From the archive: Lucky 13 for Tyrone as Tohill makes triumphant return

10 years ago 2016

O’Neill finds the net as Tyrone clinch the Division Two title

TYRONE were crowned National Football League Division Two champions – and stretched their unbeaten run to 13 games in the process – with a 1-17 to 0-15 win over Cavan at Croke Park.

Cavan led 0-2 to 0-1 after four minutes, but that would be the only time they would lead as Mickey Harte’s side warmed up nicely ahead of their Ulster opener against Derry.

Seán Cavanagh impressed while Ronan O’Neill and Connor McAliskey managed 1-7 from play between them. Tiernan McCann was named player of the match while Peter Harte also produced a monster performance.

There was no such joy for Antrim as they lost the Division Four final to Louth on a 3-12 to 1-14 scoreline.

The Saffrons, with Matthew Fitzpatrick to the fore, were the better player for large swathes of the game, but the Wee County grabbed crucial goals at crucial moments to come out on top.

In the Division One final, Dublin served notice once again of their class with a 2-18 to 0-13 destruction of Kerry.

Current interim manager Dean Rock – standing in for the suspended Ger Brennan – top scored with five points while Paul Flynn and Eric Lowndes grabbed the goals in the final 10 minutes. Brian McGuigan helped himself to a hat-trick as Monaghan were far too strong for Fermanagh in the Nickey Rackard Cup.

20 YEARS AGO: Jack O’Connor’s Kerry won the Division One title, but the crowd was small.

20 years ago 2006

Kerry clinch the spoils in the Division One showdown

THE GAA’s decision to go up against the highly-anticipated Munster-Leinster rugby clash at Lansdowne Road proved silly in reflection as the Galway-Kerry league final attracted just 7,589 fans to Limerick.

The start time was delayed a few hours to avoid a direct TV clash, but it mattered little as fans voted with their feet with plenty in the crowd there for the All-Ireland U-21 semi-final between Cork and Laois – a match that finished level after extra-time and needed a replay.

No such issues in the main event as Kerry won 2-12 to 0-10 with Paul Galvin and Eoin Brosnan scoring second-half goals to give Jack O’Connor’s Kingdom the honours. Limerick was set to host the U-21 final replay once again, and awaiting the winner would be a Mayo side that edged out Ulster champions Tyrone.

Like the other semi-final, extra-time was required – but a winner was found as the Connacht side won 1-12 to 0-14.

Justy McMahon was superb for a Tyrone side who ultimately paid for a slow start, but they looked like they had fought back to secure a replay before Michael Conroy landed a last-gasp free for Mayo to send them through.

Ulster GAA chairman, the late Michael Greenan, raised eyebrows by not standing as outgoing GAA President Seán Kelly received a standing ovation at Congress.

Greenan was a critic of Kelly in relation to Rule 42 that prohibited the playing of non-GAA games in Gaelic grounds, overturned in 2005 during Kelly’s term.

30 years ago 1996

Derry and Donegal footballers set up an all-Ulster final

ULSTER’S domination of the National Football League continued as Derry and Donegal won their respective semi-finals to secure a third all-Ulster final in just five seasons.

John Bán Gallagher was the Donegal hero as he scored the winner in a 0-10 to 0-9 win over Cork. Tony Boyle hit seven points for the Tir Chonaill County.

Derry had it much easier as they defeated Mayo 1-12 to 0-7.

Anthony Tohill played his first competitive game for Derry in 10 months and kicked four points from play on a triumphant return.

Joe Brolly scored 1-2 as the Oakleafers set up a repeat of the previous year’s final, which Derry won by four points.

“Boring. Boring, we’re sick looking at each other,” was Brolly’s appraisal of the final pairing after their win. “Far rather be playing Cork.”

30 YEARS AGO: Derry’s Anthony Tohill made his return against Mayo helping them into a league final.