Justin McNulty praises Kieran McGeeney for proving doubters wrong

Justin McNulty says that Kieran McGeeney deserves praise for proving his critics wrong and sticking with Armagh for a decade.

The Orchard County will play in the biggest game in Gaelic football for just the fifth time in their history on Sunday when they take on Galway.

As recently as last August the manager, affectionately known as 'Geezer', survived a vote by clubs in the county to remain in the job for this season.

And it has worked out so far, with Armagh securing Allianz League promotion in the spring, and following it up with a run to the decider, which has included topping their All-Ireland group and seeing off Kerry after extra-time in the semis.

And for McNulty, who was on the field for the county's greatest afternoon - their 2002 All-Ireland triumph over the Kingdom - McGeeney has always stood out as a leader of people.

"I played at the same club [Mullaghbawn] as Geezer and we're friends a very long time," he said at the launch of the AIB Volunteer VIP competition.

"I'm honoured to call him my friend.

"I can remember coming back to the Regency Hotel for the post-match banquet after the minors were defeated in 1992. I was in the Armagh squad and my twin brother was playing.

"We were back at the hotel after being defeated in a heart-breaking manner against Meath and a senior Armagh player came to speak to us minors after that match.

"We were waiting for the meal to be served and he called us into a room and that senior player was Kieran McGeeney.

"He called us together to say that he knew we were hurting and the pain is horrendous but let's build on it. That was Kieran McGeeney and Damien Horisk, both senior county players at the time.

"For him to have done that as a senior inter-county footballer, coming and meeting minors