THE spirit of Armagh couldn’t be broken, said Oisin O’Neill, after the Orchard County kept Galway at arm’s length to claim the second All-Ireland title in their history.
O’Neill, his brother Rian – whose Trojan effort included a superb first half point – and their cousin Calum went into the All-Ireland final having laid their uncle Padraic to rest recently.
“It was a tough week for us,” said the St Colman’s College teacher.
“He took unwell after the last game and it was a stressful week after and unfortunately he passed last weekend
“We kind of knew we had a job to do for the group but Padraig played for Armagh and there was a job we had to do this week and I think he was looking over us today.
“There are more stories in our group and I am sure you will hear them over the next while, but some of the tragedies, some of the things that people have gone through, that’s what Geezer told us last weekend and that’s what glues us together and you saw that out there today. We couldn’t be broke.”
The Crossmaglen Rangers clubman was wearing the ‘Care for Caolan’ t-shirt at the post-match press conference. A talented footballer with Crossmaglen, Caolan Finnegan might well have been involved in the Sam Maguire triumph but he is currently battling against an aggressive form of brain cancer.
“Geezer said he would have been in with us this year,” said O’Neill.
“He is 21/22 years of age and he has got a massive battle but he has the support of Armagh and Gaels across the globe.
“He is going back out to Germany tomorrow for more treatment. He will be in our thoughts this week and for the next couple of weeks and please God he can pull through.”
Like Stefan Campbell, who once again had a vital impact after coming on as a substitute, Oisin O’Neill had to settle for a place on the bench this season. Meanwhile, Tiernan Kelly, who is better known as a midfielder or an attacking half-forward, was converted into a disciplined centre half-back and was happy to play wherever he was required.
“I am happy to do whatever role is needed for the team,” he said.
“In today’s game that middle eight… It’s kind of all over the place and you have your defensive structure and your attacking structure, so everyone has their role. I have six on me but everybody has a role, it’s the team structure.”
There’s always a “serious party” in Lurgan, says Kelly but he knows that this week’s is going to be extra-special everywhere in the Orchard county.
One of five men – Barry McCambridge, Andrew Murnin, Conor Turbitt and Campbell were the others - from the north Armagh GAA stronghold to play their part, Clann Eireann clubman Kelly struggled to put his emotions at the final whistle into words.
“You’re thinking of all the boys you played with, your family, the management team and how much the boys put in over the last, well, a lot longer than I’ve been here so it’s a mixture of emotions all rolled into one,” he said.
“It’s hard to process at the minute and for a couple of boys probably even harder to process, but hopefully over the next week or two you can take it all in and really soak it all up because it’s been a long time coming and you don’t know where the next one is going to come.”
Oisin O’Neill interjected to explain that, after the disappointment of losing the Ulster final to Donegal, Campbell declared that the Armagh squad would pay a social visit to Lurgan to raise their spirits.
“I think that was the day we won the All-Ireland,” said a smiling O’Neill.
