1994 Ulster semi provided prelude to Tyrone progress

IT was the summer of 1994. Tyrone hadn’t won an Ulster Senior Championship match for five years while Donegal were emerging from a golden era of success which had seen them win their first ever All-Ireland title.

Breffni Park was the venue for a clash that saw one era begin while another ended. The rain poured, too, as the attraction of this latest clash between the keen north-west rivals brought a bumper attendance to see how things might develop.

Donegal’s team included many veterans. Martin McHugh, Anthony Molloy, Declan Bonner and company had soldiered for the county throughout the past decade. They had also reached the pinnacle of Sam Maguire Cup glory just two years previously.

The Red Hands came to Cavan with a young team boosted by their win over Armagh in the first round. The team included experienced campaigners such as Plunkett Donaghy and Feargal Logan, and newcomers anxious to make their mark including Peter Canavan, Adrian Cush, Paul Donnelly and Eamon McCaffrey.

Among them, too, was Brian Gormley from Carrickmore. What followed on that soggy June day 30 years ago was an emphatic win. For Gormley, there was no doubting the significance of the victory for the team as they earned a provincial final place.

“We had reached the National League Final in 1992 and sort of flopped a bit against Derry in the Championship. It was the bulk of that team which lined out in 1994. Tyrone hadn’t won a first round match for five years and there was new managers in place for that year in Art McRory and Eugene McKenna,” said the An Charriag Mhor Naomh Colmcille clubman.

“There was a bit of pressure and probably a little expectation because that was a fairly young team with a mix of more experienced players. Donegal obviously had the bulk of a very good team, but maybe their old players were waning and I think that singled the end for the likes of Martin McHugh who was stretchered off in that game.

“We had a few older players like Feargal Logan, Plunkett Donaghy, Stephen Conway and John Lynch. The rest of the team was made up of a few in their mid-20s and then the rest of us who were coming from the U-21 All-Ireland winning teams. It was probably a good mix of players.”

What followed was an emphatic 1-15 to 0-10 victory for Tyrone, and what was described as a watershed moment for Donegal’s fortunes.

A goal from Stephen Lawn after good work from Brian Gormley sealed the victory for Tyrone.

It was a day in which the attacking talents of Peter Canavan, Ciaran Loughran, Adrian Cush and Brian Gormley shone brightly.

“At that time a lot of people forget that this was knockout football. You might have thought you had a good chance every year, but if you got it wrong on the day or a few things went against you then it was seen as a terrible year,” added the Carmen and Red Hand player.

“For example, we lost to Derry in Celtic Park in 1992 after a very good year and that set in motion a couple of poor years. I had only joined the squad again after missing out on 1993. Every year was different, but you only got one chance and really only focused on the first round.

“Once you get one win, then the confidence levels grow. Donegal were in the same going in with high expectations. Luckily we got the goal from Stephen Lawn which was the difference between the teams.

“The goal came at a good time for us in that we had a lot of energy because probably we were slightly younger.

“That goal set the tone and we chipped in two or three points immediately after that. Donegal were tiring and Martin McHugh going off was a blow to them.”

Following that win, Tyrone subsequently lost in the Ulster Final to a Down team which went on to win their second All-Ireland in three years. However, there were better times ahead for the Red Hands, and two Ulster titles and an All-Ireland Final appearance followed in 1995 and 1996.

Peter Canavan and Stephen Lawn went on to lead the county to All-Ireland glory for the first time just seven years later, and Tyrone’s curve has remained consistently high in the All-Ireland stakes during the subsequent decades.

“Five or six teams in Ulster had the same level of confidence at that time, as evidenced by the Sam Maguire success in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. They all thought if they could win Ulster then they would have a realistic chance of winning the All-Ireland and there was a real high,” he added.

“Probably at that stage we maybe under-estimated how good a Down team that was. A similar team with another few players came in for them. It was a tough competition to win at that time.”

Success on that memorable day in 1994 provided Tyrone with a key impetus in their march to glory. Hopes will be high that a similar result this Sunday will also provide the prelude to greater things ahead in 2024.