McGeeney reflects on 'cruel' exit

July 03, 2023

Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney with referee Conor Lane. ©INPHO/Ben Brady.

Kieran McGeeney couldn't hide his disappointment after Armagh's second successive All-Ireland SFC quarter-final penalty shootout defeat.

Rory Beggan's save from Callum Cumiskey proved decisive as Monaghan set up a last-four meeting with Dublin.

“It is very tough - thats sport isn’t it? Cruel,” a crestfallen McGeeney told reporters afterwards.

"Whatever it was, eight great penalties each and just unfortunate, one didn’t go in, it was hard on Callum (Cumiskey), but that’s just the nature of the beast with penalties.

“You feel for them. They’re a great bunch. They work hard. It was the same in the Ulster final. A few slim things go against them, and they’re finding it hard to get a break.”

The Armagh manager also questioned the referee's timekeeping after more than the three minutes of injury-time signalled were played at the end, presumably for injuries to Karl O’Connell and Andrew Murnin

“People seem to want to decide the game themselves and it is very difficult to take. But the sooner they stop thinking they know everything and take it from the ladies’ football and get it out of people’s hands so they know the times, the better," he complained.

“But listen, it’s the same for every team at the minute. We’re not the only ones.”


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