Kieran McGeeney: 'We missed 2-2 in three minutes, you can't afford to do that'

Armagh's manager Kieran McGeeney. Picture: James Crombie/Inpho

Kieran McGeeney wasn’t making excuses for the “hiding” his team received from Kerry.

Armagh only had five days to prepare for the game as they were travelled to Limerick on Friday and the draw provided Kerry with home advantage.

However, the manager wasn’t of the mind to cite the short turnaround from the defeat to Louth. He rued the scoring chances that he felt his players spurned in the second half.

“I don't think you can use turnarounds for missing shots. I genuinely don't. We had opportunities to slip some of those balls for the goals as well. 

"We missed 2-2 there in about three minutes. You can't afford to do that. That’s eight points. Eight points puts a fair dent in things at that sort of stage. We cut right through and made the opportunities.

“I know they were decent saves, but when we had runners and we kept dropping two-point shots with that breeze behind you, it's not acceptable at this level. We got punished and rightly so.”

Kerry's David Clifford and Armagh's Aaron McKay after the game. Picture: James Crombie/Inpho

Paul Geaney’s goal just before half-time after a low pass by Jarly Óg Burns to Joe McElroy was turned over by Jason Foley was a crucial score in the game.

“It was a sloppy half-pass,” McGeeney bemoaned. “There's a lot of pushing and shoving now that gets it, but it was at Joe's feet when he was getting it. It was a poor pass.

“We were in control of the ball. We didn’t get the ball taken off us. We gave it away. Again, that’s sloppiness. It's one of those days, I can't fault the fellas forever."

Asked if he felt Round 3 games should be played at neutral venues next season, McGeeney replied: “It's very hard to make your personal thoughts known after you get a hiding like that.

“I think we had a good thing (Super 16). We moved the system because gate receipts had fallen below sponsorship. As usual, it's an accountancy procedure in the GAA, and we moved the thing. I still think the round-robin thing is a good system.

“Everybody's played the same system, so I'm not giving out of it this year. I just think the one we had, and it showed, because so many teams have developed. Look at ourselves, Westmeath, Cork, all the teams over the last couple of years, and we've been able to get those three or four. So I just think it was a better system.

“I think eventually we'll probably move back because the sponsors will probably say, well, if there's 20% to 30% less games, we'll give you 20% or 30% less money. I'd say that'll probably change their mind.” 

It’s a season that ended with a first Ulster title in 18 years but the last seven days are what McGeeney will remember most. 

“I suppose that's why we all play it. There's no certs in it. You’re made out to be a genius one week and a bollocks the next, but it's a lot more complex than that.”