEARS AGO 

ARMAGH and Donegal played out a spiteful, nasty Ulster Championship replay that saw four red cards flashed by referee Maurice Deegan as the Orchard County progressed on a 3-11 to 1-10 scoreline.

All those red cards came in a 14-minute period with the Tir Chonaill County losing Eamon McGee, Brian Roper and Adrian Sweeney with Francie Bellew dismissed for Armagh.

Donegal boss Brian McEniff also got involved with Kieran McGeeney after the match, although he played down the incident after the game.

In the end, Armagh were much better than in the drawn encounter with Stevie McDonnell, Ronan Clarke and substitute Malachy Mackin grabbing goals.

Four reds? Down and Fermanagh did even better with five in their Qualifier clash, a game won easily by the Mourne County.

Referee Mick McGrath flashed three red cards to Down players but, unlike Donegal, they were able to win with 12 players as they emerged with a 1-11 to 0-7 success.

Paul Murphy, Dan Gordon and Liam Doyle were all sent off while Fermanagh lost Ryan McCluskey and Steven Maguire.

Down put the seal on the win with a late Ronan Sexton goal with Benny Coulter impressing, particularly in the first half.

Not to be undone, the Ulster draw between Cavan and Tyrone was marred by ugly scenes at full-time as the two teams clashed, while a series of Red Hands players surrounded referee Gerry Kinneavey as he left the pitch.

30 YEARS AGO 

THERE was a major shock in Ballybofey as Monaghan stunned Donegal on their own turf. Not only did the Oriel County cause a surprise, but they did it with ease following a 1-14 to 0-8 hammering.

Michael McCormack’s side were said to have no chance, especially with Donegal already dumping out All-Ireland holders Down, but Ulster football always holds that element of surprise. There were signs it wasn’t going to be Donegal’s day when Declan Bonner missed a penalty kick awarded after just 40 seconds with Declan Loughman scoring the only goal of the game for the away side as his pointed effort his the post and somehow rebounded into the net.