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Armagh
Sport:Football
Irish:Ard Mhacha[1]
Nickname(s):The Orchard men[2]
County board:Armagh GAA
Manager:Kieran McGeeney
Captain:Aidan Forker[3]
Home venue(s):Athletic Grounds, Armagh[1]
Recent competitive record
Current All-Ireland status:QF in 2023
Last championship title:2002
Current NFL Division:2 (2nd in 2024; promoted to Division 1)
Last league title:2005
First colours
Second colours

The Armagh county football team (/ɑːrˈmɑː/ ar-MAH) represents Armagh GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, in the Gaelic sport of football. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Ulster Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.

Armagh's home ground is the Athletic Grounds, Armagh. The team's manager is Kieran McGeeney.

The team last won the Ulster Senior Championship in 2008, the All-Ireland Senior Championship in 2002 and the National League in 2005.

Colours and crest

Armagh's county colours are orange and white. Originally they wore black and amber striped shirts until 1926 when Dominican nuns from Omeath, in County Louth knitted the team a pair of orange and white kits ahead of a Junior clash with Dublin which they have kept since.[4] However, the team wore a predominantly black strip against Kerry in the 2024 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final.[5]

Kit evolution

Armagh launched a new kit in November 2022.[6]

Team sponsorship

The Armagh County Board negotiated a number of new sponsorship deals in 2012, including telecommunications company Rainbow Communications as the principal jersey sponsor,[7] and Simply Fruit for the minor team. Previously, the county's main sponsor had been Morgan Fuels, but that 17-year relationship ended somewhat acrimoniously in 2012.[8][9]

History

Armagh was the second team to win the Ulster Senior Football Championship, doing so in 1890. In the early years of the GAA, a club that won its county championship went on to represent the county and would also wear the county colours. Armagh Harps represented Armagh in the Ulster final, beating Tyrone (Cookstown's Owen Roes), but losing to All-Ireland Champions Cork (Midleton) in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final.

Despite early success at the provincial level, national success at junior and minor level and All-Ireland final appearances in 1953 and 1977, it took until 2002 for Armagh to win their first and only All-Ireland Senior Football Championship under manager Joe Kernan. The county won the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship (MFC), in 1949 and again in 2009, but lost the 1957 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final to Meath.

Joe Kernan scored two goals in the 1977 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final.[10]

The Era of the Two Brians: 1995–2001

Joe Kernan's Golden Era: 2002–06

Joe Kernan is widely regarded as Armagh's most successful manager having won one League title, four Ulster SFCs and one All-Ireland SFC.

Appearing in the county's third All-Ireland SFC decider and having lost the previous two, the team was the first from Ulster to win an All-Ireland SFC since Down won the 1994 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final. Kerry had a four-point lead at half-time.[10]

According to Eamonn Sweeney, "especially during their final years, Joe Kernan's Armagh came to epitomise a style of play with the emphasis on the physical, the kind of football which prompts machismo devotees in the media to break out phrases like 'grimly compelling' and 'ratcheting up the physical intensity.'"[11]

Kernan–McGeeney interim: 2007–14

Peter McDonnell was appointed Armagh managed for the 2007–2009 seasons. During his time as Armagh manager, McDonnell won one Ulster SFC. After a disappointing 2009 campaign which resulted in Armagh being defeated by Tyrone, Peter McDonnell stepped down as Armagh manager.

Paddy O'Rourke, from the neighbouring county of Down, replaced McDonnell as Armagh manager between 2010 and 2012. During this time O'Rourke won the National Football League Division 2 title.

Paul Grimley replaced O'Rourke as Armagh manager for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Grimley resigned following a one-point defeat to Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final.

Kieran McGeeney era: 2015–

In August 2014, Kieran McGeeney took over as manager for an initial five-year term.[12]

In his first season in charge, McGeeney secured promotion to Division 2 of the National Football League, after beating Fermanagh in the final. In his first Ulster SFC game as manager, Donegal defeated Armagh on a scoreline of 0–8 to 2-11. The championship continued via the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers, with Armagh beating Wicklow and then losing to Galway in Round 2.

The 2016 NFL campaign ended with Armagh's relegation to Division 3. Cavan knocked Armagh out of the 2016 Ulster SFC. Laois defeated Armagh in a Round 1 All-Ireland SFC qualifier.

The 2017 NFL campaign ended with Tipperary beating Armagh in the last game, which caused Armagh to miss promotion back to Division 2. Down knocked Armagh out of the 2017 Ulster SFC. Armagh had All-Ireland SFc qualifier wins over Fermanagh, Westmeath, Tipperary and Kildare. Then, Armagh lost to rival Tyrone in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final.

