When Richard Carey climbed the steps in Celtic Park five years ago, it was the culmination of an incredible rise. From a junior final in 2000, via an All-Ireland intermediate final in 2007, an unfashionable group of players wrote one of the great pieces of history in Derry’s annals.

The Siege of Ennis is set to replace the polka as a band from Co Cork prepares to encourage Russians to wet the shamrock.

There was county football final action in Donegal, Derry, Fermanagh, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow and London today, while Kilmallock claimed the lone Senior Hurling championship title on offer.