JUSTIN McNulty says Armagh officials showed ‘boldness and bravery’ when they backed their clubs and kept Kieran McGeeney in charge for 2024.
That decision, taken last August after a vote of clubs, has clearly paid off with Armagh now on the brink of All-Ireland success and 2002 medallist McNulty reckons those who criticised ‘Geezer’ should consider building him a statue.
Current Laois manager McNulty, who had a brief spell as one of McGeeney’s selectors, paid a rich tribute to the “ultimate competitor” whom he first encountered when growing up together in Mullaghbawn.
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Newry-Armagh MLA McNulty was keen to highlight how democracy had paid off with the decision to respect the 46-16 vote in favour of keeping McGeeney.
“I think the county board needs to take a degree of credit for having that boldness and bravery to trust their clubs,” said McNulty.
“And the clubs themselves deserve a huge amount of credit, even though there was acrimony within clubs and some of them said ‘no’. The majority of them said ‘yes’ and I think well done to the clubs.”
McNulty declined to hit out at those who felt McGeeney should have been removed last year, following nine seasons, but he did suggest that they should be grateful for the services of a born winner.
“‘Geezer’ is a good friend of mine and I’m honoured to call him my friend, he’s also a club-mate of mine,” said McNulty.
“I remember him making his senior debut in Knockbridge in county Louth on a sunny Sunday morning. He was a 14-year-old playing for Mullaghbawn seniors when I was U12.
“There was an U12 game against Knockbridge and that was followed by a senior game against Knockbridge, where ‘Geezer’ made his debut as a 14-year-old, with my dad as the coach/manager.
“I remember also in the All-Ireland minor final in 1992, when we were narrowly beaten by Meath. We went back to the Regency Hotel, devastated, for the post-match banquet.
“There was a senior player who came to the hotel to talk to us, to call us into a room and talk to a number of the minors and say ‘this can be a springboard for success at senior level. We know you’re devastated by this but it can be a springboard’.
“The senior player who came to talk to us was a 21-year-old Kieran McGeeney. For ‘Geezer’ to show that leadership at that stage of his life was extraordinary and shows the competitor that he is. That’s probably not really fully recognised, the extent to which ‘Geezer’ is a competitor – he is the ultimate competitor.
“Those who were detractors for him, I would say you should be putting your energy into building a statue to Kieran McGeeney because he’s so important to Armagh GAA. He has made such an impact on Armagh GAA over so many years.”
When McGeeney captained Armagh to the All-Ireland title in 2002 he was one of four Mullaghbawn men on the team along with goalkeeper Benny Tierney and the McNulty brothers, Justin and Enda.
“There is no doubt, as a young Mullaghbawn player he shaped me,” said McNulty.
“One of my earliest football memories is being on a minibus on the side of the Mullaghbawn field and Tony Grant, God rest him, and ‘Geezer’ falling out over some issue around performance. And ‘Geezer’ crying such was the level of discussion around it as a young 13 or 14-year-old.
“All through school, all through college, all through my formative years in football, ‘Geezer’ was there in the background, encouraging, supporting.
“The first four men in the [All-Ireland final] parade in 2002 were Mullaghbawn men, which is maybe not recognised. For a small, rural club it’s unbelievable.”
