Fáilte chuig gaa.ie - suíomh oifigiúil CLG

Football

football

Sheridan encouraged about Armagh's development

Armagh footballer Stephen Sheridan is set to miss Saturday's All Ireland SFC Round Two Qualifier against Monaghan due to injury.

Armagh footballer Stephen Sheridan is set to miss Saturday's All Ireland SFC Round Two Qualifier against Monaghan due to injury.

By Cian O’Connell

Stephen Sheridan is adamant that Armagh are beginning to deliver on considerable promise.

Due to a knee injury Sheridan is expected to sit out an intriguing All Ireland SFC Round Two Qualifier against Monaghan at St Tiernach’s Park on Saturday evening, but the Forkhill clubman believes Kieran McGeeney’s team are moving in the right direction.

“Absolutely, I think under Kieran McGeeney this Armagh squad has taken huge steps forward,” Sheridan says ahead of the game in Clones. Ulster maybe hasn't been the best thing for us, but we have competed with a lot of teams throughout the county. You go back to 2017 and even 2014.

“Back then you were sitting in an All Ireland Quarter-Final, 2017 again in a Quarter-Final. Last year we were in a Round Four Qualifier against a really good Roscommon team.”

That McGeeney has integrated some exciting young footballers into the set-up adds to the sense of anticipation. “We definitely have taken steps forward and we are starting to get younger players in now,” Sheridan states.

“The likes of Rian O'Neill, Jarly Og (Burns) is in at the minute, you have other boys like Jason Duffy and Ross McQuillan, boys that really want to push on to drive Armagh forward,” Sheridan states.

“Kieran gives the youth a chance. The way he manages us, he definitely has taken us from when he came in first to where we are now. We definitely are taking increasing steps to compete consistently at the top level.”

That remains the objective, to become a top class outfit capable of delivering against accomplished outfits throughout the country. “If you go through our squad you have Jamie (Clarke), Soupy (Stefan Campbell), Andy Murnin floating about, Rory Grugan, Aidan Forker - they are boys that would probably get on any county team in the country,” Sheridan comments.

Armagh's Stephen Sheridan suffered a knee injury in the Ulster SFC against Down.

Armagh's Stephen Sheridan suffered a knee injury in the Ulster SFC against Down.

“So we definitely we believe in Armagh that we have the talent. It is just about becoming more consistent on game days. Putting more consistent performances together to get us over the line is what we need to do. That is something Kieran is working on and something we are working on as a group, to try to be more consistent.”

McGeeney is ready, willing, and eager to afford players an opportunity to perform for Armagh. “Yeah, that is the one thing Kieran will do,” Sheridan replies. “If you come to him, tell him you are good enough to play for Armagh whatever club you are playing for he will give you that chance. He will tell you training is on such night and come on ahead.

“Since he has come in he has given huge numbers of players an opportunity to push themselves to the limit in the Armagh set-up. Some boys took it with two hands, some boys it wasn't for them. He definitely gives that opportunity if you feel you are good enough that you can make a push.”

During his college days in Ulster University Jordanstown Sheridan enjoyed playing alongside Monaghan footballers such as Rory Beggan, Kieran Hughes, and Ryan McAnespie. “In Jordanstown I played with Beggan, Kieran Hughes, and Ryan McAnespie,” Sheridan recalls.

“I played more football with Ryan than the other two. They were all great lads. It is strange coming into this weekend because you went to war more times with them at your side than not in a Jordanstown jersey. So now you are pitting yourself against them this week to see where you stand. We are looking forward to that challenge.

“I ended up doing my undergrad in Sports Science and I went back to do a Masters in Business Development. I got a real run out of University Football.”

It was one stop on Sheridan’s sporting which commenced and continues with Forkhill alongside Armagh colleagues Jemar Hall and Patrick Burns. “We have three in the panel, this year Jemar has really put his name down in a wing half forward position,” Sheridan says.

“Jemar has put in huge work in over the years to get that spot. Himself and Patrick coming from club football and the roles they have to carry out in club football to the Armagh set-up, the ability to adapt when they come in with Armagh.

Jemar Hall is enjoying a productive campaign with Armagh.

Jemar Hall is enjoying a productive campaign with Armagh.

“Patrick Burns plays midfield for Forkhill, then he comes into Armagh to be a man marking, tight corner back. His ability to change what he has to do in his mindset is second to none.

“For Forkhill it is great to see three boys out competing for Armagh. It is a childhood dream that everyone wants to get there to play for Armagh at some stage. It is great to see three Forkhill boys doing it.”

Having three players on the Armagh senior panel is Forkhill’s biggest representation ever. “Forkhill is a relatively small club playing junior football,” Sheridan states. “Dessie McCoy probably played minor for Armagh going back years and years, Joey Cunningham, he is now situated in Cross, he played football for Forkhill. They would be the more notable players.

“Definitely Patrick, Jemar, and myself is the biggest representation that Forkhill has ever had at the one time.

“In my age group, I'm a few years older than Jemar and Patrick we had a great coach in Fintan Burns, who is Patrick's dad. He took me for a lot of my football and in fairness he put a lot of work into me in terms of coaching. He had me from Under 14s right up and took me for my first year at senior. So I suppose he had a lot to do with how I got here.

“Patrick and Jemar would have played a lot together. Again they competed well with a strong underage team which helped them break into the Academy squads and development squads in Armagh. The development panels in Armagh under Denis Hollywood was a big step for them boys.

“Forkhill are playing at a lower level in Armagh, especially when you break into the senior. Junior Football in Armagh wouldn't be wonderful so you aren't competing with the top boys week in, week out.

“Them development panels kept you in touch with what Armagh is. It is up to a senior manager taking that chance and Kieran definitely took that chance with me back in 2015. The two boys then came in during 2016 and 2017 respectively. It is great to see us all in together now.” Sheridan is relishing playing a part in the Armagh story.