McConville rules out his return to the Armagh panel

Speculation had been mounting, following a tongue-in-cheek suggestion from the player on a recent BBC Season Ticket programme that he might return.

Now his future lies totally with Crossmaglen Rangers.

Last Sunday, as part of his Sunday newspaper column, the former Armagh star said: “It would appear that speculation is continuing as to my possible future involvement with Armagh.

“Let me set the record straight, I will not be back in Armagh colours. Perhaps a recent throwaway line on the recent Season Ticket programme may have triggered the belief that I would be returning to the panel.

“Having said that I wish new manager Paddy O’Rourke and his backroom team the best of luck and I will be amongst the team’s most avid followers.”

McConville, however, would like still like to see his club side back on top in Armagh.

He said: “From a playing perspective, I will be focusing solely on my role with Crossmaglen Rangers and I hope that I would be able to play some part in their bid to return to the top of the Armagh tree.”

McConville’s genius during his club and county days made him a household name throughout Ireland.

At times, he played through the pain barrier with a back problem and he could, in the future, see himself in the Armagh managerial hot-seat.

His time as a manager may not be too far away considering the recent trend which has seen maturity of years as less of an important criterion when selecting an inter-county boss.

Sources in Dublin, it is believed, are already sounding out the possibility of McConville taking on the role as boss in the Capital.