McGeeney doubts Rian O’Neill will play this year, Jack O’Connor frets over midfielder's injury

Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney has expressed doubt that 2024 All-Star Rian O’Neill will play for them this season.

Last month there had been reports O’Neill was set to return to the All-Ireland champions after stepping away earlier in the year. He was in attendance at their last home game but speaking after a 10-point away defeat to Kerry, McGeeney cast doubt over his 2025 participation.

Read More O'Connor injury a cloud as Kerry impress in win over champions

“We will not see Rian for a good while, I would say,” he said, before being asked if he expects the Crossmaglen man to play in the championship.

“I would doubt it. I would doubt it; he has his own stuff going on. As I said, I don’t like to go into fellas’ personal lives. We just have to respect that and let him do what he has to do.

He continued: “Give the fella the space. He deserves that. I am trying to do it for him.”

Armagh opted for a late change, Blaine Hughes coming in as goalkeeper in place of Ethan Rafferty. McGeeney was reluctant to discuss the recent change to a 4v3 rule.

“I don’t want to talk about the rules,” he said.

“At this stage, you must be sick of it. Then when I say it, you have whingers out there telling me I am whining, which is rich coming from some of them. The biggest whingers I’ve ever seen.

"Listen hey, I’d rather talk about the game. I’m not being disrespectful, honestly. At this stage let the egos work away and let us do the football.”

Meanwhile, Jack O’Connor was pleased with their 2-21 total. The one concern was an injury to midfielder Diarmuid O’Connor, who came off holding his shoulder late on.

“I thought we could have been a bit more convincing the second half but overall, very pleased. The only disappointing thing is it looks like Diarmuid picked up a bit of a shoulder injury there which we need to get examined.”

Kerry were without Tom O’Sullivan, Seán O’Shea and Dara Moynihan in Tralee while Barry Dan O’Sullivan was a late withdrawal due to illness.

"Tom is back running. Seán isn't. He just has a kind of a stubborn issue with his knee, but it is not major. I don't think it's going to keep him out of the Championship or anything but it's just stubborn settling down. It's a ligament issue. We're hoping that maybe in the next couple of weeks he'll get back on the field."

Kerry had 35 shots in the game and produced several superb kicking moves, including the play that led to Paudie Clifford’s converted penalty.

“There was another goal on as well actually for Tony’s third point there, or maybe his second, I think there was a goal on there as well. When you move the ball through the lines like that at pace, it is very exciting.

“There is a bit more space up there and the fact that the men are up there already lends itself to that. Look, we will keep working on it but that is our A game, moving the ball by the foot at pace. I don’t think it suits us to play slow.”

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