Éamonn Fitzmaurice: Kerry-Armagh will come down to Páidí's grain of rice

When Kieran McGeeney sat down to plan this week I suspect two items will have been top of his agenda...

ORANGE WARNING: Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney with Armagh supporters. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Sat, 20 Jun, 2026 - 15:02

An All-Ireland winner with Kerry as player and manager who now brings sharp, modern tactical analysis of the game to Irish Examiner readers and listeners.

“I found that a really tricky hole to get out of. It kind of worried me. I’d say for six weeks after that game I didn’t sleep past 3am. Everything was down. It was a good test of my general fitness that I managed to get through it. I was up around the house at three in the morning, drinking tea, and that went on for weeks. I couldn’t get the game out of my head. The whole thing really.

“I started taking sleeping tablets after a few weeks. This one was particularly bad for whatever reason. 2011 took an awful toll as well, but for some reason this one seemed to go on longer. I think the fact I was on my own without the management I had soldiered with, was a big factor.”