Enda McNulty regards it as a 'disgrace' that he and his Armagh team-mates have just one All-Ireland medal to show for their efforts in the noughties.

In an interview with Irish Tatler Man magazine, reprinted in today's Examiner, the former Orchard defender - who starred on the team that made history in 2002 - claimed they had the talent to win nine All-Irelands!

"That team, without a doubt, was a failure," McNulty commented.

"We'll go to our grave with that regret. Armagh were in a position to win nine All-Irelands and we won one.

"You might say to me, 'Enda, that's not very positive.' No, but it's realistic. That team had the leaders, had the skill, the adversity-quotient, the power, the physicality, the defence, the scorers.

"It is a disgrace that team only won one All-Ireland."

McNulty, who is part of Joe Schmidt's Ireland rugby backroom team, added: "It's not about the other actors on the stage being better; we didn't do it.

"As good as Kerry and Tyrone were, we lost to weaker teams. We were good enough on those big days that we lost. We were six points up at one stage against Kerry in the quarter-final in 2006. Against Meath in 1999 (All-Ireland semi-final), we were good enough to win that, so therefore we were good enough.

"There were days, weeks and months where I found it difficult to get out of bed. After Tyrone in '05 (All-Ireland semi-final), Kerry '06 and Derry '07 (first-round qualifier), I literally struggled to get out of bed."

Tweet

Most Read Stories