Former team player and captain, Kieran McGeeney, now turned manager, stood amidst the golden confetti littering the ground for a while, his squad on the Hogan Stand above him. He took in the speech by his current captain, Aidan Forker, which echoed through the stadium. This same speech was being hungrily absorbed by his supporters, dressed in tangerine, who remained to savour the moment, not wanting the experience to end too quickly.
Gradually, McGeeney was no longer alone. Recognising his solitude, the Armagh backroom staff – who he views as equally important as the management and players – approached him. They playfully tossed the golden confetti on him before embracing him in celebration.
As someone who consistently talks about the fine margins, the thin lines, and the ‘sliding doors’ in life that separate victory and defeat, this was now McGeeney’s moment to reflect and enjoy. He understood that the speech delivered by Forker was also his own narrative; a story 10 years in the making. Forker’s words – ‘With faith, belief and hard work, anything is possible’ – rang true to him and to the assembled crowd in the VIP area of the Hogan Stand.
Later, in the press area beneath the Hogan Stand, McGeeney took centre stage himself. He spoke with humility, pride, and joy, having finally experienced victory. There was also a sense of calm, likely indicative of his inner resilience. The jubilation had quietened down, the event drew to a close.
Reflecting on the quietude, McGeeney commented, ‘It feels serene. It’s like having ear muffs on for a change, dulling all the noise.’ His journey had indeed come to a victorious end.
“I must say, I’m immensely tickled pink for the lads. During our playing days, we had but a few boosts to keep our spirits high, such as the Ulster championship. We suffered numerous setbacks, but these chaps have taken blow after blow, yet remarkably, they continue to persevere.
Much has been said about their inability to clinch tense matches or triumph over superior teams in penalty shoot-outs, but I think they’ve just given these critics a rather impressionable response by emerging as the All-Ireland champions in 2024. I’m beyond ecstatic for them as they truly are an admirable group.
Their incredible performance over the past four to five years, culminating in today’s victory, is downright commendable. When queried about my sentiment as a victor in the capacity of a player and now, a manager, here’s what I believe. As a player, you have direct control on the field, which you relinquish when you become a manager, limiting your influence to pre-match preparations. My joy today, however, seems bigger than during my playing days.
Speaking of today, the match was very characteristic of recent Armagh-Galway fixtures. Some games were neck-to-neck till the very end as they ended in draws, single-point victories, or losses. Yet, the competition was always fierce and unyielding.
In all our six matches against Galway, we had three draws and in the other three, the margin of victory was by a single point. The Galway team’s defence is formidable and successful in halting offensive runs. Anticipating a close contest, we trained our boys accordingly. Notably, during the typically robust third quarter, we managed to score our goal to keep pace in the match.
In the final quarter, our substitutes contributed significantly. Although a few wrong passes were made, owing to the pressure of unchartered territory, we rallied and managed not to self-destruct. The turning point was a remarkable tackle over on the other end by Ben Crealey that altered the landscape of the game.”
“There have been moments when we’ve been unsuccessful, but today we triumphed,” reflecting on their narrow victory. McGeeney has indeed proven his tenacity by persevering and inspiring his players to share in his unyielding beliefs.
His ambitious pursuit of the famed Holy Grail, aiming to bring the Sam Maguire back to Armagh a second time, was a long journey. McGeeney shared, “I’d always question them, whether annually or weekly, to see if they still wanted me around. They expressed various sentiments! However, overall, they did desire my presence. As long as Armagh needed me, it was a simple decision for me. I understand the efforts that a minor county and a small club must make to achieve victory. It’s a lengthy process, requiring numerous people.”
Kieran Donaghy, the esteemed Kerry legend who joined as an Armagh selector, decisively attributed much of their success to McGeeney: “It’s undoubtedly McGeeney. I don’t exaggerate. He’s a remarkable man. He has guided this team admirably, managing to keep his composure and cohesion amid personal struggles, like when people posted signs outside his home calling for his exit and all other forms of criticism,” Donaghy expressed.
Donaghy added, “After nine years and the disappointment of another penalty shoot-out against Monaghan in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final, the most straightforward thing would have been to retreat. However, McGeeney isn’t one for taking easy routes, and he expects the same resilience from his players.
“He instils the importance of maintaining a disciplined routine of gym and video workouts, leading effectively, and holding each other responsible. The lessons I’ve learnt about team culture and environment from him and how he’s nurtured this group are unparalleled.
“Many people criticised him during the year, but it’s all down to him.”
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