McDonnell a symbol of true Armagh spirit

And then there was just one — if Ronan Clarke gets back at all.

When Stevie McDonnell tweeted his retirement, more than the career of one of the first great forwards of the 21st century came to an end, but one of the last remaining links with a special football team.

McDonnell was the only Armagh player to play in both last year’s championship and the All-Ireland breakthrough campaign of 10 years ago. Even in recent seasons, when the team was endlessly flirting with mediocrity and flitting between Division 1 and 2, McDonnell was always good to win a dirty ball, swivel and thump it over the bar, and suddenly everyone would get a reminder that this was still Armagh playing and how awesome they were in their pomp. Now with McDonnell gone, that sense is gone.