Kieran Donaghy leaves Armagh role and closes book on successful chapter
As a player he had been a central figure in that particular rivalry, his goal against – ironically – Armagh in 2006 marking his growing influence at full forward, having been converted from centrefield, in a season capped by All-Ireland success and on a personal level the Footballer of the Year award.
Defeat of the then perennial All-Ireland contenders, who had beaten them in the 2002 final, was a significant milestone for the county after further demoralising setbacks at the hands of Tyrone in 2003 and '05.
Donaghy's time with Armagh coincided with the county's incremental rise from a reputation for under-achieving to the ultimate achievement last year. Again, there were allegiance issues. Armagh's key victory was the extra-time defeat of his own county in the semi-final.
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Kerry's own coaching staff that day featured former Tyrone trainer and Down manager Paddy Tally, who later left to take up the reins with Derry in a short-lived appointment that ended last week.
In June, though the boot was on the other foot, as 15 minutes of Kerry radiance dethroned the champions, ultimately leading to Donaghy's decision to draw a line under the 500-mile commute from Tralee.
He leaves with his own county in the All-Ireland final next week, facing Donegal – who as a player, he helped to defeat in a goal-scoring performance in the 2014 final.
Kieran Donaghy and Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney worked together for five years, having only initially planned for one. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho
Speculation is that Kerry manager Jack O'Connor will not seek another term when his current arrangement expires this year, leaving Donaghy with the prospect of some involvement in the next management.
After Armagh had won last year's semi-final, their manager Kieran McGeeney was asked about his forwards coach's conflict of loyalties.
'There's no doubt Kieran Donaghy will go back to Kerry in his day and he'll do a fantastic job there whenever he is asked. Hopefully he has learned a bit. We have definitely learned a lot from him. It was tough in one way but he's a competitor. That's what makes him so great. It's in that Kerry blood.'
In a statement on Wednesday, Donaghy announced his departure.
'Five incredible years with Armagh GAA have come to an end, and I walk away full of pride, memories, and deep gratitude. Thank you to Kieran McGeeney, who took a chance on a rookie coach. You said one year, it became five, only you could pull that off.
'You said I could help and that you would help me in return. You were a man of your word every step of the way. To the backroom team, thank you for pushing me, teaching me, and raising the bar. I learned so much just being around ye.
'To the players, what a group. Tough, resilient, and relentless. Watching you chase your dream and finally reach the top in '24 was a privilege. Especially to the older lads, you never stopped believing and you earned every bit of it.
'Thanks to the Armagh County Board for all their support.
Kieran Donaghy of Kerry celebrates a goal against Armagh in the 2006 All-Ireland quarter-final. Photograph: Andrew Paton/Inpho
'A huge thanks to the Fegan family and all in Basil Sheils. Mark, Bernice, and all the crew, thanks for giving us a home away from home. The farmhouse will always be a special place to the Donaghys.
'To Hilary, thank you for standing by me through it all as always. Your support made it all possible. Lola Rose, Indie, Ruby May, you were part of every step and loved every journey made to Armagh.
'To my Mom, thank you for always stepping in and holding the fort when needed. And to the people of Armagh, thanks for the warmth, the welcome, and the unwavering support.
'As my Nan always said: 'No ifs. No buts. Only total faith.'
Paying tribute to the departing Donaghy, Armagh GAA said in a statement: 'His belief in this group never wavered, and his presence helped shape the identity, resilience and ambition of our team. His energy on the training field, in the dressing room, and on game days was inspiring.
'Being part of the team that delivered our second All-Ireland title is a legacy that will live long in our hearts, and his influence will be felt for many years to come.
'On behalf of the players, management and backroom team, county board and fans – thank you, Kieran, for everything. From your Armagh Family.'
