O’Neill emulates his heroes

By Michael McMullan

RIAN O’Neill used to pretend he was John McEntee in an era when a kid growing up in Crossmaglen never had to look far for role models.

Like O’Neill, McEntee wore the number 11 jersey and kicked a point in Armagh’s win over Kerry in the final 22 years ago.

Now, an All-Ireland winner himself, O’Neill hopes Armagh’s success on Sunday can inspire others to follow in his footsteps.

“We grew up watching the teams to the noughties,” he said of recalling the day his manager Kieran McGeeney climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand to lift Sam Maguire in 2002.

He also namechecks the rest of the Crossmaglen contingent – Tony McEntee, his uncle Oisín McConville and Francie Bellew.

“I idolised those players and now we’ll inspire a new generation of Armagh players to go on and fulfil their dreams…that’s what it’s all about,” O’Neill said after beginning to come to terms with Armagh’s win over Galway on Sunday.

“It’s great to know those kids, they can pull on to Armagh jersey again and they can be proud they are from Armagh.”

Their league final defeat to Donegal was rolled out by some as a turning point of sorts in the season. O’Neill highlighted how league was league and championship was championship. That’s when everything is at stake. There is no safety net.

After reaching another Ulster final, Armagh were again beaten on penalties but that’s when Kieran McGeeney laid the season on the line to the squad.

“I am not going to lie,” O’Neill revealed, “after we beaten penalties again ‘Geezer’ sat us down. We could go one of two ways. We could feel sorry for ourselves or we could get back on the horse and go and win this All-Ireland.”

A win over Westmeath was followed by hammering Derry at Celtic Park in what O’Neill rates as one of their best showings of the season.

“We played Galway down in Sligo and we just kept building and building and building and there’s an awful lot to be said for momentum,” he added.

“It’s a special thing and once you get on a roll. It’s a very, very hard thing to stop and especially when all the people in Armagh row in behind you.”

Getting over Roscommon at Croke Park was another stepping stone to get the monkey off their back. And confidence grew from there.

“We took care of Kerry, which was a monumental game and that just built even more momentum within the team. Once you get that momentum going, you’re a hard animal to stop.”

It was an emotional week for O’Neill, his brother Oisin and cousin Callum who lost their uncle Padraig ‘Bucket’ O’Neill, a former Armagh player and three-time Sigerson Cup winner with UUJ.

“We knew after the Kerry game that he would have died a happy man and by God, he’d be a proud, proud uncle there today,” Rian said in tribute.

Winning the game and the final whistle was “absolute magic” and all the emotions came back of growing up wanting to play on the biggest stage.

“That’s what you’re dreaming of since you’re three, four, five years old when you’re out in the backyard,” he said.

“I used to be out pretending to be John McEntee kicking points. Now I’m one of the players. We have that All-Ireland behind our name and no one can ever take that away from us…ever.”

Check out our Monday review show as we look back at Sunday’s historic win for Armagh, the key moments and the special atmosphere at the homecoming.

We also caught up with some of the winning Armagh squad as they toured the county.