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Oisin Conaty Explains How Geezer Convinced Him To Play With Armagh Over Soccer

Oisin Conaty Explains How Geezer Convinced Him To Play With Armagh Over Soccer
Niall McIntyre
By Niall McIntyre Updated
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Oisin Conaty completed a dream year with the Armagh footballers winning man-of-the-match in the All-Ireland football final.

The 21-year-old got off to a flying start in the game scoring Armagh's first point after five minutes and he kept that momentum going right through to the finish.

He followed it up with another point after after eight minutes and then kicked a third after half-time, with his pace and direct-running causing problems for the Galway defence throughout.

The Tír na Nóg Portadown club-man was also named on The Sunday Game team of the year and is now a front-runner also for the Young Footballer of the year award.

Conaty served his apprenticeship as a sub on the panel last season before becoming a key man throughout this year's championship.

A multi-talented sports-man, Conaty was on the Northern Ireland under-19 soccer panel two years ago having also played in the Northern Ireland premiership for Portadown.

He explained to Joanne Cantwell in his man-of-the-match interview on Sunday night how Kieran McGeeney convinced him to choose Gaelic football over soccer.

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"I met Geezer last year and from that meeting, I knew straight away what I wanted to do, and that was to be an Armagh player.

"He's just so inspiring," said Conaty.

"I just knew from that meeting I wanted to follow in his footsteps, lift Sam.

"Ciaran McKeever (selector on the senior team) was my minor manager too and he promised back in 2020 that we'd win an All-Ireland, so big plaudits to him."

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Conaty played a big role for Armagh defensively and in attack throughout the year and he said one of the assets of his game is having the ability to 'mix it up. He also paid a big tribute to the people of his club Tír na Nóg who he says helped him hugely along the way.

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"It's mad, I can't believe it really," he said.

"This wouldn't have been possible without my team-mates, so I want to give a big thanks to them."

"The management have faith in me to carry out what they needed me to do.

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"None of this would have been possible either without my club Tír na Nóg, especially my underage coaches.

"I just want to thank everyone around the club. They've been so helpful so a big thanks to them."

It's been some journey for Conaty who, in 2014, was playing at half-time in the All-Ireland final in the GoGames exhibition.

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Read More: "Put Down The IPad Or The IPhone And Get Out Playing Football" - Rian O'Neill

 

 

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