Relief for McGeeney as victory sinks in

KIERAN McGeeney readily admitted yesterday that he was feeling the effects of Armagh's almost superhuman effort in the second half of the All-Ireland football final in Croke Park.

However, the inspirational captain's pain was eclipsed by his relief that at last the team had justified itself and been rewarded for their years of effort.

While supporters may relish the county's stature as All-Ireland champions as it proudly takes its place alongside the other sides in Ulster who have been reached this pinnacle, McGeeney offered a different perspective of what it meant to him to win.

"It's a very personal thing. I know the county gets caught up in it, but for the players themselves, it's only people who have done it recently know the commitment and dedication that's required to be a county footballer. It really is unreal to ask your family and everybody around you to let you put football first and put them in second place. When you give so much to something and it comes, there's great personal satisfaction in doing it."

A satisfaction which was never really gained by winning provincial crowns.

"Since I started playing football, the only thing I ever wanted to win was an All-Ireland. That's not to demean the Ulster championship, but it was something that never interested me as an end result. It was great to win it in 1999, because it was the first time we had won in a long time. But, even then, I just looked on it as giving us the chance to win what I really wanted to win.''

And, whatever about the difficult nature of Sunday's contest, he says he always felt they had the ability to be successful.

"We have the players. We mightn't always play like we could win it, but I think that was because a lack of self-belief sometimes. Today, the morning after the night before, it's a great feeling to wake up and have all the sores to remind you of the game that was.

"I know Kerry play a lovely brand of football, but they are a big team. They are very physical as well. It doesn't look aggressive, but it does not mean it isn't. However, when you have 14 or 15 stone moving around at speed and hitting you, it's going to take its toll. In his victory speech one of the first things the Armagh captain did was to pay tribute to the Kerry players. He did so out of respect for them as a team and as individuals.

"You can't but recognise the quality of players that they have,'' he said. "I played with a few of them in Australia last year. I shared (rooms) with Mike Frank Russell and Johnny Crowley, I spent a fair time chatting with Darragh O´ Sé and I would know Seamus (Moynihan). Their football speaks for itself.

"I tried not to be condescending or throw clichés at them. I know that when you lose there's nothing that will comfort you. I just hoped they realised we wanted it so badly. It was a long time coming for us and I know a lot of the Kerry boys have an All-Ireland medal in their pocket. They might think that one or two isn't enough, but it meant so much to us to get that one.

"At half time we had talked enough about getting there and we were letting it pass us by. We knew we just had to go hell for leather. It was great to see Andrew McCann doing so well. To me he is a quality player. He was injured at the beginning of the year and struggling with fitness, but like everything else, when your back is up against the wall true class always shows.

"Andrew was there when you needed somebody to take the ball off you and run at them. It's great to have players like that. They weren't waiting for somebody else to do it.''

Likewise, he paid tribute to Oisín McConville saying that after proving himself with club and county on numerous occasions, nobody could doubt his ability.

"The bigger the occasion the more he seems to rise to it. Against Dublin, things weren't bouncing well for him and he missed a few scores, but when we needed somebody to stand up and get the winner, he was there.

"Again yesterday, he missed a penalty and yet when we needed him in the second half, he scored 1-2 for us.''

McGeeney doesn't deny that luck played a certain part in their successful campaign but in the end, their determination shone through.

"This year Tyrone came back at us when we were a few points ahead and so did Sligo, but we came back and gave it more. "We played some strong teams this year, but we didn't take the easy route. Everybody was singing Donegal's praises this year, but we beat them and we beat Tyrone, Dublin and Sligo and then Kerry in the final.

"We definitely played three of the top five teams in Ireland.''

Worthy champions, without a doubt.