Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney's family life, playing career and more ahead of All-Ireland final
McGeeney was a brilliant player, captaining his side to lift the Sam Maguire Cup in 2002, the last time the Orchard County won the All-Ireland title
Kieran McGeeney has guided Armagh to the All-Ireland football championship final against Galway.
McGeeney was a brilliant player, captaining his side to lift the Sam Maguire Cup in 2002, the last time the Orchard County won the All-Ireland title, reports RSVP LIVE.
Now McGeeney is looking to steer Armagh to another triumph at Croke Park as they take on the Tribesmen in the decider.
Here is all you need to know about the man:
Club and county career
Kieran played for his native club Mullaghbawn and was a member of their winning side in the 1995 Armagh Senior Football Championship and Ulster Senior Club Football Championship winning side. He also played for Dublin team Na Fianna, and with them won the 1999 Leinster Senior Club Football Championship as well as three Dublin Senior Football Championships.
In terms of his inter-county career, Kieran played for Armagh between 1992 until 2007, and captained the team to their first All-Ireland in 2002.
Accolades include three All Stars Awards, six Ulster Senior Football Championship medals and he also received the 2002 Texaco Footballer of the Year award.
Managerial career
After retiring from playing, Kieran was appointed manager of Kildare's senior football team. He held onto this position between 2007 and 2013. During his time with Kildare, he led the team to a Leinster final appearance in 2009 and the All-Ireland semi-final in 2010.
In 2013, he joined the management of team of Armagh's senior football team. He took over from Paul Grimley as manager in 2015 and has worked there ever since.
Wedding day to wife Maura
Kieran married his wife Maura O'Rahilly at a winter wedding in 2014. The couple said I do in St Brendan's Church in Clogher before moving on to the Malton Hotel in Killarney for the reception.
Over 300 friends and family are said to have attended, as priest Fr Pat Crean-Lynch told the Irish Independent at the time: "They had been dating a long time and the church was where his bride was baptised. They played Christmas carols during the service.
"There was a full church and a very big wedding. There were a lot of footballers from Armagh and Kildare. John Doyle from Kildare was there, Paul McGrain, a former Armagh player, was Kieran's best man."
Children
Kieran and Maura are parents to son Cian and daughter Leah.
In a 2016 interview, the GAA manager said his son is a football fan so may not follow in his footsteps.
He told the Irish Examiner: “He tells me he is not sure if he is going to play in Croke Park. He thinks Champions League is the way ahead. He tells people I am the Armagh manager, but I tell him not to say it so loud sometimes because it might not be something to be too proud of! He is a Man United fan through and through.”
Kieran also said at the time that raising his son and the arrival of his daughter helped to achieve a much better work/life balance.
He added to the publication: “Somebody once described the perfect player as someone who can train like it means everything but play like it means nothing. It’s getting that sort of balance. When you lose, it’s nearly like you grieve. But you have to learn how to deal with that as part of life. I fully admit that I have got a lot of that balance wrong. Having somebody in my life, and we have a wee girl now as well, it brings you back down and shows you what is important.
“That doesn’t mean if I was playing I wouldn’t class the games as important. But when you get home, you realise that the boy shouting behind you, who seem to be very brave behind the fence, really isn’t that important. It’s good to have that balance.”
Uncle's death
Earlier this summer, Kieran was thrilled to bring Armagh to their first All-Ireland semi-final. But the quarter-final win was tinged with sadness as his uncle Peter Kelly died the night before.
Paying tribute to him after the match, Kieran told reporters: “He was a great man, a great character. He would have been roaring and shouting at the TV. Mum and dad didn’t tell me last night [Friday]. It was only this morning there - it was tragic circumstances. Peter was a good man – his son would be one of my best mates.
“So this morning was a bit rough, to be honest. They were supposed to have a surprise party for his sister tonight.
“There were four brothers on my mum’s side – they all played. Raymond would have played for Armagh. Peter and Pat would have hit you harder than the other two, but they always followed us over the years, especially myself. We’d great support from all the Kelly household. A close family. It’s a tough day.”
Criticism and trolling
Kieran is no stranger to having negative comments aimed at him both in his playing and managerial career. Kieran accepts criticism is part of the job but is bothered when negative comments affect his loved ones.
Earlier this year, his sister Sinead posted on X: “I know I pride myself in being a lady. But just this once…f*ck the haters. I love Armagh and I love my big bro.”
“I’ve no doubt I’ll get more,” Kieran said of negative comments, and added to the Irish Examiner: "The hardest thing about those is for my family. Most of it doesn’t bother me; when it affects my family, it bothers me. I got it as a player - and it was usually from the same boys.”
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