Farrell and McGeeney prepare to put friendship on hold

Irish Examiner

5 days ago

'Our manager, their manager, they're great friends so looking forward to a serious contest,' is how Ciarán Kilkenny, fresh from an illuminating individual performance against Galway last Saturday week, previewed Sunday's Dublin-Armagh clash.
Dessie Farrell and Kieran McGeeney's origins story is well-known. They formed a mutual appreciation society to get the better of Conor Deegan who had joined Kilmacud Crokes in 1997 and was part of the Stillorgan team that beat Na Fianna in the '98 Dublin SFC final. For that and the bragging rights he had over them as part of two All-Ireland winning Down teams, Deegan was their target.
McGeeney's older brother Patrick followed as did Cullyhanna's Des Mackin. By 2005, Mobhi Road had become an Orchard as two more of McGeeney's Mullaghbawn and county team-mates, the McNulty brothers Enda and Justin, had transferred.
Enda McNulty dispelled the theory that McGeeney had been paid to play for Na Fianna, pointing out the only thing they received was free fruit (is it any coincidence Armagh are now sponsored by Simply Fruit?) After Paul Caffrey had led them to the first two Dublin titles, Farrell's current right-hand man Mick Galvin, who had played the two previous seasons, was manager when the club claimed the three-in-a-row in 2001. The 1999 success was the club's third ever crown and first in 20 years. They haven't claimed one since.
Regaling a story about the pair's final days in the yellow and blue, McGeeney once gave an insight into how tight they were. 'I remember myself and Dessie and Senan (Connell) and Justy (McNulty) went to a friendly game. The craic going down in the car was brilliant.
'We bounced out on to the field, you'd swear we were a bunch of young fellas. And on the way home, my knee was done, he's (Dessie's) Achilles was done, Justy's hip was done and Senan's hamstring. All four of us limped into the car. There's nothing like a wee bit of reality just to let you know that you're old.'
Those bonds don't break and with for nearly every step that the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) took towards recognition in 2010, McGeeney was with Farrell. From the GPA's first press conference in Belfast in 1999 when they travelled from Dublin together to McGeeney being secretary as Farrell held the chief executive role before the latter bowed out soon after becoming Kildare manager for the 2008 season.
For their monotone, sometimes gruff exteriors, there is a kindness to them. Those experiences have made them players's managers. There are many tales of the lengths McGeeney has gone to for his men, ones that should stay private, but it is obvious there Is more than one side to him. 'Deep down, I think he likes to have a wee go at the media,' said Rian O'Neill last July. 'He likes to wind ye up a little bit. It's good to see you fighting back at him but he's a smart man.'
The appreciation for Farrell among his group came through loud and clear after their 2023 All-Ireland success. 'I just thought some of the shots at him the last two years were disgraceful, to be honest,' said James McCarthy after that year's final.
Both have had their brushes with the authorities, of course. In 2017, McGeeney was suspended for 12 weeks following an incident involving linesman Joe McQuillan in a league game against Antrim. McQuillan is the man in the middle for Sunday's game.
Farrell was banned for a similar period when Dublin were found to have breached the pandemic lockdown rules and the GAA's training ban in March 2021.
But neither have stopped pushing the envelope. Both haven't shied away from querying the Football Review Committee in public and this year Armagh and Dublin have been at the forefront of exposing the limitations around the team registration protocols.
For Armagh's Ulster opener against Antrim, they made two late changes to the squad – James Morgan and Daniel Magee being introduced. That same weekend, Dublin did the same for their Leinster quarter-final win over Wicklow as Stephen Cluxton and Cian Murphy were replaced by Hugh O'Sullivan and Niall Doran.
The weekend before last, Seán Bugler emerged from nowhere to begin the All-Ireland group win over Galway. Last weekend, Rian O'Neill did the same against Derry. If the pals are comparing notes how to get around having to name a 26-man championship match-day panel on a Thursday, it would be no surprise.
After all, over recent seasons they have grown to consider each other's team as their optimum challenge game opponents but now for the first time since Farrell followed McGeeney into inter-county management in 2020 they meet in championship.
Afterwards, there will be handshakes and arm-holds but in the seconds and minutes between McQuillan's first and final whistle, their brotherhood is parked. Speaking on 'Off The Ball' last Saturday, Farrell's former team-mate Paddy Christie spoke of Farrell's stubbornness and the incredible competitive streak that he saw both at county and club where Christie's Ballymun Kickhams and Na Fianna were the keenest of local rivals. McGeeney has described himself as 'a stubborn sort of fucker'.
Birds of a feather flock together.