Great GAA comebacks

patmac

This is to be an irrelevant thread about great GAA comebacks especially as certain people are harbing on about something that happened two years ago in some foreign sport in Istanbul;) . So anyway in the last two weeks I have seen my county team Westmeath lead by 1-9 to 0-4 at half-time and go on to lose in spectacular fashion to Longford by three points and last night my club team Padraig Pearses(Roscommon) were trailing St Aidans 1-9 to 0-3 at half-time in the semi-final of the Connacht League clawed there way back with six unanswered points conceded a penalty which was missed went back down the other banged in an equalising goal and tapped over the winner for a 1-10 to 1-9 win.
Jaysus and the summer is barely a pup yet.
I'm sure there is loads out there, so combacks that end in victories only (to avoid reminders of the QF between Meath and Westmeath when we were 9 points up and drew:o ).

thirdmantackle

sure Pearses never win anything...

Roscommon vs Sligo in 1998. 7 points down, 10 minutes to go - que Fergie O'Donnell and 2-2 scored. Sligo needed a free in injury time to bring the game back level!

cournioni

Cavan vs Down in 2004 at Breffni park. Cavan losing by 7 points with 15 minutes to go and end up winning by 4 points. McCabe in at full forward causing all sorts of havoc despite barely being able to walk, scoring a goal, setting up another. Think Cavan scored 3-4 in those 15 minutes.

kevmy

3 spring to mind involving my team Mayo.
Obviously the Dublin game last year 7 points down in the second half and cam back to win it by a point.
Connacht Final in 2001 we were down by three points with 5 mins to go, got a goal and a point to go one up but then the Rossies went down the pitch and got a goal well into injury time. Damn you Rossies.
And the AI final against Meath in 1996 they were 6 points down in both games (Final and replay) and came back to draw and then win the second game by a point.

blackbelt

Unfortunately as a Dub,I've had to witness the heartbreak of leading by 5-7 points only for us to squander it to a draw or a ****ty 1 point loss or just about winning.

I'll start with the draws and losses for Dublin.

1.Dublin v Tyrone 05=Dubs up by a goal and 2 points at half time,only for them to let Tyrone back in again and Mulligan scoring that super goal.We ended up equalising with a last gasp free into injury time.

2.Dublin v Mayo 06=Dubs up by 7 points in second half when Jayo and Brogan score a goal and few points respectively.Conor Mortimer wakes up again and scores a few points along with McDonald and then Andy Moran scores what is the cheeseist goal in the championship that year.Mayo win by a point after poor Vaughn has all the weight dumped on his shoulders after getting little playing time in the championship.

3.Dublin v Tyrone replay 05=Tyrone are in front by 7 points and Dublin start to come back into it from points from Keaney as I remember.Dublin begin to rally and the crowd is going mental,I'm going mental,this is going to be Dublins biggest comeback since Kerry in Thurles......Cluxton takes a short kick out to O Shaunessy who is asleep and is waiting for ball to bounce to him,Mulligan runs up and snatches the ball and scores a goal....comeback over,championship dream for 05 over.

4.Dublin v Tyrone 07 = I hate Tyrone :mad: Dublin are the stronger of the two teams and whilst the game is in February and its cold,it has the championship feel to it.Darren Magee is playing a blinder in midfield and Tyrone are stunned.Dublin up by 5 points.Magee goes off injured,Dublin up sh1ts creek without a paddle.Mulligan gets his second wind and starts playing rugby.Tyrone start the handbags and Dublins momentum and confidence is decreasing.Dublins midfield and half back go asleep.Diarmuid Connolly who is having a great game up to this point turns anonymous until we are 1 point down with another last gasp chance at saving a draw.Dublin opt to go all or nothing and pay dearly for it.

5.Dublin V Mayo 07=Dublin are grilling Mayo in Castlebar and Keaney is on fire.He is single handedly destroying Mayo.Dubs up by 6 points.Keaney gets sent off in second half.Cue for Mayo to counter attack.We end up not scoring in the second half and Mayo get away red handed again by a 1 pint margin.

