The Irish News, December 20 2019: 2009 produced four All-Ireland-winning ladies football teams for Ulster, with Antrim, Donaghmoyne, Donegal minors and Loreto College, Omagh's U16 girls reaching the heights of the game.
The Saffrons picked up the All-Ireland junior title in Croke Park on the last Sunday in September, defeating Limerick 3-10 to 2-8 on a day when Mairead Cooper and Claire Timoney ran riot, scoring 3-6 between them.
Captain Gerardine McCann climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand as her husband, Tyrone star Enda McGinley, watched from the stands as the title returned to the North for the first time since 2005.
Monaghan and Ulster champions Donaghmoyne claimed their second All-Ireland senior club title in four years, defeating Cork and Munster champions Donoughmore.
Catriona McConnell's two first half goals, one from the penalty spot, were crucial, putting the Fontenoy's back in front before the end of the half, and from then on they never let their lead go, winning 2-7 to 1-8.
It was eight minutes of second half magic from full-forward Geraldine McLaughlin that sent Donegal on their way to All-Ireland minor glory after a heart-stopping 5-13 to 5-5 win over Clare, as manager Kenny Griffin finally got his hands on a deserved All-Ireland title.
The U16 girls from Loreto College, Omagh were the first team in Ulster to taste victory at an All-Ireland level in 2009.
The Tyrone school defeated St Leo's of Carlow 4-12 to 2-9 in the A competition to retain the title they won in 2008, with Cappagh club player Hayley O'Donnell scoring two vital goals for Siobhan McCarney's team.
BIRTHDAYS-
Freddie Spencer
motorcycling
American who became the first man to win 250 and 500cc titles in the same season in 1985, born 1961.
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Ed De Goey
soccer
former Chelsea, Stoke and Holland goalkeeper, born 1966.
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Grant Flower
cricket
former Zimbabwe international and younger brother of former England team director Andy, born 1970.
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Geremi
soccer
former Chelsea, Newcastle and Cameroon midfielder, born 1978.
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Ashley Cole
soccer
Former Chelsea and England defender, born 1980.
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Martin Demichelis
soccer
Former Manchester City and Argentina defender, born 1980.
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Darren Sammy
cricket
West Indies all-rounder who has twice captained his country to World T20 titles, born 1983.
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Stephen Walsh
gaelic games
Former Limerick senior hurler at right corner-back. On the Limerick side that defeated Cork 0-24 to 0-15 in the 2013 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final, their first title since 1996, born 1985.
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Fabian Schar
soccer
Newcastle and Switzerland defender, born 1991.
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Kylian Mbappe
soccer
Paris St Germain striker who won the 2018 World Cup with France, born 1998.
QUICK QUIZ- Who beat Serena Williams in the women's final at Wimbledon in 2019?
- How many times has Michael Van Gerwen won the PDC World Darts Championship?
- Which former Premier League side, now playing in League One, are managed by Mark Robins?
- In which country will the 2019 Club World Cup final be held?
- In which Irish county is the Gaelic Games ground Páirc Uí Chaoimh?
- In National Basketball, which American city is home to the Bucks?
- Simona Halep
- Three
- Coventry
- Qatar
- Cork
- Milwaukee
ON THIS DAY- 1992
AC Milan's Dutch striker Marco Van Basten was voted European Footballer of the Year for the third time in five years, equalling the record of his compatriot Johan Cruyff and France's Michel Platini.
- 1996
Middlesbrough cancelled their Premier League game against Blackburn, with manager Bryan Robson claiming he had 23 players ill or injured. The club were later punished at an inquiry and had three points deducted. Boro were relegated at the end of the season.
- 2006
Brian Ashton was appointed England head coach in succession to Andy Robinson.
- 2010
Carlos Tevez withdrew his transfer request and expressed his "absolute commitment" to Manchester City following clear-the-air talks, the club confirmed.
- 2011
Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches and fined £40,000 by the Football Association after being found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra.
- 2014
Eoin Morgan replaced Alastair Cook as England's one-day international captain.
- 2016
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova said she was "badly shaken" and "fortunate to be alive" after a knife attack in her apartment.
- 2017
Korey Smith's stoppage-time strike earned Bristol City a 2-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Manchester United.
SPORT ON TVFriday, December 20
- GAA
Classic GAA: Dublin v Kerry: 1985 - Eir Sport 1 10.00
- SOCCER
Sky Bet Championship, Middlesbrough v Stoke - Sky Sports Football 1900; Ladbrokes Premiership, Hibernian v Rangers - BT Sport 1 1915.
- RUGBY UNION
Gallagher Premiership, Gloucester v Worcester - BT Sport 2 1900, Guinness PRO14, Leinster v Ulster - eir Sport 1, Premier Sports 1 1900.
- DARTS
PDC World Championship - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Arena 1230 and Sky Sports Main Event 1900.
- CRICKET
Big Bash League, Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers - BT Sport 1 0330, Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars - BT Sport 1 0800.
- BASKETBALL
NBA, Philadelphia 76ers v Dallas Mavericks - Sky Sports Action 0100 (Sat).
- BOXING
Daniel Jacobs v Julio Cesar Chavez Jr - Sky Sports Main Event 0200 (Sat).
Saturday, December 21
- GAA
Underdogs 2019: Ray Silke, Valerie Mulcahy and Paul Galvin attempt to form a team of unknown GAA footballers from hundreds of applicants, TG4, 1945
- SOCCER
Club World Cup final, Liverpool v Flamengo - BBC One 1715; Premier League, Everton v Arsenal - BT Sport 1 1200, Manchester City v Leicester - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League 1700; Sky Bet Championship, Cardiff v Preston - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football 1200.
- RUGBY UNION
Gallagher Premiership, Leicester v Exeter - BT Sport 2 1430; Guinness PRO14, Connacht v Munster - eir Sport 1 1630 and Free Sports 1715, Dragons v Scarlets - S4C, Premier Sports 2 1700, Glasgow v Edinburgh - Premier Sports 1 1715, Ospreys v Cardiff Blues - Premier Sports 2 1920.
- DARTS
PDC World Championship - Sky Sports Arena 1230 and 1900, Sky Sports Main Event 1500 and 2000.
- CRICKET
Big Bash League, Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers - BT Sport 3 0700, Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades - BT Sport 3 1000.
- GRIDIRON
NFL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Houston Texans - Sky Sports Action 1700, New England Patriots v Buffalo Bills - Sky Sports Action 2125, San Francisco 49ers v Los Angeles Rams - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Action 0100 (Sun).
- BOXING
Daniel Dubois v Kyotaro Fujimoto - BT Sport 1 1930.
- RACING
Ascot - ITV4 1330.
