Loser's plaque gave Armagh spur for glory

Jubilant Armagh manager Joe Kernan today revealed how an old wooden losers’ plaque inspired his team to an historic All-Ireland GAA victory.

Tens of thousands of fans are preparing to greet the Orchard County side on their return from Dublin this afternoon with the Sam Maguire Cup which they won for the first time.

Trailing favourites Kerry by three points at half time in the Croke Park final Kernan, a member of the defeated team of 1977, called together his players in the dressing room.

He produced a plaque which was given to him on the day they lost 25 years ago.... but he also held out a winning medal belonging to a player from another county. “Which one do you want to go home with?” he asked.

Kernan revealed today: “Somehow by accident the wooden plaque hopped off the shower wall.”

It signalled the start of a magnificent fightback, and Armagh went on to win by 1-12 to 0-14.

The manager said: “To watch grown men and women cry and people getting very emotional about relatives who weren’t there to see it was unbelievable.

“It’s a powerful feeling and everybody has just gone mad.”

** Police today blamed Armagh fans for damaging the town’s police station after yesterday’s win. A crowd fired missiles and ripped off security cameras before clashing with loyalists when a tricolour was erected on a war memorial.