Here comes the victories

1.Dublin v Wexford 05 = Its a scorching hot day in June and Dublin start off brilliantly.Its 7-2 in favour of Dublin and all is well....until,Mattie Forde decides its time to show everyone why he is a 2004 all-star.He scores a cracking point that rattles off the cross bar from the Cusack stand.Not to worry,Dublin are still in front yeah?...not for long.Penalty to Wexford which is converted through devine intervention into the Hill despite some fireworks and a save from Cluxton.Wexford with their tails up.Dublin lose concentration and Pat Roe and Pillar are going mad.
Wexford dominate most of the second half proceedings and the Hill is getting ugly after Wexford squash a comeback attempt with another goal into the Canal end.Dublin passes going astray out over the sideline.Enough is enough and Jayo is brought on after Dublin start to come back.Brogan is coming to Dublins rescue and Jayo receives a lovely pass,turns and smashes the ball into the goal.Another 2 points are scored and Dublin triumph by a goal and a point.Dublin fans are relieved but question the ability to beat Laois after they annihilated Kildare earlier.

2.Dublin v Laois 05 = Dublin are clearly more settled into this match after points from Jayo and Brogan.Dublin get the better of the early exchanges.Even O Shaunessy is coming from the defense to score.Its 7-2 at half time when Dublin should be 10 points ahead.Happy days and Dublin seem to have Leinster in the bag for sure,I'm 100% certain.The Da turns to me and says "Laois will come back,wait and see,Dublin don't like second halfs".I'm aggitated by what is said and I shrug it off.

Second half starts and Dublin look a bit sluggish but still score some lovely points...then nothing happens.Laois are on the attack and Ross Munnelly is giving Dublin headaches.Dublin are clearly fast asleep and losing control of the match.Laois gain more and more confident and edge their noses in front for the first and there is only 3 minutes left.What the Da said was true and I'm mad at being so complacent at half time even though Laois were still in it.Dublin return the favour and equalise,we're not out of it.Laois again on the attack and time is running out but we get the ball back.Jayo moves in to kill the game off from the end line to score a goal.Laois fumble it back and Alan Broga,the genius that he is,shoulders the Laois defender over the line for a 45.Mossy Quinn does his skip and run and pops it over.Laois hurry and scramble up to the last 3rd of the pitch.Dublin are marking heavily but it looks well dodgy and we are hanging on.The whistle blows and we win by 1 point when the game should have been over by half time.

TomMc

Specially for you Blackbelt !

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BUGn3E5quf4

blackbelt

Oh yes,that goal.:(

Thanks for that TomMc,thats you off my Christmas card list Must admit,it was a good goal and Dublin were off their faces.I felt like crying as I was 7 at the time.As Tommy Carr will say about every deciding score against Dublin "it seemed to happen in slow motion".He must be on the magic mushrooms so

That was from a time when Meath were actually good but oh so dirty.It got worse from the mid nineties until 2000.look at them now A shadow of the team from the nineties.

I'll dig something up,don't worry,I'll be back....

Kojak

The Cork comeback in the All-ireland hurling final of 1990 must rank up there as one of ther great comebacks of modern time. I'm not saying I enjoyed it, being a Galway supporter, but they were something like 6 or 7 points down at half-time and still won the match by (I think) 5.

Also the 1994 SHC final between Limerick and Offaly. In the last 5 minutes or so Offaly scored 2-5 to go from 5 points down to win by 6 or 7 (I may not be 100% accurate on the exact score)

Bogger77

Kojak wrote:

The Cork comeback in the All-ireland hurling final of 1990 must rank up there as one of ther great comebacks of modern time. I'm not saying I enjoyed it, being a Galway supporter, but they were something like 6 or 7 points down at half-time and still won the match by (I think) 5.

