Sam Maguire pays first visit to Stormont

THE Sam Maguire Cup was hoisted in triumph inside Parliament Buildings, Belfast for the first time last night.

Secretary of State Paul Murphy hosted a special reception for All-Ireland football champions Armagh whose manager Joe Kernan declared: "We are an Ulster team and it's great to be acknowledged in this way."

The doors at Stormont, once a citadel of unionism, revolved open as Kernan and his captain Kieran McGeeney led their team into the marbled hallway. Armagh created history when they defeated Kerry in a thrilling final at Croke Park, Dublin last month to lift the famous trophy.