By Shaun Casey A LOT has changed in the twelve years since Kieran Duffy pulled on the blue and white jersey of his native county and lined out in the Ulster Championship for the very first time. That was back in 2011 as Monaghan travelled to Omagh to take on Tyrone in the provincial opener. […]
IN FOCUS: Benny Coulter – Star of the County Down
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March 30, 2023
By Shaun Casey BENNY Coulter was the ultimate wonderkid. From an early age he was destined for stardom. Just type his name in to YouTube and you’ll be bombarded with a series of career highlights that many of the all-time greats would be proud of. You’ll soon come across the one of a youthful Coulter […]
IN FOCUS – Paul McFlynn: A stylish side of calm
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March 9, 2023
Paul McFlynn was a mainstay in the Derry senior team for ten years and part of Loup’s success story from underage promise to Ulster senior champions. He sat down with Michael McMullan to recall a decorated career. PAUL McFlynn talks about football in the same manner he played, with utter calmness. The words and memories […]
IN FOCUS: McCarville’s blue and white life
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February 23, 2023
By Shaun Casey GERRY McCarville could play anywhere. And did. He was a towering figure and a key player for club and county during a golden period for both Scotstown and Monaghan. By the time McCarville had hung up the boots, he’d won 12 county titles, 14 leagues, four Ulster medals and helped Scotstown make […]
IN FOCUS…With former Donegal star Joyce McMullin
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January 5, 2023
Former Donegal star Joyce McMullin spent an eventful Christmas as a selector with Four Masters minors. Michael McMullan caught up with him to recall his playing career. IT took a while for Gaelic football to fully cross the sporting path of Joyce McMullin. When it did, a farming life in the outdoors was the perfect […]
IN FOCUS: Former Cavan star Anthony Forde lifts the lid on his club and county career
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November 3, 2022
By Niall Gartland CAVAN through and through. Anthony Forde soldiered on for more than a decade after pocketing an Ulster Championship medal in 1997, possibly more in hope than in expectation, but he’s content enough when he looks back on it all. For one thing, Forde won plenty with Cavan Gaels during the lean years […]
IN FOCUS: Monaghan legend ‘Nudie’ Hughes still standing strong
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September 29, 2022
EUGENE ‘Nudie’ Hughes never hid in the shadows during his playing career, and he’s not about to stop now. While not every day is a good day, by and large Hughes maintains a remarkably positive outlook on life, four years after being diagnosed with liver and colon cancer. When interviewed for this piece for a […]
IN FOCUS: Kevin McCloy – Derry’s defensive rock
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September 22, 2022
Not every county star burns brightest early in their career, but Derry’s Kevin McCloy took a late march to greatness. Michael McMullan went to meet him… IF you are looking for a definition of a late developer, you’d do well to find a better example than Kevin McCloy. Along with close friend Paddy Bradley, they […]
IN FOCUS – Kevin Niblock: The Saffron Warrior
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September 15, 2022
WINNING is a habit and for St Gall’s golden generation, they certainly made a routine of regularly collecting silverware at the end of the season. In a 14-year spell between 2001 and 2014, the Belfast club collected 13 county titles, with a lapse in 2006 breaking their winning streak. A lot of clubs around the […]