By Michael McMullan

ARMAGH star Joe McElroy paid tribute to the county’s fanatical fan base after helping deliver a first Ulster title since 2008.

The Harps man made that famous late block in the Orchard County’s All-Ireland final win over Galway in 2024 and just last weekend he kicked two points in an all-action display to see off Monaghan in Sunday’s extra-time rollercoaster.

“I don’t know why the fans are so mad in Armagh, they’re just so loyal,” beamed McElroy amid the height of the celebrations on the St Tiernach’s Park sod.

“Honestly, I know every single team says this, they’re the best fans in the country for football, bar none.

“I know you’ve got Cork in the hurling, but the Armagh fans are just crazy. They’re always supporting us, travelling far, and we’re just delighted to have them.”

McElroy spoke of the amount of pressure cooker games they have been involved in – wins and defeats – and the impact the roar of the crowd makes when a game is hanging in the balance.

“It makes a massive difference,” he said. “I just want to say thank you very much to all the fans that come to all the games, buy all the merchandise.”

Before chatting with Gaelic Life, McElroy, a teacher in St Paul’s Bessbrook, joked in the stand with former Armagh skipper Jarlath Burns about the possibility of closing the school for a few days.

While it was a tongue in cheek comment, McElroy pointed to the level of importance attached to winning on Sunday.

Yes, the squad had their All-Ireland medals but getting their hands on the Anglo Celt Cup after narrowly missing out in the three previous finals was always to the fore. Obviously.

“We wanted to win this Ulster Championship, we left no stone unturned,” McElroy said. “‘Geezer’ (Kieran McGeeney) made it very clear that this is the one that we’re missing.

Kieran McGeeney and Paddy Burns celebrate Armagh’s Ulster final win

“The boys have put in a massive shift. There has been a lot of turnover in players this year, and even last year, since 2024. A lot of boys have come in, and they’ve really stood up.”

McElroy also mentioned the value Armagh were able to tap into from previous tight corners in Ulster finals and on the race to land Sam. It opens the door on composure many other teams haven’t got in the locker.

Seven of the team that marched behind the band on the Sunday didn’t start the 2024 All-Ireland final. McElroy is one of the eight who did and points to the importance of the greater overall squad.

“The management there, and ‘Geezer’, have got a serious hold and power over players to keep freshness and to keep boys coming back,” McElroy said.

“A lot of the players that were playing today (Ulster final) that might not have played in 2024, they were on the 30, on the squad.

“They stayed about for three years when they were getting nothing. I think that’s just a big statement from the management, where they’ve kept them there.

“They’ve been able to push on, and now they’re getting rewards. Our motto would always be, it’s just next man up,” said McElroy, not lining out in the middle third that has lost the injured Ben Crealey and Niall Grimley.

“If someone gets a chance, you take it. Sometimes it’s hard to get back in. Once you’re in it’s easier, but once you get pushed out, it’s hard to get back into the squad.”