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Tiernan: We'll miss Kieran and Niall but it's all about how we evolve as a panel to help keep Armagh at the top table

- BY PADDY TIERNEY

KIERAN MCGEENEY knew it was coming at some point.

His players did too.

Kieran Donaghy's departure for his native Kerry is a shot in the arm for the defending AllIreland champions and a blow for the 2024 winners.

Donaghy was an integral part of McGeeney's Armagh management team alongside Ciaran McKeever and Conleith Gilligan.

Speaking at the recent launch of the Dr McKenna Cup, Armagh star Tiernan Kelly said the players owe a debt of gratitude to Donaghy.

"I think anybody who knows Kieran, either working with him closely or just knows him, the personality he brings, the experience that he has, the commitment that he puts in is second to none," said Kelly.

"Of course, he'll be a big miss. Just the snippets that he brought throughout the year, whether it was individually as a player or as a group, he'll be missed.

"But within the five years that he was here, he really has changed things in terms of the way we look at certain aspects of the game.

"They'll still stick with us even though he's not here and we'll be trying to develop on the foundation that he set.