Barry McCambridge’s priceless contributions to Armagh’s All-Ireland-winning season has been recognised with him being named Men’s Football Player of the Year at the Irish News Ulster All-Star awards on Friday night.
He received the award from former Celtic and Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill at the ceremony in the ICC Belfast.
The Clann Eireann man has shown this year the difference that a solid and dependable backline can make to a team.
Armagh’s speed and counter-attacking style were a key feature of their Sam Maguire-winning season, and McCambridge played a big part of that too.
His work-rate, marking ability, and ability to pop up with a score at a crucial stage of the game left ever other team they came up against in the Orchardmen’s wake.
The season featured early disappointment for Armagh, losing out on the Division Two and the Ulster Championship titles to Jim McGuinness’ revived Donegal.
However, when it came to the All-Ireland series, the season came to life for the Orchard county and McCambridge.
His influence really came to light in the latter half of the year, starting with the shock thumping of Derry and his silencing of their star forward, Shane McGuigan.
After that, David Clifford and Shane Walsh (twice) tried to get the better of the Lurgan man but came up short as McCambridge churned out a run of top-tier performances for Armagh.
McCambridge’s most memorable moment of the season would have to be the goal that he scored against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final which sent the largely orange crowd in Croke Park into delirium.
The All-Ireland final showcased McCambridge’s marking ability yet again with Shane Walsh blunted and McCambridge and co managing to mop up any threats that Galway may have posed.
A crucial cog in the well-oiled Armagh machine, engineer Kieran McGeeney probably wouldn’t mind telling you that Barry McCambridge’s performances in the backline for Armagh moved the Orchard county a lot closer to a season that fans will remember for decades to come.
