A class act.
The Geezer derby went the way of the man himself on Saturday, when a Jamie Clarke inspired Armagh outmuscled, outfought and outclassed Cian O’Neill’s Lilywhites.
Kieran McGeeney hasn’t had the smoothest ride since he took over as Armagh manager from Paul Grimley in 2015.
2016 was disappointing. A loss to Cavan in Ulster, a loss to Laois in the qualifiers.
The pressure was mounting on McGeeney, and when Armagh lost out on promotion to division two in the league this year, after being sucker-punched by Tipperary, questions were being raised about the man’s management ability.
A crushing loss to Down fed the doubters, as did a 12-week sideline suspension – so uncharacteristic of a man of such discipline.
McGeeney put the head down – he has left media duties to selector Paddy McKeever, and so did his Armagh side.
They emerged victorious after a tricky Tipperary test in Semple Stadium, and went one better on Saturday to set up an All-Ireland quarter final clash with Tyrone.
McGeeney was the mastermind on Sunday as he outfoxed his old side.
His loyalty to these Kildare boys tells you everything you need to know about the man.
Instead of celebrating a landmark triumph for his county, the ever-professional McGeeney’s first port-of-call was consoling all those crestfallen Kildare men.
Johnny Doyle claimed in a column with the 42.ie that McGeeney “spent more time going around to the Kildare lads to commiserate than celebrating with his own players.”
The photos below are of McGeeney offering a hand to Fergal Conway and Paddy Brophy, two players that played under him during his spell as Kildare manager, but who also, were members of the Leinster under-21 winning Lilywhite team that he managed.
McGeeney spent six years at the helm in Kildare, enjoyed good days, some bad days too, but he doesn’t forget the players he went to battle with, and that’s great to see.
@CillDaraTimes @kildaregaa365 They may now be on different sides but they are still friends. Jennifer with Keiren after the match pic.twitter.com/qkJChk3kOX
— Donna Malone (@donnamalone21) July 29, 2017
McGeeney is pictured here with Jennifer Malone, one of the country’s favourite GAA fans.
Great stuff from Geezer.
