Hurling & Camogie

"I want to win things..." New Armagh hurling manager Karl McKeegan hopes to bring stability and success to Orchard county

Armagh struggled in the Nicky Rackard Cup last season. Picture: Seamus Loughran.
Armagh struggled in the Nicky Rackard Cup last season. Picture: Seamus Loughran. Armagh struggled in the Nicky Rackard Cup last season. Picture: Seamus Loughran.

NEW Armagh hurling manager Karl McKeegan wants to bring stability and success to the Orchard county after a turbulent 2022 season.

The former Antrim skipper takes over from fellow Cushendall native Terence McNaughton who took temporary charge of the team midway through the National League after previous incumbent Padraig O’Connor had stepped down four games into the campaign.

The third manager this year, McKeegan’s first task will be to bring some stability to the county. After an inter-county career that yielded a Christy Ring Cup winners’ medal and 10 Ulster Championships, he was appointed selector with Antrim seniors in 2018, was then manager of the Antrim U20s for three seasons and spent the last two seasons coaching his native Cushendall.

He was approached by the Armagh county board to take the job and, after due consideration, decided the Orchard county’s passion for hurling matched his own and that it was “a good match”.

Rumours of discontent in the Armagh camp surfaced over the past couple of years and McKeegan hopes to address them and get the best players in the county pulling together. If that is the case, the new manager sees plenty of potential in the Orchard county.

“I went down to watch Keady and Cuchulainn’s in the Armagh semi-final last Saturday and there were a few young boys playing who definitely have good potential,” he says.

“I’ve spoken to different people who’ve been saying that there are a lot of good young hurlers coming through. It’s trying to get them involved and to realise that playing hurling for their county is a great honour. That’s exactly what it is and I really want boys (in the panel) who want to be there and want to learn.”

McKeegan will have John Carson (coach), Ruairi McGrattan and Micheal Murphy in his backroom team and hopes to begin training in November. Last season Armagh reached the Division 3A final but lost to Tyrone and a 5-19 to 2-7 hammering from Roscommon set the scene for a disappointing Nicky Rackard Cup campaign. Armagh also lost to Donegal and Tyrone before salvaging some pride with wins against Fermanagh and Warwickshire in their last two games.

“I know there was a bit of a fall-out last year and a manager left and another one came in so I want to start by getting a good bit of stability,” said McKeegan.

“I want to win things but first of all it’s about getting players committed and getting players to enjoy it and after that we want to get promoted and get a good run in the Nicky Rackard.

“Getting the players involved is the biggest part. They have to train hard when they’re there but if you can get them there and enjoying themselves then the rest will follow and we could have a good campaign.”

It’s team before self for McKeegan. He wants to leave the internecine feuding of last season in the past and will start with a clean slate.

“It’s an honour to play for your county and people should remember that,” he said.

“I’ve been involved in teams where there were fall-outs and I’ve played for managers I maybe didn’t get on with

“But that’s not what it’s about, it’s about having pride in yourself and wanting to play for your county so we need to talk to the players and get everybody in who wants to commit and enjoy it.

“We’re going in with a clean slate, everybody will get their chance and we’ll take it from there.”