Feature: Ulster counties’ final-day drama

With a thrilling finale to the league expected on Sunday, we look at some last-day drama experienced by Ulster’s nine counties

ANTRIM
HEADING into the final round of Division Three fixtures in 2013, Antrim were a point ahead of seventh-placed Sligo and knew a win in Monaghan would secure their status for another season.

Unfortunately for them, new manager Malachy O’Rourke had the Oriel County chasing promotion too and they easily accounted for their fellow Ulster side with Christopher McGuinness netting in the first minute as they won by 12 points.

There was still hope though, and with the game long gone in Clones, attention turned to Markievicz Park as Wicklow were beating Sligo – a result that would have saved Antrim.

The Garden County, shorn of a number of regulars, led by three points as the final quarter came into view, but from there Sligo took over to win by four and condemn Frank Dawson’s side.

ARMAGH
THERE have been plenty of gut-punch losses for Armagh during the Kieran McGeeney era, mostly via the penalty spot, but their fans still shudder when they hear the name Michael Quinlivan.

In 2017, Armagh wanted out of Division Three and a home win over Tipperary would have secured that. The Orchard County’s social team went into overdrive about the game, something that apparently irked their opponents judging by their post-match social posts.

Armagh always seemed to have the game at hand, but Quinlivan decided to go on a goal-scoring spree in the second half and having netted twice, he completed his hat-trick five minutes into additional time to secure a one-point win.

The result? Tipperary were promoted while Armagh spent another season in Division Three.

CAVAN
THE 2021 league season may have been splintered by the Covid pandemic, teams divided into smaller four-team groups, but that doesn’t mean it was without drama.

A lot of that came in Division Three north where Cavan hosted Derry on the last day knowing a win would take them to the semi-final and potential promotion, but instead they lost out narrowly having missed a glorious goal chance when leading in the second half.

There was a get-out clause and that was if Fermanagh and Longford drew in the other fixtures – and with the game in the 76th minute at Brewster Park, that’s exactly how it stood. Step forward Séan Quigley to flick over a point that not only saved Fermanagh but sent Cavan into a relegation play-off with the Cavan side listening from Breffni Park as their game was over first.

Wicklow were the opposition in that relegation play-off and the Garden County earned a shock win, sending Cavan into the bottom tier for the first time ever….all because of a Roslea man’s fist.

DERRY
THE 2016 Division Two finale was a bit similar to what we can expect on Sunday, anything can happen.

In the end, with Laois already down, four teams finished on six points and incredibly it went down to scoring difference.

Two of those were Armagh and the Oakleafers, who met at the Athletic Grounds.

Derry may have lost, but they didn’t lose by enough to go down so left the ground the happier with the home side relegated.

Armagh had led by eight points at the break, and if they had won the second half by a further five points they would have escaped and Derry would have been in Division Three.

As it was, Derry showed plenty of character to actually win the second half and only lose by six overall – enough to get the job done.

DONEGAl
DONEGAL’S 2013 Division One relegation was dramatic not only for the manner of what happened, but also the fallout.

The Tir Chonaill side welcomed Dublin to Ballybofey and looked set for the win that would have kept them up with the best, however Paul Mannion kicked a 73rd-minute leveller to send Jim McGuinness’ side into the second tier with Down.

After the game, Dublin defender Kevin O’Brien had been handed a proposed three-match ban by the GAA’s CCCC for an alleged bite on Patrick McBrearty but, but the player didn’t accept it was ultimately cleared by the CHC.

DOWN
WHEN Carlus McWilliams secured Derry the points against Fermanagh with the last kick of the game in 2017, the celebration of the Oakleaf players spoke volumes as they had avoided relegation to Division Three – or so they thought.

There was still a few minutes left down in Cork where Down had been trailing by three points coming down the stretch.

Step forward the Johnston brothers with Jerome and Ryan kicking a point each before Jerome landed a free right at the very end to secure the point that kept them up and sent Derry down on scoring difference with Clare also level on four points with the two teams.

Those scenes of celebrations transferred from Brewster Park to Páirc Uí Rinn.

FERMANAGH
IN 2013, Fermanagh were on the verge of back-to-back promotions as they were outplaying fellow promotion hopefuls Meath in Navan.

However, the day would end in massive regret with two second-half moments ultimately costing Peter Canavan’s side a spot in Division Two when all they needed was a draw.

They were leading when Tómas Corrigan stood over a 43rd-minute penalty, but his effort was saved with the miss going along goal chances spurned by Shane McCabe, twice, and Tommy McElroy.

Their cause wasn’t helped when Declan McCusker was sent off with 20 minutes remaining, and with numbers at hand, the Royals finished strongly to win by four.

MONAGHAN
TAKE your pick really with these escapologists.

Surviving in the top tier with a final-day result was a given for a few years there, but we’ll go for the 2022 win over Dublin given both the drama and the shock that it meant the kingpins of Ireland were falling into the second tier for the first time in 15 years.

Jack McCarron had been the hero against Galway the year before and he was again the man here – landing a free at the death to secure a thrilling 3-13 to 1-18 win.

The scenes on the Clones pitch spoke volumes, even if it was becoming a familiar sight.

TYRONE
TYRONE can have no complaints about their 2010 relegation from Division One having won just two games, but when all was said and done, they had plenty of regrets.

A loss to Dublin by six points on the final day confirmed the drop, but the disappointing thing is that a one-point loss would have seen them survive as Derry and Monaghan edged them on scoring difference – although the Oakleafers also went down (harshly, they had the same scoring difference as Monaghan but the Oriel County survived by scoring more).

Tyrone had brought the gap back to four points in the 46th minute thanks to a Sean Cavanagh point, but even with an enthusiastic home support and Dublin down to 14 players, they were unable to win the final quarter.

Check you this week’s Gaelic Lives preview show with former Monaghan star Paul Finlay looking ahead to the weekend of action. Brought to you in association with the Everglades Hotel