Latest news with #OisinO'Neill
The Irish Sun
27-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Armagh GAA star reveals Aussie Rules-inspired fitness hack to avoid injury hell as he admits ‘there were dark days'
ROCKING some imported footwear from Australia, Oisín O'Neill is hoping to help Armagh put the boot into another pretender to their All-Ireland throne this weekend. For O'Neill, ankle reconstruction in 2019 was just the beginning of an injury-plagued period that left him fearing for his career. Advertisement 2 Oisin O'Neill with the All-Ireland trophy Credit: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile 2 Oisin O'Neill missed games against Dublin and Galway due to a calf problem Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile He went under the knife again as consecutive Achilles injuries saw him miss most of the 2022 season and the entirety of 2023. When O'Neill excelled in a January 2024 win over jersey in 21 months. The season culminated in the ultimate glory for the Crossmaglen Rangers ace, who played a vital role in the last quarter of the All-Ireland final. Having been introduced in place of Rory Grugan, his fingerprints were all over Armagh's final two scores as the Orchard prevailed to Advertisement Read More on GAA O'Neill's sublime pass set up Niall Grimley to give Kieran McGeeney's men a badly needed boost that ended their 15-minute dry spell. With five minutes of normal time remaining, he then landed a brilliant — and ultimately decisive — score in his side's one-point win over O'Neill was back at He said: 'They're serious injuries to come back from. When you get days like we got here last year, it's all worth it. But I'd be lying if I didn't say there were dark days in there. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football 'That's why last year I was so grateful just to be back and to be able to contribute in some part to the squad. 'I'm very grateful that Kieran and all the management team in Armagh showed a lot of faith in me, because probably for a while no one knew if I was going to get back.' 'So much integrity' - RTE viewers hail Stephen Cluxton for 'principled stand' Dublin GAA icon took during Parnells saga Used as an impact sub throughout last season, O'Neill featured off the bench in every game of Armagh's triumphant campaign. When he was given the nod for this year's Championship start in four years. Advertisement He retained his place for the provincial decider, kicking 0-7 in the Nevertheless, O'Neill admits that there were lingering doubts about his chances of returning to this level of the game when luck seemed to abandon him on the injury front. The business studies teacher said: 'That rehab process can be difficult at times. It's not a linear, straight line. You have setbacks and niggles and maybe you don't know what the end result is going to be. 'But maybe something that Kieran has put in probably every player in that Armagh squad as a whole is that perseverance. Advertisement 'We don't like to quit or we don't like to cry about what we can't have, so you just try and push on as best you can and hope that those better days will come. 'I'm just delighted to be part of the group. It's a great time for Armagh football . Seeing the joy and the buzz, especially in the young people in Armagh, even in school , at St Colman's College in Newry where I teach, there's a bit of craic with Armagh and the Down lads as well. 'But the Armagh boys have one up at the minute.' KEEPING CAUTIOUS A calf injury sustained in last month's All-Ireland group-stage win over the games against Advertisement The 28-year-old said: 'I actually wear Asics football boots from Australia that a lot of the Aussie Rules players wear, just to give an extra little bit of support to my Achilles. 'They reckon they're the best boots for Achilles. 'It's something that hasn't bothered me since the second operation in 'Once I got back on the pitch that summer , I've been lucky enough with the Achilles and I'm happy with how they are. Advertisement 'Anyone who I see is in O'Neill's long-range kicking ability is evidenced by the six two-pointers he kicked while racking up 0-16 in three games in this year's Ulster Championship. Like his brother Rian, he is well equipped to avail of the bonus points now on offer. The new rules have 'definitely improved the game as a spectacle', O'Neill insists. But he also notes that the physical toll has significantly increased. Advertisement He said: 'I think probably players need a little bit more breathing room through the Championship. It's incredibly demanding on players, especially those in the middle eight who maybe don't get the opportunity to stay in the three-up. 'The players would notice that it's much more intense. I think the biggest example of it was extra-time in the Ulster final, where it was a really warm day in Clones and I think nearly every player on the pitch was down with cramp. 'Maybe that's something that the BOUNCING BACK Another failed attempt to win a first Anglo-Celt Cup since 2008 notwithstanding, the manner of Armagh's response was emphatic. Advertisement Despite again being placed in the so-called Group of Death, their place in the last eight was booked with a game to spare. In a rematch of the thrilling 2024 semi-final, Still, O'Neill explained that their status as Sam Maguire holders did not cushion the blow of a third Ulster final loss on the spin. He said: 'It definitely wasn't easier. The only thing is unfortunately we're used to it now at this stage. 'We've bounced back really well. That was a Saturday evening and we all gathered on the Sunday evening, had a bite to eat and said that we were going to go fully after the group stage. Advertisement 'I think that first game against Derry was crucial for us. 'We knew we were at home and we knew there'd be a big crowd there to support us. 'In those first ten, 15 minutes, I think you could tell that we had got the Ulster final out of our system really well and that we were pushing really hard. 'That comes from the competition in our squad. Every night you go to training, you know that you're under pressure to perform or else you might lose your spot in the 15 or in the 26 on a match day. Advertisement 'No player wants that, so we're very lucky that we have that squad that can keep standards high and drive the thing on.'
