Beer and BBQ key to Donaghy committing to Armagh cause

The first time Kieran Donaghy entered the national consciousness, he was number two to an Armagh man – and it’s more or less the same two decades later as he prepares to help Kieran McGeeney’s side to victory at Croke Park against his native county this evening.

Back in 2004, TG4’s The Underdogs was in season two and saw the side – made up of players yet to feature for their county at championship level – claim an extra-time win over Kerry in Tralee.

‘Ó Muirí stars as Underdogs take Kerry’s scalp,’ the headline in the Irish Independent read the next day, referencing the 1-04 plundered by Armagh man Barra Ó Muirí in the half-forward line.

Further analysis by then – and current – Kerry boss Jack O’Connor centered on the midfield battle between Donaghy and Michael Quirke, an All-Ireland winner just weeks previous.

There was more than enough evidence for Donaghy to be called into the senior squad having been on the fringes the previous season and after a successful playing career that included four Celtic Crosses and three All-Stars – he will today try and down O’Connor and his right-hand man Quirke as the Orchard County target a first All-Ireland final appearance since 2003.

Ó Muirí’s career was less stellar that Donaghy’s. Joe Kernan did pick up the phone and invite him into the panel for the 2005 Dr McKenna Cup and the Newtown, St Michael’s player hit 2-04 of their 2-10 tally in the games against Down and Derry and added a further point against Queen’s.

There would also be a cameo off the bench in a league pummelling of Galway, but Crossmaglen’s All-Ireland Club semi-final loss to Portlaoise the following week brought with it the axe as their contingent returned to the panel.

Armagh would go on to annex the Division 1 title for the first – and to date only – time later that season, but there would be no medal for the player despite making an appearance. A fate quite opposite to Donaghy, as Ó Muirí expected even back then.

“We all went through a selecting process but ‘Star’ and Pearse O’Neill [Cork] were just parachuted in,” Ó Muirí told RTÉ Sport.

“What fantastic additions they were. I was playing at 11 and he was playing at midfield and his vision was obvious. ‘Barra, if you turn this way, you play a one-two with me and I’ll get in beyond, put it in long.’ I think he scored something like 1-03 or 1-04 that day.

“He was an exceptional player, had such a mind for it and serious craic too. I just remember thinking after it that he was going to go places, and indeed he did. I’m glad it took him to Armagh.”

That journey to the Orchard County began in the 2021 season but roll the clock back to 2022 and Donaghy was out of road.

Dublin, where he was mostly based, to Armagh wasn’t enormously taxing but the emotional rollercoaster of being involved with the Orchard County was draining and after two years he was ready for a break.

The chaos of their 2022 All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Galway – including the first of what would be four penalty shoot-outs losses over the next two seasons – had taken its toll in particular and manager Kieran McGeeney was getting clear signals.

‘Geezer’ though had a plan, and a few senior players were dispatched to Tralee for a BBQ that was on the surface a friendly get-together with their soon-to-be departing coach, but in reality was to be a pitch made under the cloud of a few beers. It worked.

When people look for the break-up of Kernan’s great Armagh side they inevitably land on their shock 2007 qualifier loss to Derry in Clones in front of miniscule pockets of red – but the real disintegration started in 2006 in an All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Kerry.

That dissolution owed a lot to an O’Connor masterstroke one week earlier.

Donaghy had been playing well as a midfielder but after their comprehensive Munster final replay loss to Cork, he was shifted to full-forward for their qualifier match with Longford and despite only scoring a point, he dazzled.

Armagh had been warned, but they were unable to heed it.

It was the Ulster champions who started brightest, Stevie McDonnell and Ronan Clarke doing so much damage that O’Connor went behind the Hill 16 goals for 10 minutes in the first half to try and dissect the telepathy of the inside two.

But the second half belonged to the Kingdom, and the sight of Donaghy leaping over Francie Bellew to win the ball in the 39th minute, taking a bounce and slamming to the net was enduring – particularly for the verbal assault he unleased on goalkeeper Paul Hearty in celebration.

“Go on Donaghy, you big soft basketball cry baby,” Hearty had been telling ‘Star’ throughout, according to the Kerryman’s book, ‘What Do You Think Of That?’.

In the book ‘Kings For A Day’, Hearty didn’t deny the allegation but added that he would buy Donaghy a pint if they ever crossed paths again. To this day they haven’t met again, but a win here and ‘Star’ might get an invite out to Crossmaglen.

Today’s game will not be the first time Donaghy has come up against Kerry. There were league games in 2022 and 2023, both close affairs won by the Kingdom by a combined four points.

In fact, you have to go back to 2012 for the last time Armagh beat Kerry when current captain Aidan Forker, in only his second-ever league appearance, opened the scoring in Tralee and Brian Mallon and John Kingham added goals as Donaghy was kept scoreless.

Another Armagh goalkeeper, Philly McEvoy – Hearty’s long-time roommate and secret Haribo sharer – felt the sharp end of Donaghy’s tongue that night too after taking his time over a second-half kick-out.

McEvoy tells RTÉ Sport that the specifics are best left to the imagination and instead prefers to think of their clash a year before when he was temporarily knocked out after using his face to stop Darran O’Sullivan’s pile-driver.

After coming to, McEvoy pleaded to be allowed to stay on before the medical staff thankfully won the battle. As he was helped off, it was Donaghy who made his way over to check on him and wish him well.

Despite his chequered past with Armagh goalies in particular, Donaghy has won the hearts and minds of Armagh fans and, more importantly, their players who have been enamoured with his presence.

For Ó Muirí, who has crossed paths with him a number of times since in his roles as an Orchard academy coach and an Armagh TV commentator, his addition has been inspired.

“You can see it, anybody can see what he brings.

“He’s so animated, he’s so passionate about it. He has a bit of Jurgen Klopp approach where he is out hugging the players and he has such a good rapport with the supporters.

“The supporters are very fond of him and I know the players definitely are. He has been a breath of fresh air.”

There’s no doubting that today’s game will again deliver an emotional punch to Donaghy no matter what happens. For McGeeney, he will be hoping any potential pitch will pocketed for another fortnight yet.

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Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship semi-finals, Armagh v Kerry (5.30pm on Saturday on RTÉ2) and Donegal v Galway (4pm on Sunday on RTÉ2). Both games available on RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1