GAA president Jarlath Burns delivered a memorable speech before handing over the Sam Maguire to fellow Armagh man and All-Ireland winning captain Aidan Forker.

A brilliant orator, Burns singled out the unsung heroes of the GAA after his beloved Orchard County were crowned All-Ireland football champions for only the second time in their history. What made the occasion all the more special for the GAA president was the involvement of his son Jarly Óg with Kieran McGeeney’s winning side.

Burns’ spine-tingling presentation speech was as follows: “If you are a parent who has put a set of GAA posts in your back garden, this belongs to you. If you are a coach from under-eight to senior, this belongs to you.

“If you are a member of a committee at any level that organises our games voluntarily, this belongs to you. If you are a linesman or umpire at our club matches or underage games in cold winters, this belongs to you. If you line the pitch, cut the grass, or put out flags, this belongs to you. If you make the tea after the game or you are a teacher who gives up their time to prepare pupils and develop our games, this belongs to you.

“Today is your day, because the GAA is where we all belong.

“Today belongs to Ard Mhacha. Today belongs to a man who lifted the cup here in 2002 and who stuck with this team for the last ten years, he's now the manager, Kieran McGeeney.

“I know that while many of you are thinking about loved ones who are not here today and absent friends, I know that the people of Armagh will not mind if I single out the Grimley family, and Niall Grimley in particular, for the loss they suffered.

“Now the formalities. To a man from the Lough shore and Maghery, who has struggled with this team for the last 13 seasons. There's his wife and his child, they made the same sacrifices he has.

“Now, it gives me great pleasure to present the Sam Maguire Cup to the captain of Armagh, Aidan Forker.”

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