Long after the 23,626 fans had vacated Fitzgerald Stadium four members of the Armagh squad wandered out for one last look around one of the great amphitheatres of the GAA.
Kieran McGeeney hopes the elder statesmen of his Armagh squad defer thoughts of retirement following their devastating 13-point loss to All-Ireland champions Kerry in Killarney on Saturday.
Long after the 23,626 fans had vacated Fitzgerald Stadium four members of the Armagh squad wandered out for one last look around one of the great amphitheatres of the GAA.
It was telling that 2024 skipper Aidan Forker was flanked by Andrew Murnin, Paddy Burns and Rory Grugan.
McGeeney might have a job on his hands convincing the aforementioned quartet to return again when, in his own words, Armagh felt “a million miles away” while Kerry were far more clinical – falling just two points shy of their 32-point haul from last season’s stunning quarter-final win over the Orchard.
“Everybody in that changing room still has a lot to offer,” stated McGeeney, who was warmly embraced by his former coach Kieran Donaghy in the midst of his post-match press briefing.
“The likes of Aidan (Forker) and Rory (Grugan) for example – they’ve only come back into fitness around May time.
“They had no pre-season, they were starting to come and I still think themselves and Andrew (Murnin) and Paddy Burns still have a lot to offer.
“I think too if we had some of those older players at the tail end of this year that we missed from last year, but that’s the hard thing about keeping fella’s after a day like today.
“You can feel like you’re a million miles away so you just have to let the dust settle and see where everybody comes back and start making plans then.
He added: “We got the Ulster championship, we did okay, the League was decent, we were just pipped in a lot of those games, but just the last 10 days will always put a bit of a sour taste on it.
“We didn’t maybe go where we are capable of going but if it was easy, everybody would be at it.”
Jack O’Connor, meanwhile, was able to get crucial minutes into the legs of Sean O’Shea with the All-Star attacker making a great late block on Oisin Conaty.
“It was fantastic to get Seánie (O’Shea) back,” said O’Connor.
“A couple of weeks ago we didn’t think he’d make it back, but the man is such a leader in the group that getting him out on the field and getting minutes into him is crucial. It just increases our options.”
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