A baptism of fire is de rigueur in becoming the GAA’s national match officials manager. Nine years ago, Pat Doherty stepped into the role the day after Martin Sludden awarded Joe Sheridan that goal in the Leinster final.

It’s a talent in itself that James Horan can come across as offended even in triumph.

James Horan believes Kerry won’t care about his remark that his Mayo team should have beaten them by 12 points in March’s Division 1 final.

Cork’s two-time All-Ireland midfielder Tom Kenny has joined John Meyler’s management team ahead of their All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final the weekend after next.

Kieran McGeeney must be a man of infinite patience.

Malachy O’Rourke’s seven-season stint with Monaghan is over after the Farney’s eight-point All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Armagh in Clones on Saturday evening.

This much we know: Waterford are dead, Clare are on life support. To take the third qualifying spot next Sunday from the Munster Hurling Championship, the Banner must beat Cork and hope Limerick at least draw with Tipperary. That would knock Cork out on the head-to-head.

Declan Bogue Armagh may have made their first Ulster semi-final since 2014, but they could be

Talk all you like about defensive systems and structures and so on, but when it comes down to it, nothing beats thumping the ball into the square for a big man.

Colm Collins blamed a frozen pitch in Páirc Esler for the horrific ankle injury sustained by Dermot Coughlan, while Kieran McGeeney was unhappy three key decisions went against Armagh in an action-packed Division Two draw in Newry.

Kieran McGeeney had to settle for a draw on his first return to Kildare as an opposing manager after Jimmy Hyland earned the home team a share of the spoils with the last kick of the game.

Dr McKenna Cup semi-final Armagh 0-14 Donegal 1-10

“A self-inflicted wound” is how Gary Brennan felt about Clare’s game management in a frantic finish at the Athletic Grounds after their four-point lead ended up in a four-point defeat.

Fermanagh 0-12 Armagh 0-7: Where to now for Armagh and the five-year revolution under Kieran McGeeney after this limp, uninspiring, and naive performance, during which they went an entire hour without scoring from play?

Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney has questioned if his team are getting enough frees and admitted it could require a change in tactics to address the issue.

Fermanagh 0-7 - Armagh 07: A point each gives plenty to both teams. Armagh go up, after two seasons in the third division, while Fermanagh have to wait the outcome of a winner-takes all battle, on the final day of the season, away to Longford.

Tyrone and Fermanagh made it two wins from two in the McKenna Cup, but Kieran McGeeney is worried about a possible fixture pile-up in the wake of postponements elsewhere yesterday.

“As individuals, we have the best players in the country,” declared Jamie Clarke last Saturday.

Sean Cavanagh is feeling the heat as he walks among friends and neighbours close to the fast-flowing boundary that divides Tyrone and Armagh, the River Blackwater.

Daniel Flynn spoke openly and honestly at a media event earlier this week about all things Kildare; from their woeful Croke Park record to his costly missed goal chance against Dublin in the Leinster final.

As Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney prepares to face his former Kildare charges in tomorrow night’s All-Ireland Qualifier at Croke Park, Brendan Crossan learns that ‘Geezer’ still holds a special place in the hearts of the Lilywhites.

Former Armagh star Aaron Kernan has credited Kieran McGeeney for ensuring his 12-week ban earlier this year didn’t become a distraction for the squad.

The light went out. Simple as that. After 10 years, Eoghan O’Flaherty just felt he could give Kildare no more. He still doesn’t now, seven months after he told Cian O’Neill he was done.

Paul Keane takes a look at five managers under pressure in football.

Derry 3-10 Armagh 2-12: Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney took more positives than negatives out of yesterday’s one-point McKenna Cup defeat to Derry at Owenbeg.

Kieran McGeeney has questioned the validity of the pre-season competitions when some top counties aren’t interested in fielding strong teams.

Kieran McGeeney hopes the returning Jamie Clarke “gives himself the best chance” to prove his class with Armagh in 2017.

Trust us when we write this: there is enough reason to believe the war waged against Lee Keegan by Dublin GAA figures since the drawn All-Ireland final is a campaign.

For those of you who initially thought last Sunday’s Ulster final was another desecration of what was once known as Gaelic football, a question — name a game in recent memory in which both teams helped serve up a greater number of exceptional long-range points than what Tyrone and Donegal did in Clones?

Laois 1-11 Armagh 1-10: In the end, like most recounts in a general election, there was no change.

Strapping Meath defender Mickey Burke reckons he was “made out to be the baddie”’ after the biting saga that followed the Royals’ last clash with Dublin.