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Big figure: Kieran Donaghy in the Armagh backroom. Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Tyrone blood, formed in Kerry but a little bit of his heart belongs to Armagh - Kieran Donaghy

The former Kingdom great faces his home county in the All Ireland semi final.

HIS FIRST ENCOUNTER with Armagh, Kieran Donaghy carried no direct grudge going in, but he felt the pressure of previous years weighing on his team mates.

The previous year, Kerry had lost the All-Ireland final to Tyrone, the county of his father, Oliver.

Two years before that, Tyrone in the semi-final. A year before that it was Armagh in the final.

In that context, Kerryโ€™s All Ireland in 2004 was labelled the softest of soft. The 2006 team had so much to prove; to the outside world for sure, but to themselves also.

It was Armagh, even more so than Tyrone, who were experts at playing up to the image bestowed upon them. Nobody personified their unyielding and tough exterior as Kieran McGeeney, but Francie Bellew was a close second.

Paired up against Bellew on the edge of the square for the 2006 quarter final in Croke Park, Donaghy takes us inside that tussle in his autobiography, โ€˜What Do You Think Of That?โ€™

โ€˜Jesus Christ, Iโ€™m going to be taken off here,โ€™ he wrote.

โ€˜Itโ€™s coming up to half-time and Kerry are losing and Iโ€™m losing the battle with Francieโ€ฆ And Paul Hearty, their keeper, is happy to let me know it. Heโ€™s constantly shouting out to Francie but Iโ€™m the target audience.

โ€˜Thatโ€™s it, Francie, you have him bate up a fuckinโ€™ stick! Sock it into him!โ€™

Bellew was a clever defender. Not for him the jersey grab, to reveal a stretched material that a referee or an umpire couldnโ€™t ignore. No. Bellew was grabbing Donaghyโ€™s shorts. No give. No outward signs.

Donaghy made to do something about it and registered a complaint with the umpires. They were nonplussed. Hearty was lapping it up, getting inside the head of Kerryโ€™s brand-new attacking sensation who arrived unannounced.

โ€˜Go on Donaghy, you big soft basketball cry baby!โ€™ he laughs.

On and on it goes, until Donaghy created a couple of points for others coming up to half time. Mercifully, he was not taken off. He got to start the second half.

When Sean Oโ€™Sullivan shaped to shoot, Donaghy suspected it might drop short and he went into basketball mode. He grabs the shot over Francie. Shows Bellew the endline and checks back, using the left arm to hold him off while he squeezes a shot with his right foot, seeing Hearty come in the corner of his eye, and itโ€™s there. The net is rippling and the crowd erupt and Kerry are motoring, on top of an Ulster side.

It was the goal that would ultimately propel them to another All Ireland.

As he admits, a hundred other Kerry forwards would move on. Jog into space. Think of the next ball. But he instead lurched forward, into Heartyโ€™s face as he gathers himself off the ground and lets him have it.

โ€˜WHOโ€™S CRYING NOW, BABY?โ€™

kieran-donaghy-and-paul-hearty Donaghy faces Paul Hearty. Andrew Paton / INPHO Andrew Paton / INPHO / INPHO

***

In December 2020, it was revealed that Donaghy had been added to the Armagh backroom team.

For most, they felt it was his introduction to the coaching world. But by then he had already been joint manager of the Tralee IT Sigerson Cup team.

He was also described as a performance coach with the Galway hurlers.

But really, his experience went back almost two decades ago. While at school, he coached the school basketball team. Basketball is a sport that demands on-court coaches, talking team mates through various plays, notionally decided upon by a coach.

On the teams Donaghy played and starred on, he had a role in everything.

In those early national league games of 2021, it was his voice that the press could hear on the Armagh sideline. Without a crowd present at the grounds, he would run up to the back row of seats in the stand and observe from that angle, run all the way down and roar instructions.

Other times, it just couldnโ€™t wait and he would bellow from the back of the stands, creating some awesome acoustics and teaching the assembled media just what instructions players receive.

