The team needs support, not negativity in 2024 says Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney

​​Armagh Senior football manager Kieran McGeeney has called on fans to get behind the team ahead of the 2024 season.

Armagh suffered relegation from Division 1 and lost penalty shootouts in the Ulster final (versus Derry) and the All-Ireland quarter-final (versus Monaghan). This led to some within the county calling for a change in management, but McGeeney’s position was re-affirmed when club delegates voted 46 to 16 in favour of keeping him in charge.

As he embarks on his tenth year as manager, McGeeney says he enjoys the football aspect of management but not the other elements that come with the role.

“Football is the easy part, believe it or not,” he said.

“It's the other stuff that's hard to deal with. I love the GAA, I love being involved and I love my own county. It has been a part of who I am for a long, long time, but no matter what you do, or how many steps you push them forward, there are always people out there who do very little, who will push them back.

“I have a lot of great people around me too, but I just wish for all of the people who make the noise, to step up and support the team, because they are a great bunch of lads and if everybody got behind them, you never know what might happen. What happened last time we won an All-Ireland? Instead of people giving out, they got behind the team and supported them.”

Armagh have been dining at the top table in recent years, as they played Division 1 football for three straight seasons, and reached two All-Ireland quarter-finals and an Ulster final. However, with that relative success has come increased expectation and McGeeney believes that some of the criticism his team has come in for – for not achieving more in recent years - is unwarranted, as the team have been unlucky.

“Sometimes in Armagh, our expectations are higher than maybe they should be,” said McGeeney.

“But the group of fellas that we have had over the last number of years have been there or thereabouts at the top table, and despite what people think, that has been a great step up for them. It has been a thin line that has separated them (from further success). We all want to get over that, but it is going to take an extra special effort. So, hopefully they will have it in them this year to do that.”

McGeeney was speaking to the media following Saturday evening’s charity match between the Armagh GAA Club All Stars and County Future Stars at The BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, an exhibition match which raised money for the Southern Area Hospice.

The game also provided a chance for some of the fringe players to stake their claim at getting a place on the county panel with the Dr McKenna Cup just around the corner, and McGeeney spoke about some of the players who impressed.

“There were a good few players who we were happy with,” he said.

“James [McCormack] was at the end of a lot of moves; I thought Sean [McCarthy] at full back was very good, and he has been very good in trials in fairness. I thought Paddy Carr really tried hard and put his hand up too. Mickey McConville had a good game. Conor Magennis tried really hard I thought, when you're playing in defence and you have numbers coming at you is tough, but he never stopped and he never gave up.”

Furthermore, the night was poignant as Niall Grimley captain the Club All Stars team.

Niall’s brother Paddy was an integral part of Armagh GAA in his role as Madden GAA Secretary and as a Armagh TV Commentator, before his tragic passing in early November. Paddy was part of the panel who picked the 15 players who were selected as Armagh Club All Stars shortly before his death.

“It was a poignant moment, because Paddy Grimley's last involvement in the GAA was to pick the All Stars,” said McGeeney.

“So, I thought it was a nice touch to see Niall captaining his side. It's one of those things that puts everything back into perspective for you. Madden is a great club which has done a lot of great stuff. It has been a very bad period of time for them over the last few weeks, but that was a positive out of tonight.”