McGeeney proves rumours of demise exaggerated

ULSTER SFC: Keith Duggan talks to the Armagh captain who was back to his inspirational best in the Ulster final

About half an hour after Sunday's Ulster final had ended, as Kieran McGeeney stood for a long time discussing his beliefs on winning and losing the thought occurred that the last time any of us had seen him was in the precise same spot last September.

Then, as jubilant families of the celebrating Tyrone players stormed the narrow corridor, the Armagh man leaned against a wall and quietly explained how he would store the pain of that defeat away. And those gathered around him listened respectfully but must have privately wondered.

There was the sense after that narrow loss the force was beginning to seep from Armagh and because there must be a bottom to the well of fortitude and spirit locked up even in men like McGeeney, there was a valedictory air about it all.

After that September, McGeeney disappeared off the radar and then suddenly, with perfect timing, he was back. Centre stage in front of the vast crowds, making blocks, cutting out passes, leading, talking, owning the game. Another cup to raise, another piece of crystal from RTÉ. Back, stronger than ever, just like he had promised.

"That was probably the toughest year of my football life," he reflected.

"Last September in Australia I got injured and had to play with cracked ribs and from there it was a litany of things. It was just nice to get out there again and play. The very fact it was an Ulster final helped, though I suppose a lot of people doubted whether I would be up for it or not but there is nothing you can do about that."

It is kind of laughable that McGeeney managed such a quality performance given that his last time playing for Armagh was that parochial All-Ireland final when Armagh, by their most expressive standards, were muted.

It did not go well for the team or captain and although the score was close and the game grimly thrilling, most read the signs as proof of Armagh entering an irredeemable decline. They blew that theory away against Donegal.

"Ach, well we got a couple of scores near the end that maybe flattered us," McGeeney reasoned. "But the team played well - no one player really stood out on this own. Over the 70 minutes everybody put in their two-pence worth and that is how you win football games. They say players win games and teams win championships. It was a great team performance and we are delighted with that. I know it sounds clichéd but it does mean a lot when nobody is carrying anybody else. It gives you a bit of confidence for the next day."

He raised a quizzical eyebrow at the suggestion he might have fretted over his own ability to readjust to championship pace.

"I suppose after 15 years," he said slowly, "you tell yourself you can give it a go. Ah, I done okay. I am just delighted we won. Unfortunately that performance is gone now and people will look at us now to see what our weaknesses are so we just have to forget about it and get to work again. I put it in the same context as everything else - it is the past now. With this team expectations have been raised.

"To win this was great because it's the fourth in six years and it's special because I don't think any other Armagh team has done that now. But we know now that the air of expectation in the county has not stopped there."

Chances are McGeeney's phone was fairly quiet in comparison to the 2002 season when he was Mr Football in every sense.

Captain of a team that has just given the most complete performance since Galway demolished Meath in the 2001 All-Ireland final and master again of his own destiny, the Mullaghbawn man will probably be amused to find himself in hot demand once more. He has been around long enough to know it's all swings and roundabouts, that the reaction to every win and every loss is melodramatic in the extreme.

"We just have to get back to work. We all have jobs to go to, he smiled.

"Although I hear we are all supposed to be picking up 20 grand for winning this final. I haven't heard much from that boy of late. I wouldn't mind meeting him."