10 YEARS AGO

IT was a case of a late finish in Tipperary with the county final between Loughmore-Castleiney and Cahir taking place just four days before Christmas.

The delays came about due to a number of reasons, most notably the drawn All-Ireland SHC final – the Premier County losing out to Kilkenny the second day out – as football was held back until after the race for the Liam MacCarthy Cup concluded.

Of course, the match was always going to end in a draw meaning the pair had to come back out on St Stephen’s Day when Loughmore-Castleiney triumphed on a 0-9 to 2-2 scoreline despite failing to score in the second half.

It meant that the championship came to an end 237 days after it threw in in May.

It was award season and the Cork ladies were celebrating again after being crowned RTÉ Sports Team of the Year after winning a ninth All-Ireland title in 10 years.

In the Ulster Minor Championship at St Paul’s, Cavan’s Southern Gaels were worthy winners over Crossmaglen.

Robbie Fitzpatrick, Paudie Donohoe and Thomas Galligan bagged goals for the victors with Rian O’Neill and Michael McCabe raising green flags for the Rangers.

20 YEARS AGO

A ROW between the GAA and the GPA intensified over the Setanta production ‘The Rebel Rising.’

The argument surrounded image rights with the Cork hurlers opting not to participate in the project after their All-Ireland triumph.

“It seems illogical to players that Setanta can pay millions of euro to the GAA to acquire the rights to our games,” said Cork goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack in a statement released by the GPA. “Players see nothing from a venture such as this.”

The GAA responded, indicating that the end of season review videos are often loss makers while the GPA felt the squad should have been properly compensated.

Declan Bonner was appointed manager of the Gaoth Dobhair footballers in Donegal and remarked that his return to coaching would hopefully eventually lead to an inter-county return.

“I’m not ruling out the possibility that I’d like to be Donegal manager again,” Bonner told The Donegal News.

It would take some 13 years, but after working with a number of the county’s underage teams, Bonner started a second stint with the Tir Chonaill County in 2017.

Tyrone midfielder Kevin Hughes was a notable omission from Mickey Harte’s squad announced for the 2005 McKenna Cup having made it known he was heading to Australia. He would miss their All-Ireland triumph as a result before returning to the panel ahead of the following season.

30 YEARS AGO

THE GAA All-Stars were held just before Christmas at the Burlington Hotel and unsurprisingly All-Ireland champions Down dominated with seven awards.

Defenders Miceal Magill, Paul Higgins and DJ Kane and attackers Mickey Linden, James McCartan, Greg Blaney and Greg McCartan were all honoured with Blayney (3) and McCartan (2) adding to previous awards.

Tyrone forward Peter Canavan was also named in the half-forward line.

Bailieboro Shamrocks completed a hat-trick of Cavan U-21 titles with a 1-12 to 2-5 win over St Killian’s.

In dreadful conditions at Breffni Park, St Killian’s – made up of Cuchullain’s, Killinkere and Maghera – found the net twice inside 12 minutes thanks to efforts from Joe Lynch and Brendan Gilsenan.

The holders kept their calm though and after reeling in the underdogs, Paul Coleman grabbed the goal late on that gave them the necessary breathing space.