The 2018 NFL campaign ended with a promotion to Division 2. Armagh lost to Fermanagh in the 2018 Ulster SFC quarter-final. Armagh defeated Westmeath, Sligo and Clare in All-Ireland SFC qualifiers, but was unable to overcome 2018 Connacht SFC finalists Roscommon.

The 2019 NFL campaign ended with Armagh securing its Division 2 status. Armagh's 2019 Ulster SFC had an important note, for (at last), McGeeney won an Ulster SFC as Armagh manager, a quarter-final against neighbour Down. In the quarter-final Cavan and Armagh drew, but Armagh lost the replay. Armagh then won an All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Monaghan, but, in Round 3, lost to Mayo by 1 point. In August 2019, McGeeney was given a two-year extension to his term as manager.[13]

Despite being the favourite, Armagh struggled to overcome Derry in a "gruelling" 2020 Ulster SFC quarter-final.[14] The county then exited the Ulster SFC once more, this time after a "poor" showing in its semi-final, ten points down at half-time (Armagh only managed two points in the entire half) and twelve points the difference at the end.[15] No All-Ireland SFC qualifiers occurred due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games. Thus ended Armagh's season.

As the pandemic continued to tear its way through the land, leaving no home unaffected, the 2021 NFL campaign was reduced. Armagh played in Division 1 North. Armagh won the first game, against Monaghan, at Brewster Park. Armagh then played Tyrone, losing by five points on a score of 2-15 to 2-10 and having to use five of their seven subs in the first half. Armagh drew with Donegal in the next match, then faced Roscommon in a relegation play-off, which Armagh won to secure its Division 1 status. In the 2021 Ulster SFC, Armagh dealt with Antrim, but then lost to Monaghan, with Monaghan posting a score of 4-17. In August 2021, the Armagh County Board triggered the one-year option to retain McGeeney as manager for the 2022 season.[16]

That 2022 season proved memorable, as it had Armagh playing Galway in a 2022 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final at Croke Park. Tiernan Kelly and the eye-gouging incident in that one caused uproar.[17][18][19][20][21] Colm O'Rourke described Armagh as the "common denominator" after two other brawls earlier in 2022, making this the team's third involvement of the year.[22][23] Joe Brolly condemned Armagh (like O'Rourke, he referred to Armagh's previous over the season): "They are out of control and it is only a matter of time before someone gets very seriously injured. This was deliberate goading, deliberate assaults during the course of the game, way beyond what is acceptable. I invite the GAA to look at all the camera footage. They should be asking RTÉ for all of the camera footage, because a lot was missed yesterday. It's not good enough… There is, unfortunately, a culture within this Armagh squad and it's difficult to know if it is encouraged, but it is certainly being tolerated. This is the third time this season. And the most disappointing thing about (Sunday's) game is the number of occasions when you could clearly see an Armagh player setting out to injure an opponent… The eye-gouger, no doubt, will get 12 months as a minimum… Possibly longer than that. It is a scandal to see that in our games, deeply depressing. That is the third riot on the pitch that there has been associated with [Armagh's] games and it is not a coincidence."[24][25]

Current management team

Appointed in August 2014, given a two-year extension with a one-year extra option in August 2019, given further extension in 2023,[26] some additions noted.

Current panel

Team as per Armagh vs Galway in the 2024 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, 28th July 2024[32]

No. Player Position Club
1 Blaine Hughes Goalkeeper Carrickcruppen
2 Paddy Burns Right Corner Back Burren
3 Aaron McKay Full Back Dromintee
4 Barry McCambridge Left Corner Back Clann Éireann
5 Connaire Mackin Right Half Back Shane O'Neill's
6 Tiernan Kelly Centre Back Clann Éireann
7 Aidan Forker (c) Left Half Back Maghery
8 Niall Grimley Midfield Madden
9 Ben Crealey Midfield Maghery
10 Joe McElroy Right Half Forward Armagh Harps
11 Rian O'Neill Centre Forward Crossmaglen Rangers
12 Oisín Conaty Left Half Forward Tír na nÓg
13 Rory Grugan Right Corner Forward Ballymacnab
14 Andrew Murnin Full Forward St Paul's
15 Conor Turbitt Left Corner Forward Clann Éireann
No. Player Position Club
16 Ethan Rafferty Substitute Grange
17 Greg McCabe Substitute Shane O'Neill's
18 Peter McGrane Substitute Ballyhegan Davitts
19 Ciarán Higgins Substitute Maghery
20 Ross McQuillan Substitute Cullyhanna
21 Shane McPartlan Substitute Clan na Gael
22 Jason Duffy Substitute Cullyhanna
23 Oisín O'Neill Substitute Crossmaglen Rangers
24 Stefan Campbell Substitute Clan na Gael
25 Aidan Nugent Substitute Cullyhanna
26 Jarly Óg Burns Substitute Silverbridge

