10 YEARS AGO

AUSTIN Stacks may have brought plenty of noise and colour to their All-Ireland semi-final in Portlaoise – but it was Sleacht Néill who brought the extra bit of class to edge an absorbing contest.

Kieran Donaghy was a menace for the Kerry side, winning two penalties off Chrissy McKaigue in the first quarter. Both were converted by Pa McCarthy, the first on the rebound after a fine save from Antóin McMullan.

That left Sleacht Néill in trouble but they kept their heads and a Barry McGuigan goal at the end of the first half ensured the sides went off level, and it was the Ulster champions who edged the second half with Cormac O’Doherty nabbing the last score to secure a 1-14 to 2-10 success.

Future All-Ireland winners Jarly Óg Burns, Oisin O’Neill and Rian O’Neill were on display as St Paul’s, Bessbrook and St Colman’s, Newry met in a MacRory quarter-final.

In the end it would be Burns and St Paul’s who would leave happy as they won 2-11 to 1-11, Miceal McNamee and Jody McGovern with the goals for the south Armagh school and Joe Morgan netting for Violet Hill.

Antrim came close to an impressive Division 1B point in Wexford, but they were undone by Harry Kehoe’s last-gasp score in a 1-24 to 2-20 loss.

Paul Shiels and Ciaran Clarke had goaled to seemingly give the Saffrons at least a point, but it wasn’t to be.

In Division 2B, Down were far too strong for neighbours Armagh as Brook Byers hit the net eight minutes from time on the way to a 1-13 to 0-9 win in Newry.

20 YEARS AGO

TYRONE and Dublin had an “exchange of views” in the first half of their league clash in Omagh.

While it remained unclear what caused the flare up at Healy Park, it was reported that it may have involved a Tyrone steward and a member of the Dublin management team.

The incident came shortly after a brief scuffle following Owen Mulligan’s 25th minute goal, but all was calm in the second half as the Red Hands won 1-10 to 0-9.

Elsewhere, Niall Tinney was the Fermanagh hero as a superb last-gasp save ensured that they avoided defeat against Leitrim.

Rory Gallagher’s five points seemed like it had secured victory for the Erne County at Brewster Park, but they still had to rely on Tinney’s late heroics to deny Barry Prior.

Armagh picked up their first league points of the season as they ruthlessly swatted aside Galway in Crossmaglen.

All didn’t seem well for the Tribe with Nicky Joyce leaving in the run-up to the game, reportedly dismayed at not starting against Kildare the week before.

They had little answer to the Orchard County with Kieran McGeeney and Paul McGrane superb while Brian Mallon helped himself to 1-1 in the 1-11 to 0-4 win.

Antrim and Ulster champions Rossa were outclassed by Kilkenny’s James Stephens in their All-Ireland Club SHC at Parnell Park.

While the wind was a factor, a half-time score of 0-14 to 0-0 was pretty astonishing with Jackie Tyrrell superb for the victors.

Rossa improved in the second half but could never get within striking distance as they lost 0-17 to 1-6.

30 YEARS AGO

GLASGOW was the venue as Donegal defeated Dublin in the Willie Dowd Cup in front of a big crowd at St Aloysius Rugby Club.

With the leagues on a break and a number of teams playing challenge games – Derry beat Tipperary by one and Tyrone and Monaghan drew, for example – the two counties had a good run out on foreign soil.

John Duffy and John Gildea starred for the Tir Chonaill County with the former grabbing the crucial goal in the 1-10 to 0-11 win.

The cup was played for from 1993 to 1996 to help fundraise for Pearse Park’s development in Glasgow.