THERE was good news for Armagh fans as talismanic forward Stefan Campbell confirmed that he would be returning for the Orchard county’s defence of the Sam Maguire next year.
Campbell, who was instrumental in Armagh’s success last season after a series of game-changing contributions off the bench, had questioned the time commitments required for inter-county football. However, after reflection the Clan na Gael star will return for his 15th season in the orange jersey.
‘Soupy’ wasn’t a starter in the latter part of the Armagh campaign but he developed into a deadly finisher who gave his team-mates a visible injection of confidence when he emerged at half-time or early in the second half. Two-point hauls against Roscommon and Kerry inspired Armagh to the All-Ireland final and Campbell’s inch-perfect pass to Aaron McKay set up the game-winning goal in the decider as Kieran McGeeney’s men beat Galway.
This year’s success was built on solid foundations. Armagh reached an All-Ireland quarter-final in 2022, bowing out after a penalty shootout against Galway. Penalties proved their undoing in the Ulster final and another All-Ireland quarter-final against Monaghan in 2023 and then again against Donegal in last season’s Ulster final.
The Orchardmen recovered their poise through the Sam Maguire group stage before beating Roscommon and Donaghy’s native Kerry to reach the final against Galway which they won by a point.
Armagh’s only previous All-Ireland title came in 2002 and they reached the final again the following year only to lose a tense and physical struggle in which Diarmaid Marsden was sent off to arch-rivals Tyrone. The obvious target for the Orchardmen next season is to surpass the achievements of Joe Kernan’s side and retain their hard-earned silverware.