Irish Daily Mirror
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Armagh's Oisin O'Neill: Players 'frustrated' at continuously changing rules
Oisin O'Neill says it's "frustrating" for players that the rules of the game are still changing with less than six weeks of the season remaining. The latest alteration from Jim Gavin's Football Review Committee (FRC) comes to a new regulation they brought in themselves a few weeks ago. In the initial tweak a player that caught a kickout cleanly for a mark and elected to play on couldn't be challenged for four metres. The 50 metre penalty for contact in such a scenario proved draconian and often resulted in two point frees being scored - all based on a split second judgement by referees around the catch and the consequent play. However, the FRC have acted again and the punishment for such an offence will now be a free from where the contact occurred, a major reduction in the penalty for such a breach. This has led to fears that every time a player catches a kickout cleanly and tries to play on they will be fouled straight away. Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney was one of those to voice reservations, citing his concerns following his side's weekend defeat by Galway. 'I think Kieran's biggest issue is that they (rules) constantly change,' said Oisin O'Neill. 'We played half the League and then they changed and now they're talking about another change this week. 'There are four rounds of the championship left. like. I think Kieran has no issue with the rules. It's more just that they keep continuously changing. 'As players, that's frustrating because you're working on one thing one week and then it might change. But look, whatever it is it is, and we'll be ready for the quarter-final in two weeks. 'At the end of Round 5 they changed it. We probably had to tweak a few things that we had been working on and change certain things that we were trying to work on.' O'Neill, often a target for Armagh's long kickouts says the mark can work if it is officiated 'in the spirit that the rules depend on.' 'You have to allow a little bit of leeway for players to compete for the ball,' he continued. 'I think it's a reflection of how well coached they are. We were punished severely by it at the weekend and it's something that we wouldn't be happy with.'
Irish Examiner
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Armagh pip Tyrone at the death after enthralling clash to book Ulster final spot
Ulster SFC semi-final: Armagh 0-23 (0-1-21) Tyrone 0-22 (0-4-14) Champions. This is what they do. Armagh kicked three successive scores in the final seven minutes to secure a stunning one-point triumph over Tyrone and a spot in the Ulster final. A remarkable impact from the Tyrone bench looked to have swung the tie but Armagh produced a courageous close to delight the orange presence in an enthralled 21,288 crowd. Clones has witnessed many great days. This was one of them. With the wind at their backs, the All-Ireland champions burst out and took seven two-point shots. The only successful effort came from Oisin O'Neill and that was cancelled out by a terrific Michael McKernan kick at the O'Duffy terrace end. Armagh carried a 0-11 to 0-8 lead in at the break. In one of several late changes, Darragh Canavan started and curled over a point with his first touch seconds after the throw-in. Paddy Burns took on the task of marking the Errigal star. All of the early creativity came from Kieran McGeeney's side. Ethan Rafferty retained 100% of his first-half kickouts and landed a point after a classic set play where his team-mates flooded the inside line to create space. The goalkeeper came forward repeatedly as Armagh opted to leave four defenders back instead. Callum O'Neill was immense in the middle. And still, with 21 minutes played it was all level. Conn Kilpatrick drove down the middle to force a routine free for Darren McCurry. Those flashes of individual brilliance were keeping Tyrone in touch. It was a physical contest too, with referee David Gough policing steps strictly. Four players were pulled for over-carrying in the opening 30 minutes alone. Oisin Conaty pushed Armagh further clear after the turnaround. For his fourth point, Rafferty aimed his kickout at his opposite number one Niall Morgan, who was pressing in the middle. Tyrone won the break but couldn't pass back to their goalkeeper. Jarly Og Burns was able to collect and drive into open space, sending Conaty away to slot it. Six down and in need of a spark, Malachy O'Rourke turned to his bench. Eoin McElholm swung over a beauty and won a subsequent free. A dramatic goalmouth scramble eventually ended with a Darragh Canavan free. Peter Harte came in to land a two. McGeeney's sideline protests were punished with a dissent infringement, McCurry elected to come outside the arch and suddenly Tyrone were ahead. Jarly Óg Burns immediately hit back. Stefan Campbell was introduced and once more, made his mark. This time, he converted the equaliser. It was fitting that the outstanding Rory Grugan tapped over the last kick to give them the win. He was awesome throughout. New rules but the same dogged spirit. Armagh don't quit. Scorers for Tyrone: D. McCurry (0-10, 4 frees, 1 tpf), D. Canavan (0-4, 2 frees), M. McKernan (0-2, 1 tp), C. Kilpatrick (0-2, 1 tp), P. Harte (0-2, 1 tp), E. McElholm (0-2). Scorers for Armagh: O. Conaty (0-4), A. Murnin (0-2), C. O'Neill (0-3), O'Neill (0-3, 1 tp), R. Grugan (0-3, 2 frees), J. Burns (0-2), R. McQuillan (0-2), B. Crealey, E. Rafferty, C. Turbitt, S. Campbell (0-1 each). TYRONE: N. Morgan; C. Quinn, P. Teague, N. Devlin; M. McKernan, R. Brennan, K. McGeary; B. Kennedy, C. Kilpatrick; A. Donaghy, J. Oguz, C. Daly; D. McCurry, D. Canavan, R. Canavan. Subs: S. O'Donnell for Donaghy (42); B. McDonnell for Oguz, E. McElholm for R. Canavan (both 48); P. Harte for Daly (54), P. Hampsey for Quinn (59 Temp). ARMAGH: E. Rafferty; P. Burns, B. McCambridge, T. McCormack; R. McQuillan, G. McCabe, J. Burns; C. O'Neill, C. Mackin; D. McMullen, O. Conaty, P. McGrane; R. Grugan, A. Murnin, O. O'Neill. Subs: C. Turbitt for O'Neill (52); J. Hall for Crealey (54), C. McConville for McMullan (62), S. Campbell for Murnin (63), S. McPartlan for McGrane (67). Referee: D. Gough (Meath).
