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

"Put Down The IPad Or The IPhone And Get Out Playing Football" - Rian O'Neill
Niall McIntyre
By Niall McIntyre Updated
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Rian O'Neill hopes Armagh's All-Ireland football final win over Galway inspires the kids of the county to leave the iPhones down to pick up footballs.

The Crossmaglen Rangers star played a crucial role in Armagh's triumph, kicking a brilliant second half score bringing them came back into the game after an early surge from Galway.

Kieran McGeeney's side struck a crucial blow in the 48th minute of the game when Aaron McKay palmed into the net and Galway never recovered from there.

O'Neill (25) was one of their star performers throughout the championship particularly in the semi-final against Kerry when he kicked three points and plucked a ball down from under his own cross-bar.

A nephew of Oisin McConville's, O'Neill followed in his uncle's footsteps on Sunday by winning an All-Ireland title.

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His brother Oisin O'Neill was also on the Armagh panel, coming on in the second half to kick a point in the closing stages. That put Armagh three up with five minutes to go but Galway rallied through points from Cein D'Arcy and Cillian McDaid, ensuring a frantic finale.

There was heartbreak for Padraic Joyce's side late on with Shane Walsh's free dropping short before Dylan McHugh's outside of the boot effort sliced off the post. Referee Sean Hurson blew the final whistle and for Armagh, it was a feeling of elation as they won only their second ever All-Ireland title.

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Speaking at Armagh's banquet in the Carrickdale hotel in Dundalk, O'Neill said he hopes the victory inspires a generation.

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"We grew up through the noughties going to watch Oisin (McConville) and the rest of the Armagh team playing knock-out game after knock-out game in Croke Park and you just thought that was the way it was going to be but that's not the way it panned out for us over the last few years," he told The Sunday Game.

"This win today will inspire kids all around Armagh to get the Armagh jersey on them and get out on the street and put down the iPad or the iPhone and get out playing football," he added.

"This kind of thing doesn't come around every year for the people of Armagh you know, we're not one of the biggest counties in Ireland, so we'll go nuts for the week!"

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READ ALSO: Kieran Donaghy Played Key Role In 'Turning Point' Of Armagh All-Ireland Win

 

 

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