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The 42
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RTÉ News
an hour ago
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David Clifford's goal-den touch key to Kerry chances
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RTÉ News
an hour ago
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Donegal-Kerry decider perched on knife-edge
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McGuinness's return has copper-fastened his status as one of the managerial greats, his achievement of winning five Ulster titles in a county that had won five in total prior to his appointment certainly up there with those managers who serially won All-Irelands with Kerry and Dublin. Paddy McBrearty, the first player to bang on his door in the long summer of '23, said it plainly after the semi-final - "We massively, massively underachieved from '14 to '24, in our eyes. When Jim came back, standards were raised back to where they were." The Donegal manager has certainly been careful not to over-react to the new rules. They have held fast to their running game and zonal defence principles. Wing-backs and corner-backs counter-attacking at breakneck speed, with enough gas to get back in position for the next play. Always a player running in support of the ball carrier. The economy of their forward play has been a marvel in the last three rounds. Barely a single attack wasted. 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They have a huge breadth of regular scorers, typified by corner-back Peadar Mogan, who has 0-14 in the championship. The other corner-back Finnbarr Roarty is a leading contender for Young Footballer of the Year. Ciarán Moore, the assassin of Mayo, has oscillated between half-back and half-forward, and buried the second goal in the semi-final. Kerry's season has followed a trajectory that feels quite familiar. Twice in Jack O'Connor's various reigns, they've recovered from mid-season mini-crises to explode into life by the quarter-final stage. When it was put to O'Connor after the quarter-final win over Armagh that the season was beginning to resemble 2006, he pondered a minute and replied: "I thought it was a bit more like 2009, to be honest." One former Kerry All-Ireland winner assured us in the elevator down that O'Connor wouldn't use the press conference to vent at his local critics. The same man - not targeted, we should add - looked in a bit of a startled daze as the manager got up to leave the room 15 minutes later. The Kerry football man persona has long been a mixture of insincere fatalism and intolerant expectancy though on that afternoon O'Connor sounded like he was fed up with it all. The Dromid Pearses clubman, who never played for Kerry, has a shot at a fifth All-Ireland title in his 11th campaign in charge. It could be his sweetest of the lot, given the sense in mid-summer that his reign was drifting towards an abject conclusion. At the outset, it was assumed that the FRC changes would benefit Kerry in particular, aligning with their more kick-pass orientated attacking game. The 2022 champions have proven especially adept at exploiting the defensive conundrums posed by the arc. They had eschewed the two-pointers during the league. Their 3-13 and 3-24 tallies in Pomeroy and Salthill respectively contained not one two-pointer. As against that, they filled their boots on goals, scoring 17 in eight games and then 10 more in their first championship games. Armagh in the quarters concentrated on containing Clifford and defending the arc. The main result was Seánie O'Shea enjoying a day of days and Kerry landing five doubles. After that, Malachy O'Rourke was naturally forced to devote more attention to O'Shea and Paudie Clifford. This opened up another world of pain as David Clifford caused devastation inside with just Padraig Hampsey keeping tabs on him. The same day, Kerry also got through for a truck-load of goal chances, somehow converting only one. The messianic talent of David Clifford - and how Donegal will approach it - has dominated much of the build-up. It's indicative of his form that conversations on Clifford now inevitably morph into a 'greatest of all time' debate. Brendan McCole, so effective in shackling Jordan Morris, is assumed to be his designated marker, though he'll be amply supported by the Donegal zonal defence. Midfield is the key battleground again thanks to the kickout restrictions. The coaching community have taken a dim view, regarding the shut your eyes and bomb it down the middle approach as terribly crude and unsophisticated. The public, on the other hand, appear to revel in the aerial contests. Their devouring of the Armagh kickout in the now famous third quarter was central. In the absence of Diarmuid O'Connor, Mark O'Shea, Sean O'Brien and the indomitable Joe O'Connor have been the primary targets. Gavin White has been particularly effective at collecting breaks and with Brian Ó Beaglaíoch continuing his fine form from last year, the Kerry half-back line has emerged as one of their stronger lines. Donegal laid waste to the much-vaunted Meath midfield in the semi-final, helped by Bryan Menton's first-half injury, hoovering up break after break. The Ulster champions also boast a big weapon in the form of Shaun Patton's booming kickout, the goalkeeper capable of landing his deliveries in the opposing half-back line, with Murphy or one of the attacking wing-backs a regular outlet. Calling it seems impossible. Aside from their own fans, Kerry have the backing of purists who are concerned about the copycat effect. The suspicion, however, is that McGuinness has been eyeing this game up for a long time. And that Donegal's relentless and highly structured game is a safer bet than a Kerry side more reliant on individual brilliance. Back in 2014, two memorable, throbbing semi-finals teed up a drab final. The hope this year is that it will pan out the other way around, as the most celebrated football championship of the past two decades reaches its crescendo. Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Caolan McColgan; Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan; Shane O'Donnell, Ciarán Thompson, Ciarán Moore; Conor O'Donnell, Michael Murphy, Oisín Gallen Subs: Gavin Mulreany, Stephen McMenamin, Odhrán McFadden Ferry, Eoin McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Aaron Doherty, Patrick McBrearty, Jamie Brennan, Niall O'Donnell, Dáire Ó Baoill, Jason McGee Kerry: Shane Ryan; Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Brian O Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Gavin White; Sean O'Brien, Mark O'Shea; Joe O'Connor, Séan O'Shea, Graham O'Sullivan; David Clifford, Paudie Clifford, Dylan Geaney Subs: Shane Murphy, Killian Spillane, Evan Looney, Tom Leo O'Sullivan, Tadhg Morley, Paul Geaney, Micheál Burns, Tony Brosnan, Armin Heinrich, Tomás Kennedy, Diarmuid O'Connor
