DECLAN McCOY: Sam Maguire return and a passing of the torch

IT may be a few weeks on, but there can only be one topic for this month’s article, and that’s Armagh’s fantastic All-Ireland success.

I am going to describe my experience as a supporter over the past few years following the team to try and give you a flavour of how it was.

Being occupied with club management, I found that I had slipped away from following the team. Managing a club is almost semi-professional at this stage so I was always struggling time-wise to get to games.

I remember about two and a half years ago sitting down and deciding to make a concerted effort to get back to the games. The thought process behind that was that my three sons, Ethan, Cian and Odhrán, needed to be introduced to the experience of following Armagh.

I had experienced the ‘good auld days’ back in the late nineties and early 2000s and I felt that my lads needed to be introduced to the boys in orange. This sense of duty felt like a passing of the torch.

My own father, Desy, had brought me to Armagh games since I was eight. Back then championship was knock-out and you were always guaranteed a great atmosphere. I loved going to games with my dad and uncles, Kevin, Peter and Danny. They are among the best memories of my childhood.

My younger brother Gareth would be crammed in the car with me and we looked forward to the bottles of coke and crisps as much as the game. My sister Ciara was too busy with My Little Pony and my brother Niall was too young.

We had great days from sneaking under the turnstiles into the 1992 All-Ireland final to leaving the Fermanagh 1993 miracle comeback game early when we were eight points down with a few minutes left. My heroes growing up were Des Mackin, Eddie Martin and Cathal O’Rourke.

The next phase of supporting Armagh was infinitely more successful and the coke and crisps had been replaced with burgers and beers. This culminated with the 2002 All-Ireland victory.

All these experiences left me with a sense of duty to ensure my children got the chance to enjoy some big days.

What did I expect? I had hoped that the Athletic Grounds atmosphere would be electric and that we might compete for an Ulster Championship or league. I had placed the 2002 team on a pedestal and thought the current crop would do well to win a provincial title. This was factoring in how strong Dublin, Kerry and others currently were.

The league games in Armagh were electric – from witnessing David Clifford playing to a late comeback against Mayo to earn a draw. It was common to bring the boys an hour and a half before throw in to get a seat as the place was always packed out.

The boys had their first trip to Croke Park in 2022 to witness Armagh beat Dublin in the league. This was the first time I dared to think we could do something.

A friend of mine was quietly toiling away at full-back for Armagh and the boys know him well, which gave them more interest in the game. I had said to Aaron if they win that league game could he come to the stand after a game for a picture with my boys. Sure enough, he came to the lower Cusack and the lads got their photo with their hero. This gesture ignited their interest in the team even more.

In the throes of summer that year we made it to Croke Park again to face Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final. This was a game changer. With 70-odd thousand at the game and an atmosphere that was off the charts, Rian O’Neill hit the impossible free that day and we ultimately lost out on penalties.

I came away relatively happy. The boys had sampled the atmosphere and Armagh were back dining at the top table. We would never win an All-Ireland but an Ulster was a possibility.

The 2023 season saw us relegated to Division Two but I didn’t mind as the Athletic Grounds again delivered again with astonishing atmospheres. I also sniffed an Ulster.

We were in the Ulster final that year and faced a fancied Derry team. We let the game slip in extra-time and Derry forced penalties. I was confident as surely, we won’t lose two shoot-outs in a row. Then bang, we were beat again. I remember watching the Derry fans dance to ‘Glory Days’. I had a sick feeling. Would my boys ever get to do that?

Roll on to August and we’re back in Croke Park again for Monaghan. We were favorites and I remember thinking the lads will see us win finally at HQ. We let the game slip in extra-time and Monaghan forced penalties. I was immensely confident as no way does a team lose three shoot-outs in a row. Alas, we lost in penalties and this one stung. The pattern was there, we couldn’t close out the big games.

The off-season that year saw Kieran McGeeney survive a vote of confidence. I was of the opinion that he should stay for two reasons. One, I felt we owed him for giving us big days out in Croke Park again. Two, the players had complete faith in him and this was good enough for me.

I remember thinking when my brother’s book came out, ‘Kings For A Day’, that we were a million miles away from those glory days

Fast-forward to this year. We rocked up in Croker again for the Division Two final against Donegal. We lost by a point and again, I had that sinking feeling. My kids had seen Armagh lose another final and another defeat in Croke Park. I stayed to watch a bit of Dublin and Derry and bemoaned that they were light years ahead of us.

Time is a great healer and we arrived at Clones to play Donegal in the Ulster final with renewed hope. I made the joke that if it goes to penalties I’m leaving early…not actually believing it was possible.

True to form, we were in control but let Donegal force it to penalties and win. This was the end for me, I had enough of the lads seeing us lose so cruelly and I felt the year was done.

I watched them dismantle Derry on television and thought Derry are in a bad place so didn’t put too much stock in it. They faltered against Galway in the group but somehow forced a draw.

They were back in Croke Park to face Roscommon. I was happy with the draw as I had friends playing for Louth and didn’t want to go up against them. I had no enthusiasm to go but my wife Marie convinced me that we should bring the kids. We convincingly beat Roscommon in an underwhelming display.

My brother texted to say, ‘the boys finally got to see Armagh win in Croke Park’. I thought that at least we got that and had thought a semi-final was a massive achievement and would be a great experience.

Could we beat Kerry? I didn’t think so but by God the boys were going. Galway had beaten Dublin so who knows? The first half was predictable enough. Kerry in control and they opened us up several times. Then in an instant everything changed.

Barry McCambridge punches the ball to the net and Croke Park exploded. Suddenly we could beat Kerry, we could make a final. I had to leave before extra-time as I had a league game with Naomh Mairtin in Louth. I listened to it on the radio on the way home and it was magic. I was jealous that I missed the elation of Croke park, but my boys were dancing with joy so job done.

Everything changed that day. Could we win an All-Ireland? Absolutely. The panic for tickets was stressful. I had got sorted early but I couldn’t settle to all family and friends were sorted. Then the flags and bunting went up, family get-togethers, an all-round brilliant buzz.

The final was a brilliant occasion and the atmosphere was outstanding. A drab first half had ended all square and the tension was palpable. Then up pops my mate McKay with the goal (he was 4000-1 with the bookies) and it’s dream land. The last ten minutes were bedlam. I kept thinking, my lads will never get a better chance to see Armagh win an All-Ireland. What if they never get what I got in 2002? Then the whistle went, pure uncontrollable joy.

Aaron came over to the exact same spot he had done after the Dublin league game and got a picture with my son Cian. It will be framed and will be pride of place in my house. The circle was complete. Two years on and two photos that represented Armagh’s journey from a league victory against Dublin to champions of Ireland.

From a personal point of view, my kids had witnessed history, no matter what happens in the future they’ve seen Armagh win. Aaron put on the number 6 jersey as a tribute to our clubmate and my former player Peter Hughes, who tragically lost his life in a car accident years previous. It was extremely poignant.

A new generation has been inspired and up and down the county children are trying to score an ‘Aaron McKay goal’. My new niece Anna has already been in the Sam Maguire twice despite being just over three weeks. Magic times.

There is just one thing left and it’s this: Thank you to every player, every member of the backroom and especially to Geezer. You are an example to us all in the power of the team and mental strength. You have done more than you will ever realise.

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