Minor managers are considering future

Paul McShane, Sean Hughes and Kieran Robinson will decide whether or not to stay in their posts following their team’s heart-breaking defeat against Cork last Sunday in Croke Park.

The young Minor team were attempting to build on last year’s success yet despite what Kieran Robinson has described as their best overall performance in three years, they were caught on the line by the Leesiders who will now contest the All-Ireland semi-final.

The Orchard side had ten different scorers who registered over the hour and although they hit 19 points, it was Cork who were celebrating at the final whistle.

Huge praise should be given to the Armagh side considering they had lost by a twelve point margin to Tyrone in the Ulster final but it was Cork substitute Stephan O’Mahony who had the final say with his goal right at the death.

Kieran Robinson said he thought the young Armagh Minor side had done enough to proceed to the semi-final.

He commented: “Colin Stevenson had just kicked a point and as we were attempting to get men back, the ball cleared our midfield and within a flash we were behind.

“To be honest it’s not every day an Armagh team goes to Croke Park and shoots 19 points and comes home empty-handed.

“I think it could be said that last Sunday’s performance against Cork was our best to date, certainly our best in my time with the team.

“The boys were fantastic but football can be cruel at times. We will be making our decision pretty soon as to what the future holds.”

Cork struck their first goal before the break yet the game could have been over before that stage, such was Armagh’s dominance, yet the Rebels still trailed by four at the short whistle.

Substitutes Stephan O’Mahony and Dan McEoin each hit 1-1 for the winners on a fateful day for Armagh who dominated around the middle for long periods thanks to great work from Conor Gough and Peter Carragher, who was a huge miss in the Ulster final.

Ten of this panel are still on board next season, including Paul McGeown, Aaron Finden and Sean O’Neill along with stylish full-back Colm Hoey.

Second half points from Aidan Forker, Colin Stevenson and Niall McConville appeared to put Armagh in the driving seat but, like the talented Armagh minor side of 1992, they fell to a late and devastating goal.