Kieran McGeeney: 'If you’re going to win something, you better win the top thing'

THE TOP THING: Armagh captain Aidan Forker, left, and Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney hold the Sam Maguire Cup aloft at the homecoming celebrations. Pic Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Kieran McGeeney has applauded his players for defying their critics who said they couldn’t win silverware or see off opponents in tight games.

In front of over 15,000 supporters in Box-It Athletic Grounds at Monday evening’s homecoming in Armagh city, the victorious All-Ireland winning manager took aim at those who dismissed his group of players.

Acknowledging Joe McElroy’s late block on a Paul Conroy point effort that may have otherwise forced extra-time, McGeeney directed all the credit to his squad.

“It’s always about the boys that cross the line, not about the fellas who stand on the sideline. They’re the ones who have to go for the ball, they’re the ones who have to make the blocks. Thanks, Joey.

“No matter what has been said about them, they’ve been knocked down time and time again. They were told they couldn’t beat teams above them. They beat teams above them. They were told they would never get out of ‘the group of death’ (Armagh, Galway, Derry, Westmeath). They topped ‘the group of death’.

“They were told they couldn’t win tight games. They won tight games. Everybody said they wouldn’t win the All-Ireland and they won the All-Ireland! Yes!”

Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney speaking at the homecoming celebrations of the All-Ireland Senior Football Champions at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in Armagh. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Earlier, 2002 All-Ireland SFC winning captain McGeeney had told crowds: “We’ve been knocked back quite a bit over the years in terms of people saying, ‘We can’t win this’ and ‘We can’t win that’. As I said to them, they can search their pockets now for All-Ireland medals. All-Ireland champions 2024. In my opinion, if you’re going to win something, you better win the top thing.”

McGeeney complimented the thousands who turned out to welcome home the second group ever to bring the Sam Maguire Cup to the county.

“It has to be said when Armagh does something it does it in style. After the Kerry game, a lot of players that I played with were saying the atmosphere in the stadium was unbelievable. They hadn’t experienced anything like it.

“But you surpassed it again in the final and on the way home last night, this morning and now this afternoon. Youse have taken things to a new level for this team and for that we are entirely grateful.”

Armagh chairman Paul McArdle had introduced McGeeney to those in attendance as “the best Gaelic football manager and coach in Ireland” as he thanked the volunteers behind the scenes as well as the 44-man panel.

This year’s winning captain Aidan Forker again praised McGeeney as well as the supporters and the entire playing party.

“’Geezer’ always puts it back to the players but without this management team, who I’m not going to go through by name – there are too many Kierans, I promise you this doesn’t happen.

“Secondly, and most importantly, to the fans. This orange wave that follows us up and down the country, there’s no-one like us.”