Steven McDonnell: It's a two fingers up to the Kieran McGeeney doubters

Former Armagh forward Steven McDonnell believes Kieran McGeeney's future as manager of the county should never have been up for debate, and said his old team-mate has given "two fingers" up to the doubters by leading his side to the brink of glory.

Eleven months ago, McGeeney survived a vote over his future at a meeting of club delegates. The vote was 46-16 in his favour, a comfortable win that allowed the 52-year-old to lead the team for a tenth consecutive season.

The rest is history.

Armagh are into an All-Ireland SFC final against Galway on Sunday with McGeeney potentially 70 minutes away from cementing legendary status in the Orchard County.

"It should never have gone to a vote," said McDonnell ahead of the decider.

"I think the work that Kieran has done has been underestimated. Yes, he has been there 10 years, but sometimes the (expectation of) Armagh fans outweighs the reality.

"We have only ever won 14 Ulster finals. One (Armagh) team won seven of them. We have only won one All-Ireland.

"If the vote had gone against Kieran McGeeney last year I think we may have lost some of our senior players. Rory Grugan, Andrew Murnin, Stefan Campbell may have gone with Kieran.

"Thankfully that vote went the way it should have gone and now we're in a very strong position, 70 minutes away from winning an All-Ireland. What a remarkable season we've had, a great two fingers up from Kieran to the people who wanted him out."

"I think it will be a more open game than a lot of people maybe expect it to be."

McDonnell has long aired his admiration for McGeeney, who so passionately led the Orchard dressing room as a player when they famously lifted the Sam Maguire Cup in 2002.

He is not surprised the Mullaghbawn man is getting things right,