Managerial history

The era of the two Brians
1995–2001
NFL Provincial All-Ireland Total
Games played 38 13 5 56
Games won 18 7 2 27
Percentage won 47.37% 53.85% 40.00% 48.22%
Joe Kernan's Golden Era
2002–2006
NFL Provincial All-Ireland Total
Games played 38 18 14 70
Games won 23 14 10 47
Percentage won 60.53% 77.77% 71.43% 67.14%
Peter McDonnell
2007–2009
NFL Provincial All-Ireland Total
Games played 21 6 3 30
Games won 10 3 0 13
Percentage won 47.62% 50.0% 0.0% 43.33%
Paddy O'Rourke
2010–2012
NFL Provincial All-Ireland Total
Games played 22 5 7 34
Games won 10 2 1 13
Percentage won 45.45% 40.00% 14.29% 38.23%
Paul Grimley
2013–2014
NFL Provincial All-Ireland Total
Games played 14 4 7 25
Games won 4 1 5 10
Percentage won 28.57% 25.00% 71.43% 40.00%
Kieran McGeeney
2015–present
NFL Provincial All-Ireland Total
Games played 46 8 14 68
Games won 25 2 9 36
Percentage won 54.6% 25% 64.29% 53%

[As of 13 June 2021]

Players

Notable players

For individual player details, see list of Armagh inter-county footballers.

Records

All Stars

Armagh has 24 All Stars, as of 2008. 15 different players have won, as of 2008. No player has won more than three All Stars.   denotes that a player also won Footballer of the Year for the year in question.

1972: Paddy Moriarty
1977: Joe Kernan, Jimmy Smyth, Paddy Moriarty2nd
1980: Colum McKinstry
1982: Joe Kernan2nd
1993: Ger Houlahan
1999: Kieran McGeeney, Diarmaid Marsden
2000: Kieran McGeeney2nd, Oisín McConville
2002: Enda McNulty, Aidan O'Rourke,  Kieran McGeeney 3rd, Paul McGrane, Stevie McDonnell, Oisín McConville2nd
2003: Francie Bellew,  Stevie McDonnell 2nd
2005: Andy Mallon, Paul McGrane2nd, Stevie McDonnell3rd
2006: Rónán Clarke
2008: Rónán Clarke2nd

Competitive record

The following teams won national titles.

Year and competition Squad[34] Scoreline
2002 All-Ireland SFC final[35] Benny Tierney, Enda McNulty, Justin McNulty, Francis Bellew, Aidan O'Rourke, Kieran McGeeney, Andy McCann, Paul McGrane, John Toal, Paddy McKeever, John McEntee, Oisín McConville, Stevie McDonnell, Rónán Clarke, Diarmaid Marsden. Subs: Barry O'Hagan for John McEntee, Tony McEntee for McKeever. Armagh 1-12 Kerry 0-14
Year and competition Squad Scoreline
2005 National League Paul Hearty; Andy Mallon, Francis Bellew, P. McCormack 0–1; Aaron Kernan 0–1, Kieran McGeeney, Ciarán McKeever; John Toal, Paul McGrane; M. O'Rourke, John McEntee 0–1, Oisín McConville 0–2; Stevie McDonnell 0-10, Rónán Clarke 0–2, B. Mallon 0–4. Subs - Paddy McKeever 1–0, Andy McCann, Justin McNulty, Philip Loughran, Aidan O'Rourke. Armagh 1-21 Wexford 1-14
Year and competition Squad Scoreline
1926 All-Ireland JFC final C. Morgan, H. Cumiskey, Gene Hanratty, J. Vallely, Joe Harney, J. Maguire, Owen Connolly, J. Corrigan, F. McAvinchey, F. Toner, P. Fearon, J. Kernan, H. Arthurs, J. Donaghy, J. McCusker. Sub - J. McEntee for McAvinchey. Armagh 4-11 Dublin 0-04
Year and competition Squad Scoreline
2004 All-Ireland Under-21 FC final G. Wilson, G. Smyth, F. Moriarty, Andy Mallon, Aaron Kernan, Ciarán McKeever, B. McDonald, M. Mackin, G. Swift, G. Loughran, S. Kernan, P. Toal, M. McNamee, R. Austin, B. Mallon. Subs - P. Duffy, B. Toner, J. Murtagh, M. Moore, S. O'Neill. Armagh 2-08 Mayo 1-09
Year and competition Squad Scoreline
1949 All-Ireland MFC final L. McCorry, E. McCann, J. Brattan, J. McKnight, F. Kernan, B. O’Neill, T. McConville, E. Mee, S. Collins, T. Connolly, S. Blaney, J. Cunningham, S. Smith, P.J. McKeever, B. McGrane. Sub - M. McKnight for Collins. Armagh 1-07 Kerry 1-05
2009 All-Ireland MFC final S. O'Reilly, K. Downey, R. Finnegan, K. Nugent, D. McKenna, N. Rowland, J. Morgan, P. Carragher (0-1), J. Donnelly, R. Grugan (0-1, 0-1f), A. Murnin (0-1), C. King, R. Tasker (0-3), E. McVerry (0-3, 0-1f), G. McParland. Sub - C. McCafferty for Finnegan '53, T. McAlinden (0-1) for McVerry '54. Armagh 0-10 Mayo 0-07

