Armagh isn’t unfamiliar with conversations surrounding performances like this. Echoing the performances of Galway in 2022, Derry and Monaghan in 2023, Donegal in 2024 comes to mind. They proved competent enough to clinch this Ulster final and put an end to a period extending since 2008. However, they couldn’t quite pull it off.
Quickly inferring outcomes based on the narrow difference between triumph and defeat has always been an imbecile’s task for Kieran McGeeney. In the 53rd minute of regular play, Armagh led by four points, poised to seize the day. Until the extra-time’s seventh minute, they couldn’t net another score. This rather than the penalty shoot-out was the point where their Ulster title slipped from their grasp.
Talking about the team’s performance, McGeeney shared, “Both teams demonstrated exceptional standards, remarkable speed and strong tackles. It’s about a lucky break, a stumble, or a mistake. When you’re defeated, you’re made a fool of, it’s simply the norm,”.
“With winning comes the element of regularity. But it’s challenging and tedious, and I guess someone has to fail. I was never particularly a penalty shooter, it’s just a part of the game. You take a chance and sometimes, like in Shane [McPartlan]’s case, who’s likely the team’s best penalty shooter, you’re surprised,” he added.
“After repeatedly experiencing loss, particularly in substantial games where we’ve been at the disadvantage, it’s tough, there’s no sugar-coating that. But there’s little we can do.”
Having borne witness to such circumstances repetitively, McGeeney comprehends the drill now. Unless Armagh manages to pull off a significant game, they’ll continue to be everyone’s scapegoat. Drawing so close in these monumental matches positively reflects on their organisation – their scoring capabilities were exceptional at times, their defensive strategy ensured Donegal didn’t have a single shot at goal across nearly 100 minutes of the match. However, as the saying goes, you remain who you are until you transform yourself.
“You can only work with what’s thrown at you,” was the sentiment expressed by McGeeney. “There’s no point in stressing over the narrative that surrounds the game. Whether you win by a point or in a penalty shoot-out, you’ll face critique – that was our experience with Derry last year. But yet, this is the nature of sport. It’s the excitement and tension that makes it compelling. Over time, that becomes familiar terrain.”
Former manager Jim McGuinness, also reminisces about these experiences. He celebrates his fourth Ulster title as the leader of Donegal. Since 2011, he has guided them through 17 Ulster Championship matches, with only one defeat in the 2013 final against Monaghan. A return to Donegal hadn’t always been in his plans, however, it was never fully out of the picture either.
“I had been pursuing a different path,” explained McGuinness. “I had left behind something I had invested significantly in, with the hope to revisit it.” That’s exactly what he did. The pulsating St Tiernach’s Park, the high stakes, the anticipation of the decisive penalty shoot-out, this was the thrill he had craved.
“We emerged victorious,” he said, recounting their recent triumph. “Before the penalties, Kieran and I exchanged a few words – what can you do at the point? You just have to accept whatever unfolds. Our real achievement was in rallying from four points down during a critical match. To have repeated such comeback, especially, the latest feat against Tyrone where they overcame a three-point deficit in the second half; it’s these moments that count. They felt enormous at the time, yet we overcame.”
Indeed, the task was far from simple. We engaged in a contest against Armagh on their turf, demonstrating our resilience in a comparable scenario. A tremendous score was accomplished by Rian O’Neill, to which we counteracted effectively. This was reflected in the league final and during our match against Tyrone. We’ve adopted a knack for resilience, maintaining composure, and sticking to the game while fostering faith. This quality was particularly evident when we overcame a four-point shortfall.
The ambiance was such that the Armagh supporters believed that the pivotal moment had surfaced. This feeling had been instigated amongst the Armagh team as well. Even though these notions hold no empirical value, their role is palpable – indeed, it’s of considerable magnitude.