Also the 1994 SHC final between Limerick and Offaly. In the last 5 minutes or so Offaly scored 2-5 to go from 5 points down to win by 6 or 7 (I may not be 100% accurate on the exact score)

Offaly were down by 6 points with 4min30secs left, won by 6 point, and even had a wide in that time. 2goals, 6 points, one wide in less than 5minutes. Not bad

kevmy

Kojak wrote:

Also the 1994 SHC final between Limerick and Offaly. In the last 5 minutes or so Offaly scored 2-5 to go from 5 points down to win by 6 or 7 (I may not be 100% accurate on the exact score)

Yep that was the classic comeback. Way down, feck all time left and on the biggest stage of all.

kravist

Blackbelt.....im impressed! Your knowledge of Dublin football warms the heart!

ANYWAY..the cynic in me shines thorugh on this one!

The greatest comeback in the History of the GAA was thanks to a Mayo Man.........PJ Mc Grath........and a little help from a guy called Seamus Darby.......!!!!!!
.........first on the buzzer wins the prize????

blackbelt

Thanks Kravist,I do pride myself in remembering the small details of games.My mind is like a diary when I'm in Croker.

Fortunately I do have the answer to your question.I remember seeing it on GAA Gold some ago.It was very controversial.

PJ Mcgrath was the referee for the 1982 All Ireland Final between Kerry and Offaly.Kerry were ahead and Offaly were coming back.It was practically the last kick of the game.Seamus Darby was awarded a penalty by PJ McGrath which Offaly scored to pip Kerry at the post for Sam.

TomMc

A discreet nudge works wonders !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1zX-DDznyk

blackbelt

I did not take from Youtube.Regardless I was still first on the buzzer

squire1

blackbelt wrote:

PJ Mcgrath was the referee for the 1982 All Ireland Final between Kerry and Offaly.Kerry were ahead and Offaly were coming back.It was practically the last kick of the game.Seamus Darby was awarded a penalty by PJ McGrath which Offaly scored to pip Kerry at the post for Sam.

The old diary is a bit dusty. Wasn't a penalty. Derby scored the goal from play but had pushed the kerry defender out of the way to get the ball. Blatant free out but it was lost in the excitement of the moment.

Edit: can see youtube at work but just realised it probably shows the incident. Sorry.

Just to add to your woe blackbelt, do you remember the Leinster Final against Kildare in 2000. Shellshocked would not be the word to describe Dublins second half performance after being 7 points up at half time.

The Offaly comeback against Limerick must rank as one of the best, considering it was the AI final and the space of time it was done in. Never give up lads, never give up.

blackbelt

Yes the cobwebs are in the diary too but I remember vaguely the general scenario and that the decision was wrong.

Fortunately Squire,I don't remember too much the great details of that game.If it happened to Kildare nowadays,you'd fold like a deckchair

squire1

Nowdays? The chances of Kildare being seven points up on ANYONE nowdays are slim to say the least. The deckchair is well and truely folded before they take to the pitch.:o

blackbelt

Yes Squire,that is true but I wasn't referring to Kildare being up by 7,I was referring to Kildare being down by 7.

Kildare can give anybody a good game,even Kerry,Tyrone or Armagh but it all depends on what Kildare team shows up.

From the looks of things,Kildare could be the first team to exit the championship as their form in the qualifiers is not good.Losing to Roscommon or Sligo is painful.

squire1

In fairness the Roscommon qualifier was an epic game being decided in extra time. Frankie was scoring points from the corner flag that day. The Sligo team seem to be a bogey for us, if they do not win on the pitch, they win in the rulebook, fairly beaten on the pitch that day in Croker though.

I think we were offically first out of the Championship last year too. Make no mistake, heads will roll.

Anyway, totally off topic.

