Armagh's All-Ireland triumph was an emotional one for Niall Grimley, whose family have endured tragedy over the past year.
Grimley's brother Patrick was one of three people killed in a car crash near Markethill last November. Patrick's wife Ciera and their friend Ciara McElvanna were also killed in the four-vehicle crash on the Newry Road.
Niall Grimley returned to intercounty action with Armagh in the months after his brother's death and was part of the team that brought Sam Maguire back to the county for the first time in 22 years.
After scoring a point from midfield in Sunday's gripping All-Ireland final, Grimley dedicated the Orchard County's triumph to his late brother Patrick, saying, "I lost my brother and there's not a minute goes by where I don't think about him.
"That was for him and I just wish he was here to see it. He wouldn't believe it. Every night I was turning out to train, I was just doing it for him."
Grimley was a special guest on the BBC's GAA Social this week, and shared an emotional story of a moving gesture from Kieran McGeeney as the team bus made its way back to Armagh along the Newry Road on Monday.
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Armagh's Niall Grimley shares touching story from team's victorious journey home
In the afterglow of Sunday's final victory, the All-Ireland champions travelled back to Armagh with Sam Maguire in tow.
For Niall Grimley, the journey would pass by the point on the Newry Road where his brother's life was tragically lost last year.
The day after Armagh win the All-Ireland, the team are on the bus, heading to Armagh. Life couldn’t be better. Niall Grimley knows the bus is about to pass the spot where his brother Patrick died. This is what happened next
🎙️The GAA Social
🎧Listen here: https://t.co/6CcpoFJROS pic.twitter.com/jk88uN4cNr— Thomas Niblock (@thomasniblock) August 1, 2024
Speaking on this week's BBC GAA Social, Grimley revealed that he had been nervous about passing the scene, before a wonderfully kind gesture from manager Kieran McGeeney allowed him to share Sam Maguire with the memory of his brother.
We're coming down the road, obviously the Newry Road. The bus is going with singing and beers and the craic's 90.
I know what's approaching, I know that the scene is approaching and I'm a wee little bit tense, thinking the boys mightn't notice. I just bless myself going past it every single day.
Next thing, I can see the bus sort of slowing down and I'm looking to the front...the bus pulls over, I'm thinking, 'oh no, what's going on?'
Geezer just asked myself and a few of us to go out. We took Sam out and had a wee word with Patrick and Ciera and Ciara.
Moments like that are moments that I'll never forget. I've said it over the past couple of days, that's special, special moments for me.
That's coming from one man - that's Geezer. Geezer's not looking for thanks for that, and that's something really minor. That's not important, the massive things he has to deal with. That's just a wee glimpse of the things he would do for me.
I thought the boys wouldn't really notice. It was an incredible moment for me.
An understated but powerful gesture from Kieran McGeeney and his Armagh team.
After a year of unspeakable tragedy for the Grimleys, Armagh's triumph will only have meant more to Niall and the Grimley family.
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