Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney: 'There is a good buzz with the boys; I think we're in a good place'

It was a draw that felt like a win.

A point on the board was all Armagh needed against Galway on Sunday afternoon, and they got it. However, 15 minutes from time things weren’t looking so good, as the Tribesmen led by five.

That was until Armagh hit 1-3 in quick succession out of nowhere to go ahead late on. Galway answered back, but Stefan Campbell fisted the ball over in the dying seconds of stoppage time to bring the Armagh fans to their feet and book their place in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

It means that Kieran McGeeney’s men have reached the last eight for the third consecutive year, although they did come up short at this stage in 2022 and 2023.

Will things be different this year? Following a successful Division 2 league campaign, a run to the Ulster final, an impressive win over Derry, and yesterday’s comeback against Galway, McGeeney says that his side ‘are in a good place’.

“Last year, the league was up and down but it was the first division league so there was only a point in any game one way or the other. However, winning games does give you more of a bounce despite, it mightn’t have been in the first division.

“I think there's more of a bounce in the fellas, I think some of our key players are a lot fitter this year and stronger, so I think there's definitely more of a bounce with the players than there was last year.

“It's another two weeks but there's a good buzz with the boys, you can hear that. There's a good bounce and it was nice to finish top with the group which will give them another bounce going in. I think we're in a good place.”

A recurring theme for Armagh this season has been the impact that substitutes have made off the bench, and that was in effect once again on Sunday, as Campbell scored the all-important equaliser, following a move which included fellow subs Oisin O’Neill and Aidan Nugent.

Having quality to come in off the bench has undoubtedly been important, but quality players usually want to start. However, McGeeney says that his subs appreciate the impact of their role and how big of an influence they can have on the game.

“All of them in fairness, are very mature with things like that (not starting),” said McGeeney.

“The game has changed so much, there are very few teams not using three or four subs and the thing about it is nowadays, they nearly need to be better, the ones that are coming on because it's at that point of the game, the composure and ability to score

“Soupy, he was excellent for us today and I think he's been excellent all year. Probably we just went for a bit of size with [Ciaran] Higgins in terms of their half forward line so it was more of a tactical thing.

“Soupy, like every player, he has highs and lows but in general, he's always around a 7 or an 8 (out of ten) for you.”

MATCH STATS

Armagh: B Hughes; B McCambridge, A McKay, P McGrane; C Higgins, T Kelly (1-1), A Forker; N Grimley, B Crealey (0-1); J McElroy, R O'Neill (0-3), O Conaty; R Grugan, A Murnin (0-2), C Turbitt (0-4, 1f).

Subs: S Campbell (0-1) for Higgins (HT), R McQuillan for Conaty (48), A Nugent for Forker (54), O O’Neill for McGrane (65).

Galway: C Gleeson; J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, J Glynn; D McHugh (0-1), S Mulkerrin, L Silke (0-1); P Conroy (0-2), S Kelly; M Tierney (0-1), J Maher (0-1), C Darcy; R Finnerty (0-3, 2f), S Walsh (0-5, 3f), C McDaid (0-1).

Subs: J Daly for Mulkerrin (47), C Sweeney for McDade (54), J Heaney for Kelly (63), D O’Flaherty for Darcy (67).

Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).