‘You want to win every cup that you’re in’

Kieran McGeeney insists that winning a first Ulster SFC title in 18 years is a big deal to Armagh.

The 2024 All-Ireland champions eventually saw off Monaghan after extra-time to end their run of provincial final losses as they focus now shifts to the visit of Derry to the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in the opening round of the All-Ireland SFC series.

“I think they do want it, but I think the big part is probably more down to the narrative around it,” the Orchard County manager told reporters in Clones.

“You want to win every cup that you’re in. As a manager, when I read people saying the same as the round-robin competition, the Super 16s, people don’t want to win it (Ulster) bad enough.

“I just think it’s horses***. None of those people have ever stood in a changing-room and said that because it’s just pure nonsense. The boys definitely want to win.”

He added: “I’m sure there’s loads of people watching who think they could be here and beating us. First of all, those fellas that played in four finals, it was one point that separated them from the other three.

“One point from play, the other went to penalties. We had our chances in that one. They’ve shown their quality.

“The thing about Ulster is there’s a lot of quality around it. You have to be at your very best. It does come down to those small margins, whether it’s penalties or those free kicks on a particular day.

“Today, they’re on the right side of it. I suppose a lot of that won’t come out in extra time. They didn’t want to let it slip. Fair play to them. They deserve huge credit for what they did. That’s all they do. It’s in their hearts to determine it.”

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