Staying on the Kildare theme, a few years ago we played Donegal in the qualifiers down in Newbridge. Donegal hammered us in the first half and were something like 9 points up. Kildare had a storming second half and won the game by a couple. I never remember an atmosphere like it. The atmosphere you get in small provincial grounds with 15,000 is ten times better than in the new croker with 35,000 and can be worth a few scores to the team.

blackbelt

I bet that when Tommy Carr was watching that match,it all seemed to "happen in slow motion".:D

GAAman

blackbelt wrote:

Unfortunately as a Dub,I've had to witness the heartbreak of leading by 5-7 points only for us to squander it to a draw or a ****ty 1 point loss or just about winning.

I'll start with the draws and losses for Dublin.

1.Dublin v Tyrone 05=Dubs up by a goal and 2 points at half time,only for them to let Tyrone back in again and Mulligan scoring that super goal.We ended up equalising with a last gasp free into injury time.

2.Dublin v Mayo 06=Dubs up by 7 points in second half when Jayo and Brogan score a goal and few points respectively.Conor Mortimer wakes up again and scores a few points along with McDonald and then Andy Moran scores what is the cheeseist goal in the championship that year.Mayo win by a point after poor Vaughn has all the weight dumped on his shoulders after getting little playing time in the championship.

3.Dublin v Tyrone replay 05=Tyrone are in front by 7 points and Dublin start to come back into it from points from Keaney as I remember.Dublin begin to rally and the crowd is going mental,I'm going mental,this is going to be Dublins biggest comeback since Kerry in Thurles......Cluxton takes a short kick out to O Shaunessy who is asleep and is waiting for ball to bounce to him,Mulligan runs up and snatches the ball and scores a goal....comeback over,championship dream for 05 over.

4.Dublin v Tyrone 07 = I hate Tyrone :mad: Dublin are the stronger of the two teams and whilst the game is in February and its cold,it has the championship feel to it.Darren Magee is playing a blinder in midfield and Tyrone are stunned.Dublin up by 5 points.Magee goes off injured,Dublin up sh1ts creek without a paddle.Mulligan gets his second wind and starts playing rugby.Tyrone start the handbags and Dublins momentum and confidence is decreasing.Dublins midfield and half back go asleep.Diarmuid Connolly who is having a great game up to this point turns anonymous until we are 1 point down with another last gasp chance at saving a draw.Dublin opt to go all or nothing and pay dearly for it.

5.Dublin V Mayo 07=Dublin are grilling Mayo in Castlebar and Keaney is on fire.He is single handedly destroying Mayo.Dubs up by 6 points.Keaney gets sent off in second half.Cue for Mayo to counter attack.We end up not scoring in the second half and Mayo get away red handed again by a 1 pint margin.

Here comes the victories

1.Dublin v Wexford 05 = Its a scorching hot day in June and Dublin start off brilliantly.Its 7-2 in favour of Dublin and all is well....until,Mattie Forde decides its time to show everyone why he is a 2004 all-star.He scores a cracking point that rattles off the cross bar from the Cusack stand.Not to worry,Dublin are still in front yeah?...not for long.Penalty to Wexford which is converted through devine intervention into the Hill despite some fireworks and a save from Cluxton.Wexford with their tails up.Dublin lose concentration and Pat Roe and Pillar are going mad.
Wexford dominate most of the second half proceedings and the Hill is getting ugly after Wexford squash a comeback attempt with another goal into the Canal end.Dublin passes going astray out over the sideline.Enough is enough and Jayo is brought on after Dublin start to come back.Brogan is coming to Dublins rescue and Jayo receives a lovely pass,turns and smashes the ball into the goal.Another 2 points are scored and Dublin triumph by a goal and a point.Dublin fans are relieved but question the ability to beat Laois after they annihilated Kildare earlier.

2.Dublin v Laois 05 = Dublin are clearly more settled into this match after points from Jayo and Brogan.Dublin get the better of the early exchanges.Even O Shaunessy is coming from the defense to score.Its 7-2 at half time when Dublin should be 10 points ahead.Happy days and Dublin seem to have Leinster in the bag for sure,I'm 100% certain.The Da turns to me and says "Laois will come back,wait and see,Dublin don't like second halfs".I'm aggitated by what is said and I shrug it off.

