Kieran McGeeney: Armagh ratify Kieran McGeeney as manager for a 12th year

Kieran McGeeney will return as Armagh senior football manager for 2026, having been ratified at a meeting of the county’s committee on Monday.

McGeeney will remain the longest serving inter-county manager as he approaches his 12th season at the helm of his native county.

The Mullaghbawn native guided Armagh to the 2024 All-Ireland title, completing a personal double having won Sam Maguire as captain in 2002.

As a player, he also won six Ulster titles with the Orchard County, but is still seeking that elusive Anglo Celt as manager with Armagh falling short at the final hurdle in each of the past three seasons with penalty shootout defeats to Derry in 2023 and Donegal in 2024, while they were edged out by Jim McGuinness’ Donegal in extra-time this year.

Armagh’s defence of the All-Ireland title came to an end at the quarter-final stage to eventual winners Kerry and in the aftermath, admitted he was unsure what the future held.

“I sit down every year [to reflect], and my thing is always about players,” he said in June.

“It’s all about the players first and foremost and what they want and how much they want to push on.

“My appetite for football has always been the same. I love it, I enjoy it despite the abuse, it’s just one of those things – maybe it’s an addiction. I haven’t even thought about that [the future], to be honest.”