By Michael McMullan CONLEITH Gilligan was the last person to step onto the Armagh team bus before it nosed out of Croke Park on Sunday evening. New to the management team this season, Gilligan paid tribute to those who had walked the hard yards before coming out the other side. “It was very, very satisfying,” […]
McKay goal sends Armagh to second title
All-Ireland SFC final Armagh 1-11 Galway 0-12 By Michael McMullan ARMAGH ended their 22-year wait to get their hands on Sam Maguire at Croke Park on Sunday. Kieran McGeeney’s side edged out Galway to take their second title with Aaron McKay getting the all-important goal in the 47th minute. Advertisement The sides were level five […]
JOE BROLLY: Be Clare, not Donegal
ARMAGH must be Clare, not Donegal. Gaelic football has become two dull defensive formulas competing soullessly, with all the emotion of a game played on X box. The resemblance to modern soccer is uncanny. Everyone looks the same, plays the same, sounds the same. Great sport, in the end, is about courage, imagination, intuition, self-expression, science […]
John Ward: Marooned in orange and white
Galway native John Ward has crossed enemy territory and is helping Armagh build up to the All-Ireland final. Shaun Casey writes… HATS, scarves and headbands. Flags and bunting of all shapes and sizes. Crest or no crest. As long as it’s orange and white, the people of Armagh will fire it up on a lamppost […]
Belief the key to Armagh’s All-Ireland run says McKeever
By Shaun Casey STANDING in a team huddle, preaching to a bunch of youngsters, Ciaran McKeever delivered an important message to a minor team that hung on his every word. Just because you’re born in Dublin or Kerry, you don’t have a divine right to win the All-Ireland. McKeever was the Armagh minor manager in 2019 and […]
All-Ireland final Armagh v Galway- The marginal gains
By Michael McMullan SUNDAY’S showdown in Croke Park has all the hallmarks of going to the final few moments and beyond. It’s time to take a look at some of the key factors. KEY MATCH UPS CONOR Turbitt has been the ace up front for Armagh this season and will dominate the Galway defensive discussions […]
All-Ireland final preview: Let the battle begin
All-Ireland SFC final Armagh v Galway Sunday, Croke Park, 3.30pm Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone) By Michael McMullan THERE will be scenes of ecstasy when the Sam Maguire is thrust skywards this season. Once both Dublin and Kerry were taken out of the occasion the competition was blown wide open. And Sunday is no different. Advertisement […]
PATRICK MORRISON: The fuse is lit
By Patrick Morrison PRIDE, excitement, envy, regret, expectancy, anticipation, fearful, confidence, rumination, connection, nostalgic, positive, motivated, gratitude, satisfaction, joy, sadness, hurt, sense of achievement, pain and luck. For the past few weeks I have been in Craigavon Hospital undergoing routine tests for my Crohn’s Disease. I was asked by a fellow patient about how I […]
Grugan: Knowledge is power as Armagh’s biggest day awaits
By Shaun Casey HAVING the experience of Kieran McGeeney and Kieran Donaghy inside the Armagh changing room will help the Orchard County players in the build up to the All-Ireland final, says Rory Grugan. Armagh qualified for their first All-Ireland since 2003 with an extra-time victory over Kerry and they now face Galway, for the […]
Galway name their squad for Sunday
By Michael McMullan GALWAY have named their team for Sunday’s Al-Ireland final clash with Armagh at Croke Park (3.30pm). Captain Seán Kelly has again been listed with Céin D’Arcy – who started ahead of him against Donegal – listed on the bench. Kelly has been hampered with injury this season and hasn’t featured since limped […]