NOSTALGAA: Emotional triumph for Fermanagh as Bradley proves All-Star class

10 YEARS AGO

IT was an emotional day for Fermanagh hurling as they won the Lory Meagher Cup and dedicated the win to their player Shane Mulholland.

Erne captain JP McGarry spoke of Mulholland’s impact in his victory speech with the player dying in a car crash earlier in the year.

Fermanagh won the contest 3-16 to 1-17 with 3-5 at the end of the first half proving decisive – Declan McGarry scoring twice and Sean Corrigan also on target.

There was less joy for other Ulster teams at Croke Park.

Derry’s pursuit of a first Christy Ring Cup – a wait that goes on after Saturday’s loss to London – failed as they lost heavily to Kerry, 1-20 to 0-12.

Derry managed just one second-half point from play, sub Johnny O’Dwyer on target, while they also finished with 14 players following Kevin Hinphey’s dismissal.

Armagh were left shocked by Roscommon’s late show, the Connacht side winning the Nickey Rackard final on a 2-12 to 1-14 scoreline.

Armagh led at the death and looked home and hosed, especially with their opponents down to 14 men.

However, Michael Kelly had other ideas as he fired a 20-metre free to the Orchard net to snatch the title out of their grasp.

On the football front, Eoin Bradley had spent 2014 playing in the Irish League, but his return to Derry colours proved fruitful as he was the key reason the Oakleafers fended off Down in their Ulster Championship quarter-final at Celtic Park.

‘Skinner’ caused real issues for the Mourne County and kicked the winner from a free too as they edged home on a 0-12 to 0-11 scoreline.

Down’s cause wasn’t helped by Conall McGovern’s red card just after the interval, but with Conor Laverty excelling in a deep role, they showed plenty of character to remain in the contest.

However, ten points shared equally between Bradley and Mark Lynch meant that Derry moved forward to the semi-final.

20 YEARS AGO

HAVING controversially missed out on an All-Star in 2004, Paddy Bradley gave selectors a reminder of his talents as Derry earned an impressive 1-17 to 2-8 Ulster SFC win over Monaghan at Clones.

Monaghan had won a Division Two semi-final just a few weeks earlier, but they had no answer to the Glenullin man as he chalked up 1-10 with 1-8 coming from play.

His ninth minute goal helped Derry into a 1-8 to 0-5 half-time lead and while Hugh McElroy and Shane McManus raised green flags for Monaghan in the second half, but Derry were able to respond to both with a run of points to progress.

Also moving forward were a Cavan side who took full advantage of their second chance against Antrim – a chance the Saffrons shouldn’t have granted them.

The hosts only managed five scores at Casement Park as they lost 1-15 to 2-3.

Paul Doherty grabbed their first goal as they trailed 0-8 to 1-1 at the break and when he netted again 40 seconds after the restart, a Saffron surge looked on the cards, but Cavan took control from there with Jason Reilly’s goal ten minutes from time killing the contest.

Antrim had better luck on the hurling front though as they claimed their latest Ulster title following a 2-22 to 1-18 win over Down.

Antrim led 0-14 to 0-9 at the turn, but goals from Karl Stewart and captain Jim Connolly meant the Liam Harvey Cup was staying in Antrim for the fourth straight season.

30 YEARS AGO

TYRONE’S narrow win over Fermanagh in Irvinestown pointed to nothing but a short summer, although that’s not exactly how it worked out.

Certainly thoughts of an All-Ireland final appearance seemed laughable after their 1-15 to 1-11 win in a game that was low on quality.

Paul Brewster’s first-half injury really robbed the Erne County of midfield strength but they stuck to their task – current Red Hand boss Malachy O’Rourke popping over a point – but a late comeback came up short with Pascal Canavan nailing the clinching score for the visitors.

A certain Geoffrey McGonagle caught the headlines after a wonderful display as Derry claimed an eye-catching Ulster U-21 hurling win over Down in Ballycran.

The Dungiven man plundered 2-5 in the 3-8 to 0-10 win.