Sport

Back in the day - Apr 5 1998: Stephen McGinnity winner stuns Down men

DOWN AND OUT....Down’s Mickey Linden wins this duel but his side were beaten by Monaghan
DOWN AND OUT....Down’s Mickey Linden wins this duel but his side were beaten by Monaghan DOWN AND OUT....Down’s Mickey Linden wins this duel but his side were beaten by Monaghan

National Football League quarter-final: Monaghan 2-6 Down 1-8

DOWN AND OUT....Down’s Mickey Linden wins this duel but his side were beaten by

Monaghan at Croke Park yesterday Picture

A SENSATIONAL 60 minutes of high and unexpected drama sent NFL title outsiders Monaghan storming into Sunday’s semi-finals, where they’ll clash with championship rivals Derry for a place in the league decider.

Darren Swift, on the field just six minutes, and the wizardry of pocketrocket corner forward Stephen McGinnity snatched victory from the closing jaws of defeat with two incredible goals to turn this quarter-final on its head.

Swift dived full length to a break ball to fist to the net after 52 minutes, and inside 60 seconds McGinnity had danced his way through a shell-shocked defence to virtually walk the ball into the net and spark one of the most stunning turnarounds at Croke Park for some time.

After threatening, offering much promise, but failing to find the target or beat keeper Michael McVeigh, who saved three times in the second half, Monaghan suddenly found themselves within an ace of success.

Swift and McGinnity had produced a fabulous double act, and Down were left to wonder what had gone wrong after they had appeared to be in firm control and heading for the last four.

Monaghan manager Eamon McEneaney, stood among a ruck of media questionnaires afterwards in a delighted dressingroom and hit the nail on the head.

“The most important thing for me is that they didn’t quit. They kept working, kept trying to do the right thing, and never gave up” he said.

Irish News GAA columnist Gary Walsh, backed Saturday’s Grand National winner, his second successful tipping in as many years.

In Saturday’s Irish News Walsh said: “Earth Summit is who you should have your house on.” Last year Walsh advised his readers to bet on eventual winner Lord Gyllene.

JOHN Grant (Banbridge Cycling Club) adds the 1998 Tour of Ards to his list of victories for 1998.

The county Down man lifted his third win of the season and again has robbed the three-in-a-row win for David McCall (Maryland Wheelers).

An early break in the tour included eight riders moving away after one mile and shortly after one of the favourites Conor Henry (Laser) got a puncture, a fate which also sealed the conclusion to Stephen Barclay’s race (Ards CC) at 30 miles. Grant (Banbridge CC) was the best of the pickings ahead of Michael Smyth (Flogas Harps) and Ian Chivers (Laser Alignment) taking second and third place.

Ross Blayney (Ards CC), Nigel Somers (Northern CC) and Simon Thompson (Maryland Wheelers) took the remaining three places.

DENNIS BERGKAMP last night scooped the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award after beating off strong competition from second-placed Andy Cole and Michael Owen in third place.

Bergkamp becomes the first Gunner to win the accolade since Liam Brady took the award in 1979.

Bergkamp struggled to make a major impact in his first season at Highbury but the performances which have seen him help Arsenal to the brink of a Premier League and FA Cup double are proof that he has overcome his shaky start.