10 YEARS AGO

BRAGGING rights belonged to Monaghan as they edged an Ulster quarter-final with Cavan at Kingspan Breffni.

With 20 minutes left, Monaghan had trailed by four points but their experienced heads came to life and helped them to a 0-16 to 0-15 win.

Their sealing point came from an unlikely source, the boot of Colin Walshe who was making his return after suffering a cruciate injury against Dublin in the previous season’s All-Ireland quarter-final.

Antrim were condemned to Christy Ring hurling after a terrible display against Carlow with the side losing 2-18 to 1-11.

Conor Johnston fired them into a 1-2 to 0-1 lead 10 minutes in, and things got better for the visitors when star Carlow forward Martin Kavanagh was sent off.

Rather than push on, Antrim wilted and actually trailed at the break.

Ciaran Johnston and Simon McCrory were sent to the line as the Ulster side experienced another tough day.

Limerick dumped Clare out of the Munster SHC with a 19-year-old Cian Lynch producing a performance beyond his years in a tense 1-19 to 2-15 win at Semple Stadium.

On what was his championship debut, Lynch showed what he could do – and what he could become – in a game where two red cards were dished out.

There was also controversy at the finish as the board to show additional time first flashed for a minute before coming back to show four. In the end, 90 seconds were played.

In the Christy Ring Cup, Down’s Gareth ‘Magic’ Johnston was in fine scoring form against London as the Ulster side booked a semi-final spot.

Armagh had a good win in the Nickey Rackard Cup with Sylvester McConnell’s side beating Donegal 1-19 to 1-12 – Eoin McGuinness with the goal.

20 YEARS AGO

THE Ulster SHC nearly had one of its biggest ever shocks as Antrim needed extra-time before defeating New York 2-20 to 2-14.

The home side’s discipline would desert them in the Big Apple as they finished the game with 12 players, but they put in an almighty effort prior to that.

New York had led by a point at half-time in extra-time, but couldn’t hold on with Bonny Kennedy, Conor Casserley and Tim Cullen sent off with a Karl McKeegan goal sealing it for the Saffrons.

In the other semi-final, Derry fought from five points down to force a replay with Down with Sean McBride’s goal igniting their challenge.

Tyrone finally found a way to work out the Down challenge in their Ulster SFC meeting – and it was the introduction of a certain Peter Canavan that sparked them into life.

Some 48 minutes had passed at Healy Park and the sides were level, Benny Coulter with the Down goal as they had 1-5 on the board to Tyrone’s eight points.

Once Canavan was called to the line, and the crowd reacted, there was only ever one winner and they won the rest of the match 1-5 to 0-1 with Martin Penrose raising a green flag.

In the minor match, Down knocked All-Ireland holders Tyrone out in dramatic fashion.

A goal by midfielder James Colgan in the 65th minute stunned the home side who had 10 players back from their 2004 success.

30 YEARS AGO

ALL-IRELAND champions Down surrendered their titles without much of a fight as Donegal swamped them to win 1-12 to 0-9.

Manus Boyle was the star of the show at Clones as he hit 1-5 with Paddy Hegarty in inspired form in his first championship game in seven years.

Down thought they had found a route back into the game in the second half, but Gregory McCartan’s goal was controversially ruled out.

Down manager Pete McGrath was also unhappy with Gary Mason’s red card stating: “he didn’t retaliate for no reason.”

There was disappointment for Ulster sides in the All-Ireland SHC B semi-finals as Derry and Fermanagh both fell at the penultimate hurdle.

Kildare beat Derry 0-14 to 1-9, Oliver Collins with the Oakleaf goal in Dundalk, while Wicklow outclassed Fermanagh 2-16 to 1-6, Adrian McPhillips with the Erne County major.