Armagh and Kerry have history when it comes to knockouts Armagh selector Kieran Donaghy. Photo: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile Donaghy in action against Cork’s Derek Kavanagh in 2008. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile 29 June 2024; Armagh selector Kieran Donaghy during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final match between Armagh and Roscommon at Croke Park in Dublin.
Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile The late Seamus Mallon, who served as deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland between 1998 and 2001, often told the story about how his father threw off his cap in frustration after Bill McCorry missed a penalty in the 1953 All-Ireland final against Kerry. The moment remained buried deep in the psyche of Armagh football for decades. For Mallon’s generation, then, there was a sense of deja vu about Oisín McConville’s penalty miss against Kerry 49 years later in the 2002 final.
The difference in 2002 was Armagh prevailed after McConville scored the game’s only goal from play in the 54th minute. The Ulster champions held Kerry scoreless for the remainder of the tie and tagged on two precious points. For the first time in their history, Armagh were All-Ireland champions.
Better still, they had beaten the aristocrats of Gaelic football in the final. Current manager Kieran McGeeney captained the side from centre-back. Arguably, that team ultimately underachieved.
Neighbours Tyrone stole the limelight for the rest of the decade. After making the All-Ireland brea.
