By Shaun Casey

ARMAGH will be without Jarly Óg Burns for the start of the National League as the Silverbridge man is set for a spell on the sidelines after the player tore his lateral meniscus in a club championship game back in September against Crossmaglen.

The All-Ireland champions take on Galway, away from home, in the opening round of their Division One campaign in a repeat of the 2024 All-Ireland final. They’ll also be on the road against Kerry and Donegal.

Kieran McGeeney’s side will host Tyrone, Dublin, Mayo and Derry in the coming weeks and months and will hope to retain their spot in the topflight, but Burns looks set to miss most of the campaign.

“I had a full tear on my lateral meniscus, it happened in the club game against Cross but I’m through the worst of it now, so I’m hopefully back running soon,” explained the versatile player.

“It’s the first major injury I’ve ever had, so it’s all new to me, all the rehab and stuff. I’ve been pretty lucky up to now, so it’s just a new dynamic and I just have to get on with it.”

Burns was part of the second ever Armagh team to bring Sam Maguire back to the Orchard County and 2024 was extra special for the Burns household, with his father Jarlath, the President of the GAA, handing over the trophy to captain Aidan Forker.

Burns had the pleasure of holding the ball when the final whistle sounded in the decider, repeating the moment experienced by McGeeney 22 years earlier, and last season will live long in the memory.

“It wasn’t something we thought of too much leading up to it, but you couldn’t write it, it was amazing,” said Burns, reflecting on his dad handing over the Sam Maguire to a fellow Armagh man.

“Not only that, but just for the whole group in general and for an Armagh man to hand it over and then also the fact of him being my father and a former player, it was a great story.

“Just the way it fell, it was pretty hectic towards the end (of the game) so I’m just glad the final whistle went. I didn’t really care who had it, but it was class. It’s still hard to believe even now, we’re All-Ireland champions. It’s great and we’ll go again.”

Burns’ injury means he’ll be playing catch up when he returns and tries to adapt to the new GAA playing rules.

“Everyone’s in the same boat, it’ll be a new sport, a different sport next year, so you have to learn very, very quickly.”

“The only way to learn is to play in it. Yes, you can watch and see as much as you can, but until you play in it and see and feel, it is the only way you get to know then.”

This week’s Gaelic Lives looks ahead to the All-Ireland semi-finals this weekend and we have Ulster minor winning reaction.