Kieran McGeeney had been waiting for this for over 15 years. He has always held himself accountable during press conferences following painful losses, never shying away from the disappointment. Post-match press briefings often found him at the centre of attention.
After a thrilling victory over well-loved football team, Kerry on the previous Saturday evening, he appeared almost as worn out as he would have in a loss, but managed to maintain a certain Kipling-like disposition.
“It’s not often we reach the finals, so this is a significant accomplishment. The game was full of errors with both teams missing scoring opportunities. It was an unpredictable match, unfolding quite differently than expected, but every match unfolds in its unique way, and this was just one such scenario,” McGeeney summarised.
Armagh was possibly fortunate to weather a lacklustre first half. Following the break, when Tom O’Sullivan missed a clear shot at the goal set up well by Seán O’Shea and then a goal was swiftly scored by Paul Murphy, giving a five-point lead, it seemed Armagh’s challenge was over.
They miraculously managed to reclaim their position in the match and tip the scoreboard in their favour towards the end of the regular time, which was quite a comeback. However, the inability to secure the win against Kerry at the right time must have brought back memories of their unfortunate exits from two championships in two years following losses at penalty shoot-outs.
“The team displayed tremendous tenacity,” McGeeney noted. “We felt we shouldn’t have been lagging. We conceded a soft goal, although they might say the same about the goal we secured. It was a result of a bounce and a fist in.
“They’ve proved their grit and resilience time and again, constantly pushing all teams to the edge. On several occasions, they just fell short of crossing the finish line. As we neared the end of extra time, we were all nervously wondering, ‘Gosh! Is this heading towards penalties again?’ But the lads, particularly Ross and Turbo, made a commendable attempt to win the game, and that’s something to feel incredibly proud of,” McGeeney added.
Barry McCambridge’s decisive goal in the 55th minute of the All-Ireland semi-final was a game-changer. Apart from his stellar performance, McCambridge also successfully marked David Clifford for the evening. This occurred after Rian O’Neill’s high ball was mishandled by Kerry’s goalie, Shane Ryan.
The match was intense, with a mere one point difference as the score stood at 1-12 to 1-11.
The turnaround that this crucial goal brought to the game didn’t go unnoticed by a disappointed Jack O’Connor. He and his team were pinned as the tipped favourites for winning back the Sam Maguire following a two year drought. He admitted that the goal we let through was lethal as it fostered incredible support from the Armagh crowd.
“We managed to control the crowd for most of the match, but this goal tipped the scales in favour of Armagh, and resisting that push was difficult. Our attempt to catch up in regular play showed our tremendous tenacity. However, it was a bitter pill to swallow, as we had ample opportunities to secure a win. The roar from the Armagh supporters was an indomitable force that further fuelled Armagh’s zeal”, said a disheartened O’Connor, hoping to see out the third year of his managerial role in 2025.
Coach McGeeney agreed on the crowd’s impact, appreciating the outstanding support from the ‘orange and white’. He fondly shared anecdotes about his coach, Kieran Donaghy, who had previously been a valuable player for Kerry and won All-Irelands. Despite being a challenging experience, the contributions from Donaghy helped our team grow, and we surely hope we have added to his experiences too, he concluded.
As Armagh gears up for their first All-Ireland final in over two decades, a time when McGeeney held court as captain, he shows no sign of concern for the potential fan frenzy that is likely to emerge in the county during the next two weeks. Keeping an unaffected stance, McGeeney said, “I have no influence on external events, but I can handle the training.”
Through the years, the team had been cautioned about the media buzz – a scenario undoubtedly enjoyed by the county. McGeeney added, “The last thing you need is to become unpopular in Armagh for telling the fans not to indulge in a bit of drinking tonight. That’s something I’d rather avoid.”
“Things are somewhat more manageable now”, McGeeney observed frankly. “Looking at the fortnight gap before the match, there used to be a buffer of 4 or 5 weeks. Veterans are aware that post recovery the morning after, they ought to get back on the pitch by Tuesday given the upcoming game. A maximum of six sessions would suffice for them to get match-ready.”
It’s anticipated that the coming two weeks will be the most jovial period of McGeeney’s extended term.