Second half starts and Dublin look a bit sluggish but still score some lovely points...then nothing happens.Laois are on the attack and Ross Munnelly is giving Dublin headaches.Dublin are clearly fast asleep and losing control of the match.Laois gain more and more confident and edge their noses in front for the first and there is only 3 minutes left.What the Da said was true and I'm mad at being so complacent at half time even though Laois were still in it.Dublin return the favour and equalise,we're not out of it.Laois again on the attack and time is running out but we get the ball back.Jayo moves in to kill the game off from the end line to score a goal.Laois fumble it back and Alan Broga,the genius that he is,shoulders the Laois defender over the line for a 45.Mossy Quinn does his skip and run and pops it over.Laois hurry and scramble up to the last 3rd of the pitch.Dublin are marking heavily but it looks well dodgy and we are hanging on.The whistle blows and we win by 1 point when the game should have been over by half time.

im off to slit me wrists.......

kravist

blackbelt wrote:

Thanks Kravist,I do pride myself in remembering the small details of games.My mind is like a diary when I'm in Croker.

Fortunately I do have the answer to your question.I remember seeing it on GAA Gold some ago.It was very controversial.

PJ Mcgrath was the referee for the 1982 All Ireland Final between Kerry and Offaly.Kerry were ahead and Offaly were coming back.It was practically the last kick of the game.Seamus Darby was awarded a penalty by PJ McGrath which Offaly scored to pip Kerry at the post for Sam.

as already pointed out...it was n't a penalty...But of real significance..Kerry were minutes.....seconds... away from a 5 in a row!!

Carrickman

Staying on the Kildare theme, a few years ago we played Donegal in the qualifiers down in Newbridge. Donegal hammered us in the first half and were something like 9 points up. Kildare had a storming second half and won the game by a couple.

Remember that game well, still can't believe we lost it (Devenney was taken down for a clear penalty that wasn’t given when Donegal were 9 points up, if the game was closer it probably would have been given!), I was working with a gang of Kildare lads in a site in City West that summer and got some stick the following week! That was voted the best match of the Championship that year as far as I can remember.

Stoner

Kojak wrote:

Also the 1994 SHC final between Limerick and Offaly. In the last 5 minutes or so Offaly scored 2-5 to go from 5 points down to win by 6 or 7 (I may not be 100% accurate on the exact score)

This was the best comeback I ever saw. I can still remember Limerick falling apart (and the bloody song afterward.... there's a ball in the air, there's a man in the square....................")

blackbelt

im off to slit me wrists.......(GAAman)

Yes I felt like doing that,particularly at the Tyrone match replay.Dublin were starting to pull off one of the biggest comebacks,something we shouldn't have had to do in the first place if O Shaunessy hadn't have conceded a panalty in the first place.

We lost Brogan and were coming back and O Shaunessy fumbled it again.A man I was talking to in Smyths in Fairview placed the blame solely on Shane Ryan but thats grasping at straws.

Biggest comeback I saw and was apart of was Scoil Ui Chonaill vs St Judes.We were 1-9 to 0 at half time and came back to win 1-14 to 1-12

Stoner

blackbelt wrote:

We lost Brogan

by lost I guess you mean Brogan was taken out of the game

blackbelt

Yes,he went off injured.The man is a legend and is my favourite Dublin player.I often wonder why he is not captain.

buckwheat

How has nobody mentioned this yet??? Definatly the best I've ever seen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEy9z1Ul_to

Stoner

buckwheat wrote:

How has nobody mentioned this yet??? Definatly the best I've ever seen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEy9z1Ul_to

yeah it was a great goal, and a decent comeback, but it tended more towards a tight game i think not so much of a comeback, but I'm not sure they all roll into one for me those games, one big pile of pain.

buckwheat

Stoner wrote:

yeah it was a great goal, and a decent comeback, but it tended more towards a tight game i think not so much of a comeback, but I'm not sure they all roll into one for me those games, one big pile of pain.

