McEvoy expecting another blockbuster with the Dubs’ return

WHEN Armagh last hosted Dublin in 2011, was Philip McEvoy was between posts. It was electric then and the Dromintee man is expecting the same on Saturday night.

Armagh had just returned to Division Two. It was the opening of the new stand in the Athletic Grounds and Dublin would end a 16-year wait for Sam seven months later.

“It was a Saturday night I think, live on TV and there was a real carnival atmosphere. Nothing like I’ve experienced before or since really,” said McEvoy, now goalkeeper coach with the Orchard ladies team.

It was his first taste of Division One football. He recalls the Dublin fans packed behind the goals. Bodhrans beating. Noise. Colour. Hill 16 on tour.

He’d later discover from his brother how his father held the Dublin fans surrounding him to account for hollering across the fence at McEvoy junior in the Armagh number one jersey.

“ (Stephen) Cluxton was in nets at the other end and he was a real idol of mine, even at that stage,” McEvoy recalls.

“They had Diarmuid Connolly, Bernard Brogan and Kevin McManamon that night, all goal getters.”

McEvoy made an early save to deny McManamon with Connolly and Brogan finding the net. He can still see Brogan flicking the winning goal past him in the closing stages.

“I remember Stevie (McDonnell) was on fire that night and Gerard Swift as well was flying,” McEvoy said of the attacking duo annexing four points each against the Dubs.

“I can remember (Pat) Gilroy saying how it would stand to Dublin, coming to Armagh and winning. Up to that point there were question marks over them.”

“That was their breakthrough year. Diarmuid Connolly is probably the best player I played against, and he just went from strength to strength.

“Looking back, it was a phenomenal team they had and it’s no surprise they had all their success. It’s surreal to think that now it’s Armagh who are the All-Ireland champions and it’s the Dubs who are coming to town.”

The serious side of Saturday is the two league points but there is a carnival atmosphere on the pipeline. Dublin bring that and Armagh have also built up a serious following on their way to collecting Sam.

Watching on from the tunnel area after the Armagh ladies’ game last weekend, McEvoy could almost reach out at touch the excitement in those last 20 minutes.

If Armagh can get a victory his weekend it would lay down another marker and move them towards Division One football for next season.

McEvoy finds it hard to fully quantify the value Sam Maguire brought to the county. He can see the impact on the ladies’ team. They want to follow.

The Jonesboro Primary School team he coaches is attracting youngsters who previously had little interest.

“The (Armagh) lads themselves were so generous with their time over the winter,” McEvoy said. “Aaron McKay is hero-worshiped around here.

“With the school team, we’ve a lot more boys and girls looking to play that had no interest in Gaelic football whatsoever this time last year.

“It’s the same with the underage teams in Dromintee, that’s the kind of impact it’s brought. There is obviously a load of happiness and joy with older folk like me. It’s what it’s done to the younger generation that is remarkable.”

For Armagh, they want two points on Saturday. For Philip McEvoy, he wants to get his hand on a ticket. You’ll not be able to turn a sweet in your mouth. It’s sure to be box office.