10 YEARS AGO

A NOTABLE win for Monaghan as they defeated Kerry for the first time in 27 years, winning 1-11 to 0-10 in Tralee.

The victory secured their Division One safety having just returned to the top flight – and it also sent out a message to the rest of the country.

Their last win over Kerry had come in a league game at Clones in 1988 but the current Sam Maguire holders were second best on home soil.

Owen Duffy’s 48th-minute goal was the crucial score for Malachy O’Rourke’s side while Darren Hughes put in a typical tour de force performance.

While it was all smiles for Monaghan and O’Rourke, Mickey Harte had quite the opposite expression as they were torn apart by Donegal.

It left the Red Hands facing a relegation shoot out against Kerry in round seven, and they could have no complaints after this meek showing.

Ryan McHugh got the goal and Michael Murphy landed a series of frees as the Tir Chonaill County winning 1-13 to 0-6 in what Harte described “as bad a performance as I’ve been involved in with the Tyrone team over all the time I’ve been involved – at any level and at any age.”

Armagh secured promotion from Division Three with a hard-fought 0-10 to 0-8 win over neighbours Louth at the Athletic Grounds.

Midfielder Ciaran O’Hanlon stood out with three points from place while Jamie Clarke, who missed an early penalty, also grabbed a brace of scores.

Elsewhere, boos rang out at Croke Park as Dublin and Derry engaged in a real stinker.

It was 0-4 to 0-4 heading down the stretch before Dublin won 0-8 to 0-4.

20 YEARS AGO

DOWN suffered one of their darkest days in the hurling league as despite Wexford being shorn of a number of key players, they still posted a ridiculous 9-24 on the Ulster side in Division 1B.

Down actually moved ahead early on thanks to a Gareth ‘Magic’ Johnston goal, but it was the falsest of false dawns with a 22-point interval gap extended to by the full-time whistle.

The counties are set to meet in Division 1B in 2026, and this time it’ll not be so one-sided.

Monaghan rising star Aisling Tierney scored a sensational 4-3 as Monaghan got the better of Meath in Clontibret in the Ladies National Football League.

The 19-year-old’s tally ensured a semi-final spot for the Oriel County against reigning All-Ireland champions Galway, who progressed to the last four courtesy of a win over Dublin.

In the men’s football league, Armagh just edged out Kildare in Crossmaglen.

The Lilywhites tend to struggle against Armagh, but they were the better side for large swathes here but goals proved crucial and Paddy McKeever and Oisín McConville netted in the 2-8 to 1-10 win.

Cavan kept their Division 2B promotion hopes alive as they edged out Louth on home soil.

A couple of late Dermot McCabe scores proved the difference in the 0-12 to 1-8 win.

Derry, meanwhile, all but assured themselves a route out of the same division as they swept aside Wicklow.

The Garden County, playing their first-ever league match in Derry, competed well in the first half but goals from Francis McEldowney and Gavin Donaghy eased the Oakleafers to the points.

30 YEARS AGO

DONEGAL’S hurling team were forced to call on supporters to fill out the numbers as they suffered a hammering at the hands of Fermanagh.

Maurice McLaughlin, there to watch the game, had to jump into goals in the first half before being moved to corner-forward after 20 minutes.

He didn’t concede a goal in those opening stages, but the Erne County would end up hitting five as they moved up into Division Three.

Monaghan booked a McKenna Cup semi-final date with Donegal after an eight-point win over Cavan in Ballybay.

Ray McCarron’s first-half goal gave them a commanding lead and they eased to victory with Ian Larmer also impressing.