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Kieran McGeeney in action for Na Fianna back in 2001. INPHO
A Club Warrior

McGeeney's Armagh impact no surprise: 'He took no prisoners - a great leader'

Tomas Brady came across Kieran McGeeney with Na Fianna.

KIERAN MCGEENEY IS gearing up to manage his Armagh side for tomorrow’s Division 3 final against Fermanagh.

Tomas Brady is getting set to play for Dublin in Sunday’s Division 1 decider against Cork.

But before this weekend’s Allianz football league showdowns, the pair soldiered together on the club fields for Na Fianna.

Brady’s career was in its infancy while McGeeney’s was approaching the end.

Yet the 2002 All-Ireland winning captain made a major impression on the current Dublin senior.

“I played a couple years (with him), it was early on in my career and towards the latter end of his,” recalls Brady.

He was such a great leader. He’s a great talker in the dressing room. Himself and Enda McNulty (were) great motivators.

“I’ve seen Armagh have been promoted and are up to Division 2, so he’s had a good impact there as well.”

Tomas Brady Na Fianna's Tomas Brady. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Brady absorbed plenty useful playing lessons from training with McGeeney.

“You would (learn) yeah. I had a couple of run-ins as well when I was on the wrong end of a couple of 50-50 balls in training!

“He took no prisoners. He’s just so professional and ruthless in his approach. You could see that as a player just that he doesn’t leave any stone unturned.

“He was very aggressive and physical. I think he’d like his teams to play that way as well, obviously within the rules.”

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