Honours

Official honours, with additions noted.[1]

National

Provincial

References

  1. ^ a b c "Armagh — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Ulster SFC: Dominant Donegal crush Orchard men". Hogan Stand. 14 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Forker handed Armagh captaincy ahead of Louth visit". hoganstand.com. 26 January 2024.
  4. ^ Neville, Conor (17 May 2016). "6 Counties Who Have Changed Their GAA Kit Colours And The Reasons Why". Balls.ie.
  5. ^ Fogarty, John (16 July 2024). "McGeeney: GAA 'very funny' when it comes to jersey choices". Irish Examiner.
  6. ^ "Armagh launch new kit". Hogan Stand. 2 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Grimley welcomes new Armagh sponsors". Hogan Stand. 2 November 2012.
  8. ^ Keys, Colm (8 November 2012). "Morgan adds fuel to Armagh sponsor row". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  9. ^ O'Riordan, Ian (8 November 2012). "Sponsor ends ground deal with Armagh". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Armagh are champions". BBC. 22 September 2002.
  11. ^ Sweeney, Eamonn (8 August 2010). "McGeeney does a Clough on Kildare". Sunday Independent.
  12. ^ "Kieran McGeeney handed five-year term at Armagh". RTÉ. 28 August 2014.
  13. ^ "McGeeney extends stay with Armagh for further two years". RTÉ. 5 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Armagh march on after gruelling Derry battle". Irish Independent. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Donegal ease past Armagh to reach yet another Ulster final". The42.ie. 14 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Kieran McGeeney: Armagh boss to stay on as manager for 2022". BBC Sport. 3 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Spillane condemns 'disgraceful' Armagh–Galway brawl". 26 June 2022 – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. ^ "The Sunday Game panel react to scenes of striking and apparent eye-gouging in the aftermath of the full-time whistle in Croke Park". The Sunday Game. 26 June 2022
  19. ^ "Pat Spillane rips into Galway and Armagh for giant brawl". 26 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Armagh v Galway: 'No room for that in any sport' – Taoiseach condemns Croke Park eye-gouging incident as 'shocking'". Irish Independent.
  21. ^ Delaney, Luke (27 June 2022). "Taoiseach And Minister For Sport Condemn Armagh Eye Gouge Incident". Balls.ie.
  22. ^ "O'Rourke on brawl: Armagh the common denominator". 27 June 2022 – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  23. ^ "O'Rourke blames Armagh for violent scenes". hoganstand.com.
  24. ^ Connaughton, Gary (28 June 2022). "Joe Brolly Slams Armagh 'Culture' After Unsavoury Galway Scenes". Balls.ie.
  25. ^ "'They are out of control' – Joe Brolly criticises Armagh players over melee at Croke Park". independent. 28 June 2022.
  26. ^ "Kieran McGeeney: Armagh manager to continue for 10th season at the helm". BBC. 7 August 2023.
  27. ^ a b "Hughes quits Armagh squad". Hogan Stand. 22 December 2022. We've also got Patrick McAteer (Mullaghbawn) with the U20 squad so those guys are on board and are working with Ciaran McKinney (goalkeeping coach) and we hope they'll be able to step in when they are needed.
  28. ^ "Derry win very special — Armagh assistant boss McCorry". BBC Sport. 1 November 2020.
  29. ^ "Donaghy joins Armagh backroom team". Hogan Stand. 14 December 2020.
  30. ^ "GAA: Kieran Donaghy joins Armagh's backroom team for 2021". BBC Sport. 16 December 2020.
  31. ^ Tierney, Paddy (15 July 2024). "Kieran McGeeney issues Armagh injury update ahead of All-Ireland SFC showdown with Galway". Belfast Live.
  32. ^ "Armagh make one change for All-Ireland final". 25 July 2024.
  33. ^ "Banner hero David Tubridy already has more history in his sights after becoming highest league scorer of all time". Irish Independent. 1 June 2021.
  34. ^ "Armagh are champions". BBC Sport. 22 September 2002.
  35. ^ "Armagh are champions". BBC. 22 September 2002.
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