A selection of some of the upsets experienced in 2014...

1. All-Ireland SFC semi-final
Donegal 3-14 Dublin 0-17

Has to be top of the pops. Not that we doubted Donegal's ability. But at this stage Jim Gavin's team were deemed invincible. A great day for the men from the North West as the U-18's had already beaten the Dubs in their semi-final. A minor upset itself in ways.

 

2. All-Ireland SHC Qualifiers Round 1 replay
Wexford 2-25 Clare 2-22 AET

A big scalp for the Yellow Bellies. Clare were the reigning All-Ireland champions and most felt Wexford had missed their chance, not alone in Ennis but during normal time of the replay.

 

3. Connacht U21FC semi-final
Leitrim 0-9 Galway 0-8

Leitrim edged out All-Ireland champions Galway for their first victory in the competition since 1998 in March. Pairc Sean MacDiarmada simply went mad and to show that Leitrim football was really on the up they completed a western double over the Tribesmen with the juniors winning 2-9 to 0-13 in the provincial semi-final two months later.

 

4. Ulster club SHC final
Portaferry 1-16 Cushendall 0-10

A Down team getting the better of an Antrim selection at hurling and by nearly double scores? But well done Portaferry. The first Mourne winners since Ballygalget back in 2005.

 

5. All-Ireland club IHC quarter-final
Kilburn Gaels 1-10 Mullinavat 1-8

London outfit Kilburn Gaels getting the measure of Leinster winners Mullinavat in early December. Kilkenny clubs surely don't lose to English teams! But the London champions were worthy winners at Ruislip.

 

6. All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 1A
Longford 2-16 Derry 2-14

Longford going to Celtic Park and teaching the locals a wee bit of a football lesson. After all this was the 2014 FL Division 1 finalists on home soil against a team who will operate in Division 4 during the coming months.

 

7. Leinster MHC quarter-final
Dublin 2-8 Kilkenny 0-3

The Dublin minor hurlers limiting future provincial and All-Ireland champions Kilkenny to a meagre 3-points. Later on Wexford also went to Nowlan Park and hammered the locals 2-14 to 0-10 in the U21 grade. Kilkenny hurling was in a state of crisis! But we should have known better.

 

8. Ulster club SFC quarter-final
Omagh 2-8 Crossmaglen 1-9

Omagh pulled off a famous victory over perennial kingpins Crossmaglen in November. St Enda's had not won the Tyrone SFC since 1988 while Cross' had proved masters of Ulster on no less than 10 occasions.

 

9. Christy Ring Cup final
Kildare 4-18 Kerry 2-22

Kildare were crowned Christy Ring Cup champions for the first time in June after taking out Kerry at Croke Park. Having already beaten the Lilywhites 3-18 to 1-16 the previous month, the Kingdom were 1/10 to add to their HL Division 2A silverware.

 

10. Derry SFC final
Slaughneil 1-8 Ballinderry 0-9

Back to Derry as Slaughtneil beat Ballinderry in the Oak Leaf senior decider. The future Ulster champions, who would have thought so at the start of the Derry campaign, had only got their hands on the trophy once before while the Tyrone border outfit were going for the four-in-a-row.

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