Excitement builds as Armagh gears up for All-Ireland Football final

The Orchard County has won the senior football title just once – in 2002.

Mick Mackin’s sons, Connaire and Ciaran, are both on the Armagh panel and play for Shane O’Neill’s.

“It’ll be mental round here in the build-up to the final,” he said.

“This village is mad for GAA. It’s a good buzz.

“It’s not too often we get to finals. Once every 20 years, that’s the ratio at the minute.”

Mick, who was at the finals in 1977 and 2002, thinks this year’s match will be a “tight game”.

“It’s dynamite. The younger ones don’t know what it’s like to be in a final, they can’t remember,” he said.

“Now they have it for themselves and they’ll see it this week and next week.”