Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney celebrating at Croke Park. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
Kieran McGeeney praised Armagh's resilience following Sunday's All-Ireland SFC Final win over Galway at Croke Park.
In recent years Armagh have suffered narrow Championship defeats, including four penalty shootout losses. “You know, it feels quiet," was McGeeney's immediate reaction. "It’s like wearing a pair of ear muffs for a change, quietens all the noise.
“To be honest, I’m just delighted for these boys. Back when we were playing, we got a couple of carrots to keep us going. Ulster championship.
"We had a couple of knockbacks, but these fellas have got knockback after knockback after knockback, and they just keep coming. Penalty shootouts, everybody telling them they can’t win tight games, can’t beat teams above them - gave them a perfect answer. All-Ireland champions 2024.
"Delighted for them, absolutely over the moon. I couldn’t be any happier for them now, a great bunch of fellas. But to do what they’ve done over the last four or five years has been outstanding, to come back and win that one today.”
Armagh senior football team manager Kieran McGeeney. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
McGeeney also spoke abou winning an All-Ireland as a manager compared to a player, which he famously achieved back in 2002. “Listen, when you play, you actually have an influence on it," McGeeney says. "You don’t when you don’t cross the white line. All the stuff is done before.
“I probably wasn’t such a happy fella back then. So, I probably feel happier no.
“No, I’m going to enjoy this one, I’m going to enjoy this week. I really am. I’m over the moon for these fellas, I hope they have a ball this week, because the county has gone mad and I’ve been trying to keep them away from it. So, I’ll let them loose on it this week."
McGeeney's passion and perseverance as Armagh manager was rewarded. "I suppose time is a commodity not afforded to most people these days, and I’m lucky with these lads here," he reflected. "I’d ask them every year – or every week – whether they still wanted me about. They tell me a few different things.
“But in the whole, they did. And once Armagh wanted me about, that was an easy choice. I know what it takes in a small county and a small club to try to win something. It takes a while; it takes a lot of people."
