Armagh pre-season vote was a boost, insists Kieran McGeeney

Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney has said that the vote on his position as manager before the 2024 season only emboldened his belief that he was supported in the role.

Last August, McGeeney was ratified for a 10th season after winning a 46-16 vote, although a number of clubs called for his removal and the votes in favour included a block from the Orchard County's management committee.

While the overall outcome provided a strong backing, it was a topic of hot debate throughout the county with strong opinions voiced on both sides of the argument.

Ultimately, McGeeney remained in charge and any dissenting voices would have been silenced by events since as Armagh defeated Kerry on Saturday to reach their first All-Ireland final since 2003.

At their pre-final press conference in the Carrickdale Hotel on Monday, McGeeney provided a strong response when asked by RTÉ Sport whether or not it had been a difficult start to the season given his future was so publicly up for discussion.

"I wouldn’t call it difficult. It was actually probably one of those moments that the vote reinforced. Whatever it was, 70 to 80% of the clubs, voted for me. So, if anything, it was a good start to the year. As the year went on, I think that percentage went down!

"I’ve been around football a long, long time. Seen all of those things come and go.

"In terms of this year, I think I’m right in saying we have lost one game by a point, that was the league final. So to me, it’s been a fantastic year."

McGeeney also again pointed to the fine margins that have worked mostly against them, but more recently for them.

Penalty shootout losses to Galway and Monaghan in All-Ireland quarter-finals in 2022 and ’23 and Ulster final shoot-out losses to Derry and Donegal in 2023