A FRIENDLY between Armagh and Tyrone? There’s a first time for everything and hostilities will be suspended (to some extent) on December 17 when the Orchard County and the Red Hands meet in a game that has “huge significance” for Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney and his family.
The match at the Athletic Grounds (throw-in 7.15pm) is the focal point of a ‘Christmas Cracker’ event in aid of the Time2Play charity and the money raised will go towards building a playpark at the Silverbridge Harps’ grounds as a lasting tribute to Silverbridge native James Reel.
Father of three James lost his life in a tragic accident in April and, with the support of his wife Mairead, his sisters Majella and Aisling, brother Paddy, dad Bernard and the entire community, his heart-broken family intend to build the James Reel Playpark in his honour.
“This game has huge significance for me personally,” said McGeeney.
“James was my cousin and we are a very close family with the McGeeneys and the Reels. I have never asked anything of the GAA in my life and I feel that I’ve given quite a bit. I suppose this is one of the few times that I have asked for something and I’m very thankful that Armagh and Tyrone and Croke Park have allowed the game to happen.
“It will be good to get the players back playing football but the night will be tinged with sadness for James, it has been very tough time for the family and this night will show what the GAA community is like in times like these.
“We are very grateful for what Tyrone have done. It’s a very magnanimous gesture for them to play their first game after winning the All-Ireland in their neighbour’s backyard. I know Feargal (Logan) from Queen’s and I’ve been chatting to Peter (Canavan) as well and we’re very grateful to them because we know Tyrone will always bring a good crowd.
“In the past we’ve always had big crowds at Armagh-Tyrone games, even for challenge games, and hopefully they’ll bring the Sam Maguire with them.”
The Time2Play event is ‘A Christmas Cracker’ of fun for all the family with an appearance from Santa and his elves and gifts for kids but McGeeney expects “a fairly pacey game” to unfold between the Division One rivals.
Armagh will be captained by Jarlath Og Burns – a clubmate of James Reel at Silverbridge – on the night and both counties are expected to field a mixture of experienced performers and up-and-coming young players.
“Friendly or no friendly, there’ll be a lot of players on both sides looking to put their hand up and I hope supporters will come to see the new faces,” said McGeeney.
“When you have a mixture of fellas who are coming back from injury, fellas who would have been on the fringes and fellas who are new to the squad and want to show that they’re not out of place then I would imagine it would be a fairly pacey game.
“The confidence of Tyrone will be sky-high and it won’t be the next 15 that’ll be pushing to get onto the starting team, it’ll be the 15 or 20 behind them who’ll be pushing to get into the panel so it will be a good competitive game and there will be a bit of craic with it too.
“For people who want to come and watch a good game of football - it’ll happen. For people who want to come and remember James - that’s going to happen and if people want to have a good night with their family and the kids they’ll have that too.
“Hopefully it will be a good occasion and I’m grateful the GAA has allowed it to happen. I’m delighted it’s going ahead and I hope it will be a huge success.”
The match is an all-ticket event and tickets are available on the MyTicketApp costing: Adult (£10), family (£20), U16 (£5), U12 free (but must have a ticket).
