After another epic Ulster final, Kieran McGeeney reflects on Armagh's 'heartbreaking' shootout loss to Donegal at St Tiernach's Park.
Losing one penalty shootout can haunt a player for years. Armagh have now lost four in the past two years.
And on a day when Armagh's Ulster-winning team of 1999 were honoured at half-time, their supporters - throngs of whom populated the streets of Clones as early as midday - truly believed that a first Anglo-Celt Cup in 16 years was on its way.Even when the rain cascaded from the sky, they could be heard roaring, doing their bit to push their team over the line.
"Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes it goes against you. It seems to be going against us more than for us. Here, they let slip a four-point advantage before Tiernan Kelly watched a last-minute free drift wide. In the second period of extra-time, Aidan Nugent landed a mighty score to give them a two-point cushion. Still it wasn't enough as Odhran Doherty's leveller sent a second successive Ulster final to penalties."It dropped into the keeper's hands, that would've put us five up but Donegal are a good team as everyone's pointing out. You have to give them a credit.
Last year, McGeeney's side bounced back to top their group, but it will take a monumental collective effort to bury the sight of Donegal captain Patrick McBrearty lifting the Anglo-Celt Cup and reignite their season.
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