The road to Croke Park will be paved orange later this month as tens of thousands of Armagh fans make their first trip to the All-Ireland final in more than two decades.
The orchard county is preparing for its largest exodus in many years when they face Galway on Sunday July 28- possibly even greater than the huge crowds that attended Saturday’s semi-final triumph over perennial champions Kerry.
Armagh followers massively outnumbered their counterparts from the Kingdom in the Croke Park crowd of more than 55,000 on Saturday evening.
Life long fan Peter McVerry told The Irish News it felt like Armagh had three or four times as many supporters there as Kerry.
“There’s no doubt that enthusiastic and vocal support for the team helped them in key moments,” he said.
“When the music came on afterwards, especially Freed from Desire, the Armagh fans were in full voice and it was very emotional.
“I was lucky enough to be in Croke Park in 2002 when Geezer lifted our only All-Ireland. With the support Armagh have it will be a real scramble for tickets but who wouldn’t want to be there to see us pick up just our second Sam Maguire in 140 years.”
There were heavy delays at the M1 toll as thousands of fans made their way home after the win.
Videos shared on social media showed fans in jubilant mood, waving orange and white flags as they waited in the tailback.
The Toll on the M1 🟠⚪️ pic.twitter.com/cd1wUnGjyo
— Shea McSorley (@sheamcsorley98) July 13, 2024
Armagh fan Dearbhla Cox told The Irish News: “For as long as i can remember, Armagh has always brought an incredible crowd. It was hard to believe there was anyone left in Armagh but there seemed to be an incredible atmosphere in the town too. Croke Park was a sea of orange and two weeks time will be no different.”
It is a peek of what’s to come with an even greater crowd anticipated for the final.
The scramble for final tickets is now underway with some concerns they may be harder to obtain than the semi-final.
Founder of the social media page Armagh fans 1889, Paul Kelly from Portadown told The Irish News it’s just an unbelievable feeling.
“We have travelled the length and breadth of the country following them, seen us lose finals and quarter finals on penalties, but we always believed this squad had it in them, the management deserve massive credit as well,” he said.
“For the fans, it’s an expensive hobby following the team around the country, but it’s worth it having reached the final. We have to go and win it now.
“We will travel in numbers again in two weeks time and get right behind the lads from the very first whistle.”
