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22nd May 2020

Antrim’s greatest day relived as TG4 unveil stunning schedule for June

Niall McIntyre

Brian Donnelly was once described as the ‘nearest thing to Georgie Best with a hurl.’

Those are words of the highest praise, from a Connacht Tribune reporter way back when, but that’s a measure of just how gifted the Ballycastle forward was.

And while Donnelly was so often the star of the Saffron show, the late eighties was a time when the Glens of Antrim were home to some of the finest hurlers in the land, chief among them being Olcan McFetridge, Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton, Aidan McCarry, Danny McNaughton and of course, captain Ciaran Barr – all of whom were leaders on that great team and hurlers who will never be forgotten.

Brian Donnelly when the Antrim team were honoured recently.

But of all their eye-catching showings, their most unforgettable day out undoubtedly came in the summer of 1989, when written off by most scribes, Jim Nelson’s team upset the apple cart to leave Offaly reeling and Croke Park heaving.

Olcan McFetridge, a talented soccer player in his day who has also been compared to Georgie Best – caught fire that day with two goals while Aidan McCarry’s early green flag was crucial in keeping them alive before they finished strongly to win by 4-14 to 1-15. Here’s a sneak peak of that great day out here, but you can watch the full thing on Sunday June 14, when the great Gaels of TG4 will bring it to life once more.

TG4 announced their full schedule for June on Friday morning and it’s fair to say the brilliant selection will keep Gaels enchanted all over. The All-Ireland football final of 1992 between Donegal and Dublin is another clinker, Dublin entering the match as heavy favourites to win what would have been their 22nd All-Ireland title, but Brian McEniff’s men of the hills had different ideas.

Kerry and Offaly’s football semi-final of 1980 was also great game, a taster to what was to come in 1982.

See the full list here.

 

LISTEN: The GAA Hour – Klopp in Croker, flop in Kildare and the ‘worst fans’ award?

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