Football

Armagh fans share their memories of years gone by ahead of All-Ireland final

Armagh fans have been submitting their pictures, videos and stories of times gone by and their excitement ahead of another chance at glory in Croke Park

A family photo of the Loughran family from Co Armagh standing in Armagh jerseys and holding orange and white checkered flags
The Loughran family ahead of the final in 2002, a family reunion is set for this year's appearance
By Liam Grimley

When they run out onto the pitch, 21 years, 10 months and seven days will have lapsed since Armagh’s last taste of All-Ireland glory in 2002, when Kieran McGeeney raised the Sam Maguire aloft in front of a sea of orange.

Nearly every townland and hamlet in the county stopped, if just for a moment, to let the moment soak in and savour the feeling of being the number one footballing county in Ireland.

That day lives on in the memories of those who were there and who lived the dream that was sweeter than the apples from the Orchard County.

Although just over 262 months will have gone by, those memories will have been reawakened more and more as we edge closer and closer to the All-Ireland football final on Sunday.

Armagh captain Kieran McGeeney is carried shoulder-high off the Croke Park pitch after the All-Ireland final win over Kerry in 2002, an era when fans knew more about players and any little bit of needle between teams was public knowledge. Picture: Ann McManus
Armagh captain Kieran McGeeney is carried shoulder-high off the Croke Park pitch after the All-Ireland final win over Kerry in 2002, an era when fans knew more about players and any little bit of needle between teams was public knowledge. Picture: Ann McManus (SYSTEM)

Similar scenes have been seen up and down the country in the lead-up to this year’s showpiece, including the same farmer painting his sheep in the famous orange and white.

We asked Armagh fans to send in their memories and they delivered, here are a few of the best we received:

A family photo of the Loughran family from Co Armagh standing in Armagh jerseys and holding orange and white checkered flags
The Loughran family ahead of the final in 2002, a family reunion is set for this year's appearance

Grainne Loughran sent in this photo of her family, which was taken in 2002, and she is looking forward to a family reunion ahead of this Sunday’s final.

Armagh fan Grainne Loughran smiling at the camera whilst Armagh goalkeeper Bernei Tierney signs the back of her Armagh jersey
Armagh fan Grainne Loughran getting her jersey signed by 2002 Armagh goalkeeper Bernie Tierney

“I’ve travelled back from Canada for the semi-final and my brother came from Singapore and my sister is joining us for the All-Ireland Final, flying in from Toronto on Saturday for the weekend,” she said.

Donna Curran, her father Peter Donnelly and her husband Toby Curran. The man smiling across from them is Shay Kelly.
Donna Curran (orange wig), her father Peter Donnelly (white hair in the back) and her husband Toby Curran, who sprayed his hair orange head, and Shay Kelly (shaved head) in Croke Park for the final in 2002

Donna, who lived in Moy, Co Tyrone, in 2002, remembers that day very clearly and the buzz that spread through the entire county leading up to the final.

“The atmosphere in Armagh and at Croke Park was electric, Armagh had played in 1953, and 1977 and expectations were high on Armagh winning in 2002,” she said.

“Fans had gone that extra mile with decorations throughout Armagh and where I lived at the time, in Moy.

“Faces were painted and hair sprayed on the day. Traffic home from the match was mad and we did not get back to Armagh until midnight.

“We were stewards at the homecoming in Crossmaglen, where crowds had gathered to cheer on the Armagh heroes. Hopes are high again, here’s hoping for another victory.”

Aimee Duffy, Catriona Duffy, Séanna Duffy, Oisin Duffy and Sinead Duffy wearing Armagh jerseys cheering
Aimee Duffy, Catriona Duffy, Séanna Duffy, Oisin Duffy and Sinead Duffy before the 2002 All-Ireland final

Aimee Duffy has been a fan of Armagh from early in her life, pictured above with her siblings ahead of the 2002 All-Ireland SFC final against Kerry.

She said: “Unfortunately, like today, we didn’t get tickets for the final. We all went into town to watch the match.

“We were at the quarters and the semis that year but I was only 8 at the time and remember being devastated not to be at the final.

“I’m not at the final this year as I couldn’t get enough tickets for me and all my kids but like in 2002 the buzz around the town then and now is amazing.”

Children standing outside a house dressed in Armagh jerseys and Clann Eireann jerseys, with bunting and flags on the house behind them
Rossa Reynolds, Ríogan Reynolds, Séanna Reynolds, Blake Harvey from Ennis Green in Lurgan standing outside a house, which has been decorated ahead of this Sunday's final

Now, with a family of her own, she still follows the orange and white, attending a lot of Armagh games.

“This year, me and the child went to most of the league games and the McKenna Cup back in January and the quarter and the semi-finals of all the Ulster games also,” she said.

“I would say, easily, over the last two seasons before the same all the League, McKenna Cup, etc. 30+ [games] in the last few years.

“Since I’ve been a child, God I couldn’t even count, my daddy used to take us to them all every year, it was great.”

Ciara McGill and children Erin and Ceola McGill standing in their garden surrounded by Armagh decorations, including a poster of Kieran McGeeney dressed as a character from Game of Thrones with the caption 'King in the North;
There is a special nod to Kieran McGeeney and the impact he has had on the Armagh team's fortunes at the McGill household

Ciara McGill and her family have gone all out this year in decorating ahead of this year’s All-Ireland football final.

“People have been stopping outside our house to get pictures of our display,” she said.

“The kids are really enjoying the hype and running in to tell us when a car has stopped and are saying, “They must be ‘Up Armagh’ too.”

Ciara’s husband is from Donegal and the kids trying their best to get him to wear an Armagh jersey, but no luck yet.

Janet Small hugging a young Kieran McGeeney, both smiling
Janet Small couldn't contain her delight when Kieran McGeeney visited her primary school after the 2002 All-Ireland SFC win

Lastly, our colleague Annette McManus sent a photo of her sister, Janet Small, when then Armagh captain Kieran McGeeney went to her primary school, St Malachy’s in Camlough, after the All Ireland in 2002.