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The Irish News Archive - Aug 22 1998: Derry star Enda Gormley back with a bang

Derry's Enda Gormley shoots for goal despite an attempted block by Armagh's Martin Toye.
Derry's Enda Gormley shoots for goal despite an attempted block by Armagh's Martin Toye. Derry's Enda Gormley shoots for goal despite an attempted block by Armagh's Martin Toye.

August, five years ago. As clear in recall as if weeks not 1,800 days or thereabouts, the Jacks drummed out of the All-Ireland play-offs by the sweetest score Johnny McGurk has yet produced.

A famous point, acclaimed win, and Derry were on a roll, Dublin beaten, Cork unknowingly then about to take the fall also.

All-Ireland champions, a first, and remarkably tomorrow will see them back at Croke Park for a semi-final they have dreamed of since 1993 but still to be contested.

As such, with five seasons and a few more tucked away in their locker of experience, a team felt street-wise return this weekend to try and bridge the Championship canyon.

Enda Gormley was a star then, 25 points measured mainly from frees during that historic campaign, a score-taker ranked sixth in Ulster’s all-time listing.

A career besieged by injuries, Gormley switched to management this season only to produce such quality in quantity for his club to prompt a surprise comeback to Championship football in May.

He has dislodged the fine talent of Joe Cassidy, 11 years his junior, at corner forward for this All-Ireland semi-final challenge, with Galway his latest target.

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THE long-running Michael McHugh transfer saga is over at last with Derry City hoping to have the £40,000-rated striker in their panel for the FAI League Cup group match at Fanad United this evening (5.00).

Candystripes manager Felix Healy said yesterday afternoon that the saga was near an end, resulting in the Ramelton man’s transfer from Omagh Town - and his confidence was finally justified.

Omagh boss Roy McCreadie later confirmed the two clubs had reached a compromise after weeks of controversy which resulted in two trips to the High Court.

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CELTIC’S first team squad have agreed to end their “work to rule” with immediate effect. And they have accused managing director Fergus McCann of “having no respect” for their achievements.

The players have adopted a stance of non-cooperation with their club and media following a row over bonus payments in the Champions’ League.

Tony Higgins, secretary of the Scottish Professional Footballers association, intervened in an attempt to try and find a solution.

But the players are bitter at the way they have been treated by the management and say they have dragged their feet over bonuses

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Cliftonville v Glentoran

Cliftonville’s defeat to Portadown last weekend shouldn’t have come as a surprise to the champions’ staff.

Today skipper Mickey Donnelly returns to the side from suspension. Tim McCann returns to first team duty and Cliftonville are beginning to look more like their championship winning self once again.

However Glentoran love this sort of fixture and will be in buoyant mood following an opening league win last weekend.

Eastwood’s odds: H:(11/5); D:(9/4); A:(11/10)

Prediction: Away win.

(The prediction proved correct, Glentoran won 4-2)