McGeeney not expecting any favours from old colleague Donaghy and Kerry

A win in the Box-It Athletic Grounds will seal a Division 1 final for the second year in a row for the Kingdom.

Mon, 16 Mar, 2026 - 07:17

John Fogarty

Kieran McGeeney doesn’t expect his former coach Kieran Donaghy will ease Armagh’s relegation concerns next weekend.

Donaghy and Kerry know a win in the Box-It Athletic Grounds will seal the county a Division 1 final for the second year in a row. A victory for the home team will keep them in the top-flight for 2027.

“He mightn't talk to me this week,” smiled McGeeney about his relationship with Donaghy, who left Armagh after five seasons last July. “As I've always said to you, no different than me being an Armagh man, KD's a big Kerry man.

“You can see the influence he's having on them already but there's never a question of where his loyalty (is). He's a lot of good friends in Armagh and he's done a lot for us.

“I'm married to a Kerry woman, so I know this for an absolute fact – they don't fuck about. They're winners through and through, regardless of what you do, I don't expect any favours if that's what you're asking but I'm sure we'll be chatting.”

McGeeney heard about Kerry’s scoring exploits against Mayo in Tralee. “Was it 2-29 and Seánie (O’Shea) had one rolling along the ground, a two-pointer from 40 yards. So, listen, they’re quality. You have to admire, I think between David (Clifford) and Seánie, they scored 20 points (sic, 19). That's impressive in anybody's book, so it is.

“The two of them are probably the most man-marked players in the country. We know we'll have a tough task next week. But what’s new?” Staying in Division 1 is important, McGeeney readily admitted. “I do find it amusing when people say people don't take the league seriously. I've never stood in the dressing room, I've never talked to another manager that hasn't said they wanted to win a game.

“You might not take a chance with a player that's injured and stuff like that, but every game, you only get seven. You're trying all of the time.

“It was a bit like the Super 16s when everybody said there was no jeopardy and I was there going, ‘Nobody has stood in a changing room in any of these that's saying that because it's pure horseshit.’”

Ger Brennan indicated Dublin captain Con O’Callaghan’s hamstring may not be risked next weekend even though they will be fighting for survival against Galway.

“He hasn't trained fully yet, but we would be hopeful and even if he was ready, it'd be risky to put him in now, these kind of reoccurrences of some of the knocks he's had.

“So, we’re taking a slightly longer term approach to him now, given what he's suffered this league and the end of last year, so I don't know yet.”