‘You need to know what rules referees are going to ignore…’ Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney frustrated with officials as Orchardmen see off Derry
CRACKING a joke with a jag, frustrated Kieran McGeeney says referees need to let managers know “which rules they’re going to ignore” before games begin.
At half-time in his side’s deserved win over Derry the Armagh boss gave the officials at the Athletic Grounds a piece of his mind for ignoring an alleged breach of the 4v3 rule.
“I think you just need to know what rules they (referees) are going to ignore so you can tell your players,” said McGeeney afterwards.
“It’s fairly simple: Everybody just needs to know the parameters of the game that you’re playing in, I don’t think it’s that complicated.
“We have rules that we don’t enforce. I think the game should be played a bit more physically, but then if you do that and somebody blows you up… The referee is always going to be right.
“Don’t get me talking about referees, it’s not my favourite subject.”
In the second half Derry were penalised for a breach and their manager Ciaran Meenagh claimed McGeeney’s half-time “ferocity” had influenced the officials.
“I suppose what some people are good at is pointing the finger,” responded McGeeney to the Derry manager.
“That’s their style, fair play.”
After their fifth win on-the-trot, Armagh are now a game away from the All-Ireland quarter-finals. McGeeney described the performance as “workmanlike” and his team were superior to a Derry outfit that performed well in some areas but lacked the finishing finesse to really put pressure on the new Ulster champions.
When Derry clawed their way into the game, Armagh were able to pull away again. They did just that when Tiernan Kelly cancelled out Lachlan Murray’s goal with a superb left-foot shot in the first half.
Kieran McGeeney’s side moved on from their Ulster final win with victory over Derry. Picture Oliver McVeigh
“We’d given away a very soft goal, a short kick-out,” observed McGeeney.
“We were well in control at that stage and we gave Derry huge momentum. So to be able to get a goal, especially a goal of that quality, straight afterwards, was definitely a great stepping stone for trying to build on and get a bounce before half-time.”
Armagh will be paired against one of the other seven round one winners in Tuesday’s second round draw and McGeeney is well aware that “the next games are going to be even tougher”.
“No team is out,” he said.
“Derry are still there, everyone is still in the pot but we do know this next game, what’s at stake, everyone is going to be pushing for us.
“The last game is the one you want to win to try get back to that direct route to Croke Park.”
Armagh now have a fortnight to recover for their next challenge and one concern for McGeeney will be the fitness of Andrew Murnin who had to withdraw late in the game after pulling up with what looked like a hamstring injury.
“Andrew came off there, it just seemed to be cramp and we’re hoping that is all it is,” he said.
“It’s a fast game now, there’s no doubt about it. And even with the extra-time, because of stopping the clock, it’s more like a full game.
“You can’t slow those things down. The momentum builds up even in that last 10 or 15 minutes. You know that the two-pointers are now a massive part of the game, and especially today when there’s a breeze behind you and you’re just three or four shots away from losing a 10-point lead.
“So it’s a manic game and that tends to lead to more injuries, there’s no doubt about it and because of that pace, even innocuous challenges can be quite serious, the size of them and the pace of movement.”
