RIAN O’Neill has withdrawn from the Armagh panel, Orchard county manager Kieran McGeeney has confirmed.
It is understood that the Crossmaglen Rangers clubman had returned to training with Armagh but has since decided that he needed a break from the inter-county scene.
Speaking after Armagh’s six-point loss to Galway at Pearse Stadium on Saturday evening, McGeeney confirmed that O’Neill had stepped away but he couldn’t confirm whether his absence would be for “weeks or months” leaving room for speculation that the player might not be involved at all this season.
“He’s taking a wee bit of time out for himself,” said McGeeney.
“I don’t know what, I don’t know whether it’s weeks or months but we said we’d give it (the break) to him.”
O’Neill was instrumental in Armagh’s march to the Sam Maguire and won an Allstar for his efforts.
A physical all-rounder and one of the purest strikers of a football in the game, he can be used at midfield and full-forward and made crucial interventions defensively last season as well.
Add in his score-taking ability from play and pressurised dead-ball situations and it is clear that his presence will be missed.
Armagh supporters will have their fingers crossed that some time out of the firing line will allow O’Neill to return refreshed to the fold before long.
When asked if O’Neill might not be involved at all this season, McGeeney answered: “When it’s personal, I try not to ask any questions.
“He was in for a while and he was training but he just needed a bit of time to himself so that’s it.”
Armagh were also without Peter McGrane (quad injury) and Tiernan Kelly (shoulder) on Saturday night.
On a positive note, Annaghmore clubman Tomas McCormack, a member of the squad for a couple of seasons, finally got a chance to show what he could do at corner-back.
“He did well,” said McGeeney.
“That was good because we lost TK (Kelly) with a shoulder injury at training and Petey (McGrane) with the quad injury – he’s had a huge load with Sigerson and stuff so we were scraping.
“We only had three or four of them back in - the likes of Jarly (Burns) and Ross (McQuillan) - so it was a long week but you just have to get on with it.
“We have a good panel but sloppy stuff cost us dearly tonight (against Galway) with a wee bit of indiscipline.”
