Kieran McGeeney said that there's too much criticism and giving out in GAA culture in an RTÉ interview after Armagh's win over Kerry.
McGeeney's side defeated Kerry after extra-time booking their place in a first All-Ireland final since 2003.
They will play the winners of Donegal-Galway in two weeks time in what will be Geezer's first All-Ireland final as a manager.
Plenty of negativity surrounded Armagh after their penalty shoot-out loss to Donegal in the Ulster final - it was their fourth penalty shoot-out loss in the championship since 2022 - but 'after a lot of effort,' and 'a lot of f*cking teamwork,' according to McGeeney, his team bounced back.
Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney reacts after an exhausting extra-time victory over Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final #RTEGAA
(Warning: Contains strong language) pic.twitter.com/T0xd3LU6Zo
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 13, 2024
McGeeney shipped plenty of criticism after that loss. Some said he's an unlucky general. Some said his game-plan is too cagey.
He used the example of the recent Derry-Kerry game to make the point that it can be hard to determine whether a game is or isn't cagey.
"Everyone was giving out about Derry-Kerry. Each game will take a life of its own, whether that's cagey...you can't determine it. You might go out and say do this, but that's not the way it always goes," he said.
"Two teams really wanted to go at it and win it at the end there, nobody was looking for f*cking penalties!" he said, before pardoning his language.
The Mullaghbawn native was on a roll and he told a story of how the Armagh players were laughing at the difference in the game he played in twenty years ago.
13 July 2024; Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney after his side's victory in the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
"Each game takes on a life of its own," he told RTÉ's Damian Lawlor.
"But there’s a lot of enjoyment in it. People keep knocking the GAA....I'm the one that's told I'm dour. I'm listening to the tv, everybody giving out.
"But it’s funny, the boys were watching past games of ourselves and Kerry from 20 years ago and they’re just laughing at us.
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"They laugh at us, 'this is the stuff we're being told that we’re no good compared to you?’
McGeeney said that, in general, he loves to play games against Kerry because he feels they play the game the way it should be played. He's delighted for his team after all their setbacks and hopes they can kick on and take their chance in the final
"Anytime you play Kerry you know what you're going to get. It’s quick, it’s fast, it’s aggressive."
"We missed a few easy scores, they got a few easy scores so it was one of those games that you’ll look back on and you’ll go s**t that’s a lot of mistakes. But then I suppose for the neutral that’s the type of game they like.
"To come out on top, it's great for the players. To get that semi-final into an All-Ireland final, like we still haven’t won anything but still it’s a great achievement for a team that’s been knocked back and knocked back and knocked back."
"I’m delighted for them, I just hope they realise there’s a big thing in front of them."
