'We owe Kieran McGeeney an Ulster title' says Armagh's Paddy Burns

McGeeney is now in his tenth year as management, and whilst support from the playing group has never been questioned. However, his detractors have pointed to a lack of silverware in the past, with no Ulster Championships during his reign a particular point of contention.

Armagh missed out on the Anglo Celt 12 months ago in the cruellest of fashions – losing on penalties against Derry – and with another crack at it next Sunday against Donegal, Burns says that the team are desperate to end McGeeney’s barren run without an Ulster title.

“I think you always want to go out and win something for him,” said Burns.

“We (players) put in a lot of time, but me and Paddy McBrearty [Donegal captain] were talking there, and I asked him would he ever consider going into county management, and the two of us both agreed ‘absolutely not’.

“It’s such a difficult job. It takes so much time, so much effort, and I think for the time he has put into us, the stuff he gives us, and how well he looks after us, the least we can do is try to give him an Ulster title, and we will be doing our best to do that.”

Burns, who spoke at the Ulster GAA’s media event ahead of final alongside McBrearty said that his chat with the Tír Chonaill man also touched on last year’s heartbreak for Armagh, and in particular, their hopes of avoiding another penalty shootout if at all possible.

“I think that we have a gentleman’s agreement that there will be no penalties. One of us will throw it over our own bars at the end if we have to,” laughed Burns.

“We were very close in normal time last year and then again in extra-time. But we probably should have won it in normal time against what everybody knows now is a really good Derry team.

“It’s not often you get another opportunity so soon to give yourself a chance to undo it.

“So, that’s definitely a big thought for us: ‘let’s go out and try to give ourselves the best shot at doing what we should have done last year.”

Burns was also asked about the All-Ireland Series draw taking place ahead of the provincial finals, and if it is a distraction.

Should Armagh win, they will go into a group containing Tyrone, Cork and the losers of the Munster final. Should they lose, they will face the Connacht champions, Derry and Westmeath.

However, with such a big game staring them in the face, Burns insists that the players aren’t looking that far ahead.

“I think regardless of the draw, you just want to go out and try to do your best, and try to win Ulster,” said the corner back.

“It’s a bit of an irrelevance in a way, because you’re not going to base how you perform in an Ulster final on what’s happening next.

“There has been very little talk about it, although we haven’t trained too much since Saturday. I think when you’re in a final, those sort of things aren’t really important; you just focus on the next game.

“Maybe that sounds naïve, or you don’t believe that’s the case, but I can tell you that it’s not a conversation that’s had amongst the players.”

We will have more build-up to the Ulster final next week, both online and in the Newry Reporter newspaper – which is in shops Wednesday May 8!