By Shaun Casey

FROM a playing perspective, Kieran McGeeney knows all about the big day and what to expect. He lined out as Armagh captain in two All-Ireland finals, 2002 and 2003, winning one and losing one, so he’ll have plenty of wisdom to pass onto his players.

Drawing on that experience could help a number of players in the changing room, but ‘Geezer’ doesn’t think that everyone will benefit from it. Everyone has their own way of getting up for a game and dealing with the emotion and pressure that comes with that.

Armagh are preparing for their fifth ever All-Ireland final appearance and their first since 2003. Apart from the likes of Rory Grugan and Andrew Murnin, who won an All-Ireland minor title in 2009, none of the players have ever experienced an All-Ireland final.

Kieran Donaghy is another man who has seen it all, and he can offer his expertise as well.

“We’re preparing for an occasion, but everyone has their own way,” said Armagh’s only All-Ireland winning captain McGeeney.

“Your own personality comes out whether in the way you play or the way you talk or whatever else. We have a good backroom team with ‘KD’ (Kieran Donaghy) and Conleith (Gilligan), (Ciaran) McKeever, Dennis (Hollywood) and Julie (Davis).

“We have six or seven different people that cover all aspects of that. You want the players to enjoy it, but you also have to remind them that there’s a game to be played, the occasion is for the supporters and unfortunately, the players are not going to be part of that.

“I don’t think there’s a right or a wrong answer, I do think it’s about us shutting out the noise. You can enjoy what’s inward too, it’s not about trying to make it too serious, it’s good craic at training, there’s lots of banter at it too, it’s not all serious.

“You can play the occasion within the training walls, but you do have to try and shut out the noise. We do all have experience of that, but the boys are mature.”

Galway stand in Armagh’s way of getting their hands on the Sam Maguire Cup for the second time in their history and the Tribesmen are hoping to end their own long wait for an All-Ireland title.

Sam hasn’t visited out west since 2001, when the men in maroon last won the All-Ireland under the stewardship of the late John O’Mahony, adding to their All-Ireland title from 1998.

Current Galway boss Pádraic Joyce was the star of the show for that team, kicking 0-10 in the decider against Meath, and he is someone that McGeeney crossed paths with during his playing days.

“I know (Padraic) Joyce a long, long time, I have played with him and against him,” added McGeeney, now in his tenth season in charge of the Orchard County.

“I have had loads of chats with him over the years, especially this year.

“The Galway team are big and strong, they are very aggressive in the tackle, probably one of the best defensive teams in the four leagues, throughout the last couple of years.

“He has been able to sustain that consistency over the last three years, and this is their second All-Ireland final (in three years). I know what we are coming up against, a highly professional, organised, big team. So, we are going to have to be at our very best to do anything.”