The 80’s

Success at Underage level but little to Celebrate for Our Seniors.

 

As 1980 began, The Troubles were entering their second decade in the North of Our Country.

Dungannon, like other areas of Tyrone had been severely hit.

Crown Force activity had impacted a lot of our players travelling to and from games and training sessions.

We were determined as ever to play our beloved game.

The gap in ages between our warriors who had last tasted Benburb Cup success in 1978 and the new crew who had first won an U14 Tyrone Feile in 1979 was too wide at the time to reap reward.

 

1982

 

We reached the 1982 County Championship Final again versus a Carrickmore team who had been building progressively over the last number of years.

In a tight affair the men in black and amber prevailed by 2 points.

 

 

Some success did come for our Seniors with numerous Tyrone league wins this decade, the sweetest being the victory of 1986.

 

1986.

 

However, it was the Championship final of 1986 that proved the closest and indeed fiestiest in years.

One which was remembered for a long time after.

 

 

It was as expected, close, hard hitting and very tense. Dungannon were so so close to regaining the title.

Unfortunately, the rivalry between the two clubs was so intense, the final did not develop into the free flowing game we had hoped to witness with continuous niggling and fouls slowing the game down.

 

 

Padraig Devlin put Dungannon ahead with the first point of the game from a 40 yard free. However, the lead did not last long.

A Carrickmore 70 from Paddy McGurk was partially cleared by goalkeeper Peter Ross only for 38 year old Mickey Kelly to bury the loose ball to the back of the net.

Our midfield pairing of Padraig Devlin and county minor star Mark Quinn (RIP) were dominating centre field. Mark was having a stormer of a game covering every blade of grass at Healy Park Omagh. Unfortunately, the Dungannon team squandered chance after chance up front.

Carrickmore went further ahead with a brilliant point from the wing by Sean Gormley.

 

Down to 14 Men.

 

Michael Devlin then pulled one back for Dungannon. Minutes later we were down to 14 men following the dismissal of Gerard Jones.

Despite this Padraig Devlin scored to leave the bare minimum between the teams only for a sucker punch goal by Eugene Donaghey in the 16th minute.

 

Carrickmore were dominating in defence utilising their extra man, clearing ball after ball but despite this could not improve their score.

In two swift moves Michael Devlin scored fine points from either wing to again put only 2 points between the teams. Carrickmore rallied again to score the last two points of the first half.

 

The Fight-back begins.

 

Little did they know that this would be their final contribution to the score that day and they were to face attack after attack by the men from Eoghan Ruadh in the second half.

With the game restarted Padraig Devlin reduced the deficit with 2 fine points. Carrickmore began to panic with Mark Quinn and Vincent Casey beginning to dominate. A fine move from Casey to Michael Devlin resulted in a point. Now there was only 1 point between the sides.

The game went a full 18 minutes without a score as both teams defence dominated. Consequently tackles became stronger in the final quarter. In the 18th minute Carrickmore were down to 14 men with the dismissal of Patsy Kelly for an off the ball incident. 2 minutes later Sean Gormley was also given his marching orders.

At this stage the game was finely in the balance. A long ball into the Carrickmore goal was met by a rising Harry Og McBride who flicked the ball to the back of the net. The large Dungannon crowd in attendance cheered wildly but only for the umpires to signal a square ball. Goal disallowed.

The usually accurate Padraig Devlin hit his second wide of the half from a long range free. Seconds later he was given his marching orders alongside Carrickmore’s Frank Grogan following an altercation at midfield.

The game was now in injury time. It fell to veteran Ciaran McHugh to draw the game level with a fine point from 45 yards.

Game over

Carrickmore 2:3

Eoghan Ruadh 0:9

 

1986 starting 15.

 

1.Peter Ross 2. Fergal Devlin 3.Damian McConville 4.Gerard Jones 5.Harold Herron 6.Brian Devlin 7.Pat Grimes 8.Padraig Devlin 9.Mark Quinn 10.Martin Harland 11.Michael Devlin 12.Vincent Casey 13.Mark McCausland 14.Harry Og McBride 15.Peter McKenna.

Subs Martin Fahy for Martin Harland, Ciaran McHugh for Mark McCausland.

Scorers Padraig Devlin & Michael Devlin 4 points each, Ciaran McHugh 1 point.

The replay which was held in Coalisland a few weeks later was a dour affair.

Even with the return of Pat Devlin from San Francisco, the loss of Padraig Devlin was too much for our team to overcome a resurgent Carrickmore team who were determined to retain the Benburb Cup.

They ran out comfortable winners on a scoreline.

Carrickmore 0:10

Eoghan Ruadh 0:4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to watch the 1986 Senior Championship Replay.

 

1986 League Final.

 

With the Benburb Cup remaining in Carrickmore for the rest of the decade, in 1986 our eyes turned to reclaiming the league title.

On a cold Sunday in October, Dungannon fielded their strongest 15 in a long time.

They dominated this game from start to finish winning on a scoreline of

Eoghan Ruadh 1:12

Carrickmore 1:3

 

Click here to watch the 1986 Senior League Final.

 

The Dublin 7’s

 

Our annual September trip to Dublin for the All Ireland Hurling final commences in Kilmacud for the All Ireland 7 aside series.

This is a wonderful occasion for Clubs from all over Ireland to meet annually where games are played 7 v 7.

Underage Success.

 

The structures that had been put in place in the late 70s with our youth policy paid a massive dividend in returning victorious underage teams throughout this decade.

This success was especially seen at U16 and U14 level.

Our U16s returned championship success in 1986, 1988 and 1989.

 

 

 

Our U14s returned championship success in 1980, 1984, 1987 and 1988 before entering the All Ireland Feile Competition in late June.

In 1980 our winning side travelled to Ballinasloe in Galway, guided by Mickey Devlin & Gerry Herron.

A great experience for all the lads who travelled. They were hosted by kind families in the area and played some great teams as their group games progressed.

 

Wexford here we come.

 

In 1984 our winning side travelled to Wexford guided by Harold Herron, Noel Devlin & Gerry McIntosh.

Departing Dungannon on that June weekend, nobody realised the success we were going to have as we defeated Adamstown of Wexford on a scoreline of 2:4 to 0:2 to win the Division 4 Dr Birch trophy.

What a moment of history for our Club.

 

In 1987 our winning side travelled to Sixmilebridge Co Clare guided by Ciaran McHugh and Harold Herron.

 

 

In 1988 our winning side travelled to Ratheniska Co Laois again guided by Ciaran McHugh & Harold Herron.

The heatwave of 88 had many great sporting events.

Ireland had qualified for the Euros and Ben Johnson was being stripped of gold in the Olympics at Seoul but our lads from Dungannon were battling against Irelands finest once again reaching the Division 4 Final.

Unfortunately this time we came up short when Clara of Offaly defeated us on a scoreline of 4:4 to 1:4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did You Know?

 

In 1982 our very own Gerry Goodwin won the National Poc Fada Championship beating Ireland’s best and in 1985 Padraig Devlin captained the QUB Fitzgibbon Cup team playing against future Tipperary All Ireland Winner Nicky English who was on the UCC team.