I'm pretty sure Meath were six if not seven points down in the second half and that was before Dublin missed the penalty. That was one mental summer to be from Meath....

cilldara

1993 vs Wicklow: 8 points down with 10 minutes to go, an amazing comeback capped by 2 Martin Lynch goals to win it (though for the 2nd goal, he must have taken 10 steps...)

2000 vs Dublin (Leinster Final): 6 points down at half-time, 2 goals in 2 minutes after the break, and then Dublin held to 1 point in the second-half as they recovered from the shellshock.

Those are the sweetest I can think of right now.

Cilldara.

Nalced_irl

TomMc wrote:

Specially for you Blackbelt !

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BUGn3E5quf4

Shudder!!!!:mad:

Nalced_irl

buckwheat wrote:

How has nobody mentioned this yet??? Definatly the best I've ever seen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEy9z1Ul_to

Triple-shudder!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :eek:

Nalced_irl

GAAman wrote:

im off to slit me wrists.......

Hehe, no offence blackbelt but that was not an enjoyable read.

Defeats....
1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Victories...
1, 2.........thats upsetting!!

blackbelt

No it wasn't an enjoyable read but don't fear,as I will be back with some more Dublin victories and some nice material that will shut the Meath fans up.

Stoner

Speaking as a Dublin Fan

I can't remember any decent comebacks that Dublin made at the moment. Seem to have been involved in loads, but on the wrong side. Seems to be easier to get the other teams hyped up at half time, or else Dublin fold too easy, or more likely a combination of both.:(

blackbelt

The problem with Dublin is that in the big matches they tend to want to finish off their opposition very early or at least put the frighteners on them in the hope they will fold.While this happens against weaker opposition,teams like Tyrone and Mayo won't fold like this.

When Dublin do peak in the match,they get too complacent until they are in trouble.Why do you think we always lose by 1 sh1tty point and not any other margin when we lose?

As a Dub,I keep my feet on the ground until 5 mins before the end when we are 7 points ahead.A 5 point lead at half time does not mean we will win.I am more happy when we are in a tight game.It means our players will know they have to fight for the win.

blackbelt

Dublin have been involved in some comebacks.The Wexford game was the best recent memory of this.We had the game under control until Mattie Forde and Redmond Barry put Wexford ahead.

We were in big trouble right up until the last 10-15 mins.The match seemed to last longer than any other game I've been at.My eyes were always on the match and the clock.Dublin lost total concentration for some time and it didn't look good but we pulled out the win.

killbillvol2

Best comeback I saw was Limerick against Tipperary in hurling. Maybe someone can help with the date? Early 80s I think, maybe earlier. Limerick 13 points down at half time and drew the game. Joe McKenna scored 3 goals in the second half (3-3 in total I think). I was pretty young at the time but I remember sitting near the sideline and seeing McKenna in full flow as he single-handedly dragged Limerick into the game.

thirtyfoot

My father always talks of this one from the 1956 Munster Hurling Final. Christy Ring in the twilight of his career....

......I can recall Michael O’Hehir’s broadcast of the 1956 Munster final against Limerick. Ring was playing at corner forward for Cork and his marker was Donal Broderick. O’Hehir referred to him as Donal Bruder using the Irish version of Broderick. The Limerick corner back had the game of his life and for 50 minutes he didn’t give Ring a puck of the ball. Limerick led by two goals as the game entered the last quarter. The story goes that Donal walked up beside Ring and said into his ear, “Christy, you’re having a quiet day.” “That’s right, boy”, Ring replied. Then in an explosive four minute burst Ring scored three spectacular goals that turned the game in Cork’s favour. After the third goal he walked past Broderick and said, ‘tisn’t so quiet now, boy.” The final score that day was Cork ... 5-5 Limerick ... 3-5.......

http://www.roscommonherald.ie/news/story.asp?j=3098

dcr22B

blackbelt wrote:

im off to slit me wrists.......(GAAman)

Yes I felt like doing that,particularly at the Tyrone match replay.Dublin were starting to pull off one of the biggest comebacks,something we shouldn't have had to do in the first place if O Shaunessy hadn't have conceded a panalty in the first place.

