AS the hype swirls around the Orchard County just as it 20 years ago in the push for Sam, Ciaran McKeever insists the management and players can’t afford to get seduced by the colour and noise ahead of their win-or-bust All-Ireland quarter-final showdown with Galway at Croke Park tomorrow afternoon.
McKeever, however, understands the feel-good factor an All-Ireland run can bring to GAA communities around the county and knows that it has lifted his own family after a difficult year.
The McKeever clan lost their mother, Majella, last year.
“Listen, there’s a lot of hype around the place and I think that’s important for fans as well because it’s been a tough two years for everybody with lockdown,” said the Cullyhanna man, who retired from Armagh duty in 2017.
“Fans have to enjoy this but as players and management we have to detach ourselves and make sure we’re focused. But I know even through my own family – we lost our mum last year – the past couple of weeks has lifted everybody.
“My sisters and brother were getting their kids ready to go to Clones and now they’re getting them ready to go to Croke Park, which is great, but you have to stay removed from the outside world a wee bit and think of our preparation.”
His own son, baby Senan, who is just 16 months old, is proving a welcome distraction from his lap-top in the build up as Armagh prepare for only their third All-Ireland quarter-final since 2014.
In 2017, they were hammered by Tyrone in their last quarter-final appearance.
Eight years ago, Paul Grimley’s Armagh lost a titanic last eight tie to Jim McGuinness’s Donegal at Croke Park – a game the Orchard men left behind them.
“Funnily enough, I was chatting to Brendy Donaghy (currently injured) about that 2014 season,” McKeever said.
“It was actually an unbelievable season. I think we got relegated from Division Two of the National League and we had injuries throughout that campaign but we showed decent form in matches and played really well.
“We obviously had the whole parade issue prior to the Cavan game. That really galvanised us, we battened down the hatches and went on a run to the All-Ireland quarter-final and lost to Donegal by a point. It was a roller-coaster season.”
Grimley stepped down after the 2014 season and handed over the reins to Kieran McGeeney who was assisting him and remains in post today.
“I haven’t seen Paul in a long time and I suppose we were all locked down for two years with COVID, but he would always text before matches and after matches. It’s always good to get that text coming through from him.”
With his county playing days firmly in his rear view, the 38-year-old Cullyhanna native enjoys the challenges of coaching and couldn’t be happier in the role.
“When you played you only had yourself to prep,” he said.
“Your key focus was to get yourself in the best possible mind-set and physical shape for a game. But now I’m prepping maybe 15 defenders and different aspects of what we’re looking for in the game. It’s tough but it’s something that I really enjoy. Hopefully we can nail it down this weekend.”
McKeever also was keen to kick into touch the notion that the fast, open pitch of Croke Park will give Armagh an advantage ahead of tomorrow’s clash with the Tribe.
“No, definitely not. We have to ground ourselves after the last couple of weekends. We’re prepping diligently for Galway.
“You hear pundits saying Croke Park will suit Armagh’s style of football but we don’t get bogged down with that.
“We want to turn up to Croke Park and apply ourselves and if we do that and we’re in with a chance of winning the match towards the end, that’s all we’re looking towards.”
