Christy O'Connor: Beating Armagh would mean more to Stephen Cluxton than he’d want anyone to know

Against Kilkenny on Saturday, Tipperary U20 manager Brendan Cummins seeks to complete a double he started as a manager. 

22 years ago, Stephen Cluxton was sent off in an All-Ireland qualifier against Armagh. It's generally accepted that it was a major turning point in his career. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Not long after Dublin had lost to Armagh in a 2003 qualifier in Croke Park, the Dublin players were in a pub in Carpenterstown mulling over the season, where the dominant mood was dissatisfaction with manager Tommy Lyons. Taking his cue from that mood, Dessie Farrell called a meeting in the Burlington Hotel.

Only five players turned up – Farrell, Senan Connell, Johnny Magee, Jason Sherlock and Stephen Cluxton. Six more players remained outside in their cars, fearful of a media stitch-up. The two groups met later and voted, with Paddy Christie the lone voice among the 11 players who didn’t agree with ousting the manager.