GAA All-Ireland SFC 2024 final: Race for Sam a marathon for Armagh veterans Aidan Forker and Rory Grugan

Growing up during the era he did, and getting his hands on inter-county silverware when still only 18-years-old, perhaps it is natural that Grugan would assume days such as this Sunday would have arrived much earlier in his career.

“As a county we [historically] haven’t had that success, at senior or minor level,” said the Ballymacnab man.

“It’s always a danger when you’re 18-years-old that it can go to your head or you think it always happens but that wasn’t the case.

“Over the years we’ve seen how difficult it is to win and to win silverware. You can’t take any of it for granted.”

Looking back on all that has happened since, Grugan says that minor final “feels like a million years ago”, his days watching the Armagh of Oisin McConville, Steven McDonnell and, of course, Kieran McGeeney feels longer ago again.

“That gave you the taste for it, being a young player getting to be on the minor team and hoping to get a run. 

“Winning that day, obviously there isn’t as big a crowd, but it was still an All-Ireland final at Croke Park.

“That inspired you to be doing it one day in a senior final.”

As did watching the only Armagh panel who ever have.

“That image of Geezer lifting Sam with the orange and white is probably something that inspires a lot of us,” Grugan added.