We lost Brogan and were coming back and O Shaunessy fumbled it again.A man I was talking to in Smyths in Fairview placed the blame solely on Shane Ryan but thats grasping at straws.

Biggest comeback I saw and was apart of was Scoil Ui Chonaill vs St Judes.We were 1-9 to 0 at half time and came back to win 1-14 to 1-12

Was it not Lally who was caught out by Cluxton's quick goal kick and was subsequently swallowed whole by Kavanagh before the Albino scored the decisive goal!

stepbar

Something a little different

Leitrim V Roscommon 2nd June 2000

http://www.rte.ie/sport/2000/0702/football1.html

Roscommon were up by 5 points at half time and scored 3 goals in 6 minutes early on in the half. From what I remember at one stage it was 3-4 to 0-4. Roscommon only scored 2 points for the rest of the game. In the final minute Seamus Quinn popped up to score the winning point. It was one hell of a turnaround.

Nalced_irl

Man U against Bayern in the euro final. 1-0 down going into extra time and.............oh wait. Wrong forum.

Sorry, im bored cos there arent any new posts so decided to have a little joke

K-9

Nalced_irl wrote:

Man U against Bayern in the euro final. 1-0 down going into extra time and.............oh wait. Wrong forum.

Sorry, im bored cos there arent any new posts so decided to have a little joke

Of course that was good......grrrrrrrr, but of course Liverpool outdid you's.

From a Donegal perspective I'm thinking of comebacks over a season. Start of 03, no manager and nobody wanted it, so of course we get McEniff to do it. Lose 6 league games in a row, then lose to Fermanagh in probably the worst Donegal championship match in years.

Cue the qualifiers, drawing with the 01 Championship winners, Galway in 2003 in Croker, then going down to more or less their back garden, Castlebar, supporters outnumbering them 5/1 and winning. But then the heartbreak!

Our best chance of beating Armagh till this year. Nothing in it till Raymond Sweeney got sent off for a second yellow when 2/3 Armagh should have been sent off for same and 1 a straight red. Ah well.

Another great comeback over a season was 92. Breffni Park and a league Q/F and Keith Barr saying to the wee man that "you's are chokers".

Cue, Ulster Final against Tohill, McKeever, Scullion, Gormley and Co. 1 Point down at half time with 14 men, up the then hill in Clones, an aging team of chokers against a young Derry league champions that somehow forgot to dominate the rest of the 90's. Then we win the worst AI S/F in years against Mayo.

Cue Barr against the wee man in the AI, after about 20 mins he turns to Barr, "who's the choker now?" and the rest is history!

YeatsCounty

The 2002 All Ireland football Quarter Final in Croke Park between Sligo and Armagh. We were 6 or 7 points down with less than 10 minutes left and we were down to 14 men (the referee took about 3 minutes to send off the player as well, eating up more time). Sligo's season seemed to be petering out as they had gone 60 minutes without much of a spark in their play. Then the turnaround began. Points started dropping over the bar. We started to claw back the deficit. 6 points down, 5 points, 4 points, 3, 2........

Then the ball was sent over the bar in injury time to reduce Armagh's lead to the bare minimum. Sligo won a free from the kick out, spread the ball out wide to the right and a few seconds later, Dara McGarty was bearing down on the Armagh goal. He decided to play it safe and pop it iver the bar but if he had gone for goal, who knows what might have been?

Armagh were hanging on for dear life and they were visibly relieved when the final whistle blew. I was at the replay in Navan. Sligo lost by 2 points at the end but put up one hell of a fight. We came so close to beating the eventual All Ireland champions twice in consecutive games! Those were the days.