DESPITE Armagh suffering relegation on the last day of the group stages of the NFL, Kieran McGeeney heaped praise on his players for showing the “want and desire” to represent their county.
The Orchard county rounded off their Division Two campaign with a fine six-point win over Derry, but other results last Sunday conspired against them and they will be in Division Three next season. Their 17-point defeat to Cavan on March 5 did irreparable harm to their scoring average that effectively relegated them.
Nevertheless, McGeeney has seen enough positives in the latter stages of Armagh’s NFL campaign to be encouraged ahead of the Championship: “They are a better team now than they showed at the beginning of the year,” said ‘Geezer', now in his second year as manager.
“I have to take part of the blame for that. It’s about getting the right balance and getting the right things in place. Maybe the Cavan defeat could be a blessing in disguise going forward. But I really believe when you’ve players that want to play for their county, you have a real chance of success, you have a real chance of building something. That’s how success was built in Armagh before."
He added: “In our history, we had six Ulster titles in over 110 years and a group of fellas got together who just weren’t happy and we had a good manager in Brian McAlinden to push us on.
“It took him five or six years to get us over the line and we won back-to-back titles, then Joe [Kernan] and Paul [Grimley] came in and we won another five Ulster titles and a couple of national titles.
“They were a group of fellas who loved their county... They never would have forsaken their club, but they always put their county first when it was on the line. That was the big thing and it paved the way for victory. It’s the same in other counties - Dublin or Kerry - that’s what paves the way to victory. A desire to represent and be proud of your county.”
McGeeney admitted “coming home” after six years managing the Kildare senior footballers had been “tough": “You get your knockers, people who thought were your friend.
"But I’ve loved Armagh since I was a kid, I’ve always been drawn towards the county jersey and I’ve made no apologies for it. And if I can transfer my want and desire into this group of fellas - even if we don’t get across the line - I’ll have done my job.”
Stefan Campbell, Rory Grugan, Shea Heffron, Ciaron O’Hanlon, Ethan Rafferty, Gavin McParland and Micael McKenna are among the current squad who have flourished under McGeeney’s watch.
But the 2002 All-Ireland winner had a word of special praise for veteran defender Andy Mallon following last weekend's win over Derry: "I thought Andy was superb," said Geezer.
"Andy still thinks this might be his last year, but I’ll have an argument over that and then you’ve Joe McElroy beside him and showing the same sort of legs. Rory Grugan was excellent. And the likes of Tony Kernan and Kevin Dyas will add quality [come Championship]."
