THOSE targeting triumphs in sport sometimes seek out omens. It's not a practice of serial winners, more done by those aiming to end long waits for a particular trophy.
In Clones, I offered reassurance to the Derry hacks before the Ulster SFC Final that Liverpool FC winning both the English League Cup and FA Cup was a good omen for them; Arsenal had done likewise in 1993.
Consequently, Derry went on and defeated Donegal, just as they had done in 1993.
There are more 1993 vibes going on about this weekend.
Derry are in Croke Park, obviously, but so too are Cork, Dublin, and Mayo, as they were 29 years ago.
A repeat of that final is highly unlikely, however, although the Oak Leafers have a good shot at getting there - of those four, only Derry and Dubs are favoured to progress to the semi-finals, with the Rebels priced at 12/1 to defeat Dessie Farrell's terrific team.
Clare are 5/1 to overcome Rory Gallagher's men, who are 1/6, but Derry should be wary.
I'm getting echoes of another year when Derry made it to the semi-finals, 2004.
That season's quarter-finals provided some serious shocks.
Derry's own victory, over Leinster champions Westmeath, wasn't all that surprising, admittedly, even if the midlanders were a Division 1A team while the Oaks had only ended up above Louth and Waterford in Division 2B.
Much more stunning were the results the weekend before: reigning All-Ireland Champions Tyrone dumped out by Mayo, then Ulster Champions Armagh ousted by Fermanagh.
Derry, of course, go in as provincial title-holders, and absolutely deservedly so, after impressive wins over Tyrone, Monaghan, and then Donegal.
However, Clare certainly cannot be discounted. They've already defeated two Division Two teams in the qualifiers, Meath and Roscommon, so why not a third?
Clare's last All-Ireland SFC semi-final? Yep, 1992. Thirty years ago. A nice round number.
Most people are writing Colm Collins's team off, which will secretly delight them. The Banner men have already been in Croke Park, for their round two win over Roscommon.
Derry are first up this Saturday, so they will have to be mentally ready.
Armagh obviously won't be at all complacent against Galway, even though Kieran McGeeney's players are slight favourites with the bookies.
For one thing, the Orchardmen have never beaten the Tribesmen in senior championship football.
There's a first time for everything, of course, but there's also a weight of tradition.
There are also still some players involved this weekend who featured at the Athletic Grounds for their last Championship encounter seven years ago. On the Twelfth day of July, the Orangemen's march was halted, as James Morgan, Ethan Rafferty, Stefan Campbell, Aidan Forker, Andrew Murnin, and Mark Shields will all remember. Galway are more changed, but had Liam Silke, Paul Conroy, Damien Comer, and Cathal Sweeney playing parts in that victory in the Cathedral City.
Both Ulster sides will have more backing than their opponents in GAA HQ, but both will know they have to make history, not hope - or fear - that it will repeat itself.
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Breaking news becomes old news very quickly nowadays, but it's especially meaningless to be first when it comes to announcing someone's death.
A couple of men called me on Friday evening to tell of the shocking loss of Tyrone hurling star Damian Casey in Spain.
They wanted his death to be recorded in Saturday's Irish News, not for any reason other than as some form of acknowledgment of the importance of Damian to his people, the hurling community of Dungannon and Tyrone.
Even though they could confirm with bitter certainty that Damian had died, putting such information into print requires certain standards to be passed, and the early print time meant that it did not make it into that edition.
None of that really mattered though.
Soon, too soon, all those who knew and loved Damian would be made aware of the tragic news anyway.
Newspapers can still perform some form of public service in publicising the passing of certain people.
Yet when they're as widely and highly regarded as Damian Casey was - is, will forever be - then the old ways of people talking to each other spreads the awful word.
In the oral tradition, his name will reverberate around the grounds he graced. It was particularly fitting that what turned out to be his final game for the Red Hands truly was a final game.
The Nickey Rackard Cup Final in Croke Park - which Tyrone won thanks to 0-12 from Damian.
It was his 101st inter-county appearance. In a row. Think about the discipline and commitment he showed not to miss a match over a decade of dedication.
Scoring in every single outing. Racking up an astonishing 39-894 in League and Championship. Averaging just over 10 points per game.
And those who knew him said Damian Casey truly was an even better fella than he was a hurler.
We're not really meant to praise or publicise 'rival' journalists, but Declan Bogue wrote a piece with and about Damian several weeks ago, and then a lovely tribute to him this weekend; seek those out if you haven't already read them.
Damian's death is devastating, to his parents Sean and Susan, his sisters Louise and Catherine, his wider family circle, and his many, many friends, and all those who played with and against him.
Yet the name and fame of Damian Casey will undoubtedly live on, in talk and song. RIP D.
