Rian O'Neill: McGeeney's tough love helped Armagh top group

Armagh star Rian O'Neill has revealed that a straight-forward approach from manager Kieran McGeeney helped them recover from a heart-breaking Ulster final defeat to progress to the All-Ireland quarter-final.

The Orchard County sealed top spot in their round-robin group after two wins and a stirring comeback against Galway last Sunday in Markievicz Park.

Stefan Campbell's late score was crucial, ensuring they would not face a preliminary quarter-final this weekend, with time off now before they try and secure a first semi-final spot since 2005.

In the Ulster decider, Armagh were edged out by Donegal in a monumental tussle that swung several ways before reaching penalties.

Once again spot-kicks did not favour McGeeney’s outfit, the forth time they have lost by that method since 2022.

But they are now primed to have a big say in the Championship thanks to their group-phase performances.

O’Neill, speaking to RTÉ Sport at the GAA’s Continental Youth Championship launch, said: "I suppose there will be a lot of criticism thrown at us but I don't think we're a bad team.

"We've lost in three or four penalty shootouts and we haven't been put away in normal time.

"It doesn't make you a bad team as such. Obviously, there were times we could have finished out games, or whatever, but listen, at the end of the day it's just about us as a group and what we say in between them four walls is what counts.

"After the Ulster final this year, Geezer (McGeeney) said to us 'You have two options, you can feel sorry for yourself or you can get back on the horse and get back at it'. I think that's what we've done.

"If you sit there and feel sorry for yourself, then your season could be over in a few weeks then. Ultimately, you're chasing the the big prize