Wily Geezer will lead Armagh, says Tierney

KIERAN McGEENEY has been tipped to be a future Armagh manager – but not before he is a success with Kildare.

Benny Tierney, goalkeeper on the Orchard County team captained by McGeeney that won the All-Ireland in 2002 and a fellow Mullaghbawn man, isn’t the least bit surprised that his former team-mate has produced such a turnaround in Kildare’s fortunes.

The Lilies have reached the last eight for the second season in succession under McGeeney but this year have done so in much more convincing circumstances.

Tierney recalls the shock of last season’s championship loss to Wicklow but says there was never any doubt about McGeeney’s credentials to be a top-class manager.

“Geezer came in for some unjustified criticism about rushing into a county managerial post and quite a few people secretly smiled as the old master (Mick) O’Dwyer apparently outgunned the new kid on the block in managerial terms,” Tierney said in the Irish News.

“Some pundits ridiculously stated that McGeeney’s demeanour and personality did not suit county management, yet those of us who knew him realised that, once his playing career was over, it would not be long before his services would be sought by a county like Kildare, who were in danger of drifting into the realms of mediocrity.”

The Lilywhites were a “one-trick pony” before McGeeney’s arrival, according to Tierney, utterly reliant on Johnny Doyle to win games for them. This season though, the likes of Alan Smith, James Kavanagh and Eamonn Callaghan have chipped in with vital scores and the team has averaged almost 17 points in the league and more than 19 in the championship.

“If Doyle had an off-day, then Kildare were easy prey more often than not and if you want to gauge the effect Geezer has had on the Leinster county, Saturday against Wicklow provided most of the answers,” says Tierney.

“John Doyle had an off-day compared to his normally-high standards and yet Kildare still scored 1-16 in what was a great game of football. Previous Kildare teams would have wilted when Wicklow scored their second goal but McGeeney’s attitude as a player seems to be transferring to his charges.

“Thy battled and fought to get back into the game and eventually, through their unrelenting fitness and strength, aided by a superb midfield performance by Dermot Earley, literally pounded the Wicklow men into submission.”

All of which has thrust McGeeney’s name into speculation about Peter McDonnell’s successor as Armagh manager, despite the fact that he has ruled himself out of the equation. It will happen some time, Tierney predicts, but not next season.

“I can’t see him dropping Kildare just yet to take over the reins of his native county. I have no doubt, in the future, he will be at the helm of his beloved county. But, in my opinion, it will not be this year.”