Aaron McKay Armagh v Down post match
Aaron McKay spoke to the Newry Reporter after Armagh's win over Down in Clones.
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00:00 Aaron, probably say it wasn't easy in the end but you got over the line and how does
00:04 it feel to get through to the upper final?
00:06 Yeah, no listen, we knew it was going to be sticky enough. I suppose last year wasn't
00:09 a fair representation of how we'd expect the game to even go. We got out of the modes early
00:13 last year. We knew it was going to be sticky enough today. Probably wouldn't be happy with
00:20 the decision that led to the goal that we ultimately got in the first half. But I suppose
00:23 we responded well and see the very slack over ourselves again in the second half. But we
00:28 still showed good composure. Years had gone by there, we would have probably lost out
00:31 in a game like that. But we had good composure coming down the home stretch and we'd seen
00:35 it out. So just badly over the line.
00:37 You mentioned your composure there. I think you probably held the ball for about two or
00:40 three minutes before Duffey got that final score. Is that sort of game management? Is
00:44 that something you talk about?
00:46 Yeah, you wouldn't want the legs of yourself or Paddy or somebody pulling the trigger.
00:50 One of those clutch moments, it's probably the legs of Duffey there and you. One of the
00:54 only heels or something walking along as soon as you're on the ball and you get that shot
00:57 off. Trying to work it into a good shot area. You know, 5% of 6. Thankfully we worked it
01:02 well and kept the ball moving and didn't take contact and got the right man in the right
01:05 position on the ball.
01:06 There was a lot of bite in that game wasn't there? Especially in the first half. Does
01:09 that make it a bit sweeter when you get the win because you can probably tell two teams
01:12 don't like each other?
01:13 Well, at Ferris we went to university with a lot of the bite. So still, good friends.
01:18 Friends off the field.
01:20 Yeah, yeah. I suppose after the goal in the first half it probably made the atmosphere
01:25 and stuff like that kick up a notch and the game became a bit niggly and stuff. Which
01:29 is probably what Down wanted there. There were probably harshly criticised after the
01:33 Anson game. We've all had games like that ourselves and we're glad they just drove the
01:36 lane there too. So they were coming in nicely under the radar for this game and we're just
01:39 glad we won.
01:40 A big impact off the bench as well. Last year, Neil, Nugent, Duffey, they all scored I think
01:44 the last three points for a match. So there's serious strength and depth there isn't there?
01:46 Yeah, yeah. Listen, some of the in-house training matches are absolutely phenomenal and the
01:51 quality of players that sometimes aren't even making the spot here today is unbelievable
01:54 too. We have to represent them as best we can too. It's that competitive. It's great
01:59 to have them coming in and making a big impact because that's one thing we set out this year
02:03 was boys coming off the bench and making a big impact because we haven't got that in
02:06 past years but definitely there today, they've got us over the line.
02:10 And finally, you'll be back here in two weeks' time. Of course, there was a bit of a heartbreaking
02:13 loss last year in the Ulster final and of course you're hoping to go one better.
02:16 Yeah, listen, I suppose it's still a bit sore, you know, how we lost. I suppose it's
02:21 a bit of a panic shootout. A few games, high-profile matches over the last few years, we felt we
02:25 were probably the better team last year over the course of the entire game but unfortunately
02:29 we didn't win it when it came down to the penalty. So, listen, we don't know who we're
02:32 going to be playing next. We'll see if we're going to be down on the golf throne, just
02:35 have to get our own house in order. We wouldn't be happy with how we did play today overall
02:39 so it's fine to move on and if we can just show better representation of ourselves and
02:43 hopefully get over the line, it takes.