McGeeney: Armagh had 'no pitches to train on' all week

CLOSE-RUN AFFAIR: Donegal’s manager Jim McGuinness and manager Kieran McGeeney of Armagh. Pic: James Crombie, Inpho

It was not offered as an excuse, but it was offered up nonetheless: Armagh did not train at all last week as they could not get a pitch to train on.

Kieran McGeeney arrived into the auditorium on the Cusack Stand side of the field a full hour after the full-time whistle had sounded. One of his first utterances was that Armagh hadn’t trained in the eight days between their Round 7 draw away to Cork and Sunday’s League decider.

“We had just one of those weeks. No pitches to train on. Bug in the camp,” the Armagh manager stated.

“We were hoping that would make us fresh and have a wee bit of a bounce after going game on game. If you miss a session or two it can give you a bit of a bounce, but we just seemed to be very flat today for most of the game.” 

Not being able to train midweek because of pitch unavailability happens “a bit more regularly than you’d like”, McGeeney added.

“Pitches are hard to get coming up to club season. I wouldn't be using it as an excuse.

“I'm not having a go at anybody whatsoever. Especially in Armagh, it's bucketed down. Wednesday and Thursday, roads were flooded. I'll double down on that, that's not a dig, that's the way things crumble sometimes and you have to roll with it.

“I was telling myself it was good and it was going to be a rest, but I'm telling myself now, 'no, it's not'. Hindsight.” 

Jim McGuinness was first into the auditorium. Nine years, six months, and 10 days since his last visit to GAA HQ as Donegal boss, this was a happy return.

“A lot of people that you probably weren't thinking about coming down the road were the people in the stadium, the stewards, the man that looked after us on All-Ireland final day in the dressing-room, all those people that were a part of your life that you never would have thought about. 

"Meeting all those people again was nice, it was lovely.

“It feels great (to be back). A final today, beautiful day for football, a young team coming in to learn their trade and a couple of old heads in there as well.

“So, it's lovely to be back and obviously to be going down the road with a trophy, that's the most important thing.” 

The most obvious positive was their response to the concession of five unanswered Armagh points that moved them from four in front to one behind on 67 minutes.

“We managed to go back in front, and that’s a big plus for us, a big positive in terms of the young lads finding their feet and a bit of character.

“(Getting to) Division 1 and a trophy for the young lads, that’s brilliant for them, and now we have three weeks to focus on Derry.” 

Speaking of Derry and who from their extensive injury list might be available, McGuinness was coy and then some on the fitness of Paddy McBrearty, Ryan McHugh, Brendan McCole, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Daire Ó Baoill, and Conor O’Donnell.