Armagh's Paddy Burns celebrates at Croke Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
Paddy Burns and Armagh kept persevering.
So, when referee Sean Hurson's final whistle blasted at Croke Park on Sunday, Armagh were perched on the summit of the Gaelic Football world again.
A second ever All-Ireland title was secured. Burns has spent most of the past decade working under Kieran McGeeney, hoping that Armagh could deliver on the grand stage at GAA headquarters. "Immense, I was chatting to Ciarán McKinney, the goalkeeping coach, he was asking how long have I been here, it is eight or nine years at this stage, since I first joined the squad," Burns says.
"You start to wonder if you're ever going to get this day, with the Ulster final losses and penalty defeats. What a feeling."
Armagh's passion and purpose was rewarded. "It has been said about us a lot, that we are a resilient bunch," Burns reflects.
"We keep coming back. In the changing room Kieran said it, how resilient we are, that he'd love to have the resilience we have as a group. It is one of the things he mentioned in the dressing room."
Friendships have been formed, bonds forged. "It's not just about football, we've went through weddings together, births of children, but also funerals, and losing people," Burns adds.
"Everyone just comes back and comes together and works for each other and looks after each other.
“It’s not just about football”
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 28, 2024
Paddy Burns speaks to https://t.co/gvXdqgP24y upon becoming an All-Ireland Champion! 💬 pic.twitter.com/aYcnQGfseD
"We have that bond, just to get over the line, to do something as a group. I feel like we really deserve it, I'm just chuffed for all of the boys, that we did."
It was a special day for the Silverbridge club too. Burns' cousin Jarly Óg was also involved in the triumph. That connection between club, county, and supporters matters deeply. "For everybody involved, the Armagh fans are probably known for their noise," Burns says.
"We were Division Three when I joined, we went up and down a couple of times, Two to Three, and we got up to One, but the whole time we've always had a big fan group following us.
"We've families behind us that are sacrificing a lot to let us do what we do. We put in a lot of time to this.
"For all of them, as well as for us, it is such a momentous moment, to get over the line, to give them all back something for what they've done for us."
Did Burns always believe that winning an All-Ireland was possible? "I'd like to stand here and tell you, 'Yeah, I did', but I definitely had doubts at times, particularly those final losses on penalties," Burns replies.
"Those doubts, if you're a top level athlete, you've to find a way to put them to one side, to renew that belief. So, did I always have belief? No, there were times after close defeats where I thought this might never happen, but it always came back.
"That is what the group was there for - that resilient group helps each other along. Then, we always did think we could get there eventually, once we got going again."