Derry GAA in the 1980s: Croker Oakers
The final pieces of the All-Ireland jigsaw
Derry celebrate winning the Ulster championship in 1987
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Derry s footballing history is a journey of peaks and troughs. When
Danny Quinn stepped aboard, the roller-coaster was pulling out of the station and in part two of our focus on the eighties, he tells
Michael McMullan of the final steps towards the summit.
By the time Bellaghy ended a seven-year gap to win the 1986 Derry title, Danny Quinn and success went hand in hand.
It marked his third full season as a senior club player, but the roots of a winning mentality were firmly established. Under the guidance of the late Tom Scullion, a 12-time senior champion, Quinn picked up an U16 medal in 1981 before developing his game during a stellar MacRory career that helped him graduate to the county minor team.
Derry last two Ulster winning goalkeepers look at the changing face of the number one
Eoin McCloskey and Damien McCusker talk goalkeeping and the All-Irelands that got away
Derry captain Kieran McKeever introduces goalkeeper Eoin McCloskey to President McAleese before the 1998 Ulster final
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From being the last line of defence, the number one is now the first avenue of attack as possession becomes the new metric of judgement. Michael McMullan spoke to Derry s last two Ulster senior winning goalkeepers Damien McCusker and Eoin McCloskey.
Commentator Ger Canning was tempting fate when Damien McCusker lined up a kick-out in the early stages of the 1993 All-Ireland final.
Sideline View: When Ulster said yes
A look back at Ulster s glory days from the late eighties to the mid noughties
Derry celebrate with the Sam Maguire Cup at the Burlington Hotel after the 1993 All-Ireland Final (Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile)
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Sitting down to watch the Leinster final a few weeks ago, there was the tiniest of glimmers that Meath might actually give the Dubs a game. We didn t expect Andy McEntee s men to win, but would they test the fabric of a Dublin side without Jim Gavin pulling the strings?
The answer.a big fat resounding no. By the 15th minute, most people were hunkered over their phones to vent their disgust at what Leinster had become. With 22 minutes gone, I flicked it over.
Dermot Heaney: Ever the gentleman
The story of one of Derry s greatest ever players
Dermot Heaney takes the Sam Maguire Cup back to Anahorish PS in 1993
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Ten years ago the ever-popular Dermot Heaney retired from football with an intermediate championship medal tucked in his pocket, after a decorated career for club, school, county and province. Michael McMullan spoke to him as he delved into the memory bank.
Dermot Heaney talks with the same poise and footballing IQ he displayed on the fields of Ireland.
There is a quiet and unassuming excitement in his voice, of total contentment in the hand sport dealt him.