I was in Omagh in ’91 when Damien Cassidy’s late goal basically won the game for Derry. Although the thing that stands out about that day was the wild celebrations from the Tyrone minors after beating Derry. I know Derry had won the previous two Ulster Championships, but this was a completely different team. Big Geoff McGonigle missed an absolute sitter in the minor game, after the Tyrone keeper gifted him the ball from the kick out.
1992 – National League Final, Plunkett’s big moment!! In fairness, the 45 from which Tohill scored the goal, came from a point blank save by McConnell from a Bateson shot. I thought that was our last opportunity gone, but Plunkett didn’t see it like that. I don’t remember Brolly playing a major role in that NFL performance in ’92.
1992 – Ulster Championship. All ticket affair at Celtic Park. Didn’t get a ticket for that. Thankfully the game was televised on BBC. Gary Coleman scored an own goal, the first time I ever seen an own goal scored in Gaelic Football, and don’t remember too many since.
1995 & 1996 – The less said about these two games the better. Abiding memory from the ’95 game, was the scorching hot game and everyone in the O’Duffy Terrace sitting down on the concrete steps. One man didn’t get the message and was asked by a number of people to sit down as he was blocking their view, he refused. Another gentleman decided that this was not good enough and knocked him out with one punch and walked away as if he’d done nothing wrong.
1997 – Great day out for the greatly outnumbered Derry fans 2-15 to 2-03. Tyrone scored first with a goal and after that it was all Derry. McGleenan scored a great goal in the second half and decided to blow angry kisses to the crowd. Maybe because Brolly had been blowing kisses after scoring a goal earlier in the game.
2001 (x2) Missed the Ulster Championship game. Was in Clones for the Quarter Final. Wee Pete got himself sent off for punching McBride in the stomach. If it happened now, McBride would probably get a black card for blocking the run.
2003 (x2) Tight enough affair in Clones. Tyrone got themselves outta jail. Fergal Doc hit a wide that would have put us 4 or 5 up in the second half but went badly wide. Tyrone reeled us in and won the replay easily. Remember that one from leaving O’Duffy Terrace on the final whistle and running the length of Clones to get back to the car and away. I was met by a couple of Tyrone hallions who clearly hadn’t made it to the game, and were definitely inebriated. Shouting at me to go “Back to Britain” and something incoherent about L****Derry .
2006 – All Ireland Champs held scoreless for the first half. Master class of tactical fouling. Liam Hinphey had a super day at the office. Hub Hughes hit him a dig and Tyrone were down to 14men. Big Enda scored the goal.
Went to work in England not long after that, I don’t think I’ve been to a Derry/Tyrone Championship game since then.
