Championship Talking Points: Has Gallagher’s Derry won the last ‘real’ Ulster final?

A weekend of provincial football finals produced a lot more talking points that excitement - with apologies to Sunday's deciders. Here's the conversation openers for the Monday morning water cooler.

29 May 2022; Derry manager Rory Gallagher celebrates a late point during the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship Final between Derry and Donegal at St Tiernach's Park in Clones, Monaghan. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

FOR the years 2000, 2001 and 2002, Rory Gallagher was the leading scorer in the Ulster Championship. Not only was that some feat in playing for Fermanagh, but it was in the era of Oisin McConville, Stephen McDonnell, Peter Canavan and others.

What came next was fairly odd, in Gaelic football terms. He dropped off the panel and left the reservation. In 2005 he popped up with a goal against Armagh in the Ulster preliminary round and promptly left again, only returning for the 2010 season before he bowed out of playing.