The link to Armagh came through Kieran McGeeney and their International Rules experience. The surprise was that McGeeney fitted into the group along with others such as Anthony Tohill who approached everything with a deathly seriousness.

Donaghy was never going to join that crew.

What has surprised many though, is that four years on, he is still there, heading into an All Ireland semi final with the man who took a punt on him โ€“ Jack Oโ€™Connor โ€“ back on the Kerry sideline.

Itโ€™s 416 kilometres from Tralee to Tassagh, where Donaghy is billeted on his trips to Armagh, staying in an apartment belonging to a friend of McGeeney.

To do all that, it has to be worth it. From a coaching point of view, everything has to be approached with complete honesty.

In an interview with Kieran Shannon of The Irish Examiner early this year, Donaghy was glowing after playing and shining in a game for Garveyโ€™s Tralee Warriors against Neptune.

โ€œYou want to be sure the Warriors jersey is in a good place whenever you hand it over, similar to what you tried to do with Kerry, what youโ€™ve tried to do with Stacks.

โ€œShow them the right way and not be afraid to call fellas out and be the cranky old fella at times. Because they need to know sometimes itโ€™s needed. That you canโ€™t be afraid of losing friends,โ€ he said.

kieran-donaghy Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

โ€œThatโ€™s the way I look at it: Iโ€™ve enough friends, itโ€™s good teammates Iโ€™m looking for. Thatโ€™s what I want more of. So if I feel you need to be called out, Iโ€™ll call you out.

โ€œDoesnโ€™t matter if youโ€™re one of the pros or Irish guys. You can bitch behind my back all you like but if youโ€™re not sprinting back the floor hard enough, or if Iโ€™m beating you in a sprint at 40 years of age with a bad knee, then Iโ€™m going not to stand for it. But then when you do what we wanted you to do, Iโ€™ll be the first guy to come with the praise.โ€

He talked a lot in that piece about his regret that the likes of himself and Gooch werenโ€™t 100% gym compliant in their careers. That they had no problem staying out on the pitch after a session to work on some moves or kicking drills, but when it came to lifting tin, they were only dong it to keep up appearances.

In Armagh, their dedication to the gym has opened his eyes. And as a result he studies players in a different way. He can see that while he is a Kerry blow-in helping Armagh, an Armagh blow-in to Kerry, in their strength and conditioning coach Jason McGahan, has transformed their physiques.

As the years have rolled on, the men alongside him on the sideline have been added to. Paddy McKeever departed, Ciaran McKeever came in. In time for this season, the former Kilcoo manager and All Ireland winning coach Conleith Gilligan joined up.

And still, Donaghy draws attention. Never will he be under the cameraโ€™s glare like this Saturday night in Croke Park. His expressions will be recorded and studied as he faces the green and gold.

One game away from an All Ireland final. For Armagh. Itโ€™s a funny life.

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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    Oct 5th 2013, 6:41 PM

    Muuuuuunster! Muuuuuuunster! Muuuuuuuuunster!

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Oct 5th 2013, 7:02 PM

    Dave Kearney is gonna have nightmares about Keith earlsโ€ฆ

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    Mute robby rottenest
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:40 PM

    Keithโ€™s a great winger. Now we need a quality 13.

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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Oct 5th 2013, 7:05 PM

    Game will be ruined by that idiot poite

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Oct 5th 2013, 7:07 PM

    Already inconsistent. Disaster of a ref

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    Mute Brian O' Connor
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    Oct 5th 2013, 7:48 PM

    The most annoying part of this match is having to listen to Ryle Nugent.

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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:04 PM

    I wish the head of sport in rte would change commentators. โ€ฆ.oh wait

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    Mute Jim Hanley
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:07 PM

    I donโ€™t care which team you support, I donโ€™t think you can argue that Poite is reffing this well. Bad decisions made all around. He is just awful, as usual.

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:34 PM

    Best team won simple as that.

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Oct 5th 2013, 6:16 PM

    Why is there Sunderland v United commentary in this thread?

    Will probably be removed after I post making me look a bigger fool than normal!

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    Mute Anna Gram
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    Oct 5th 2013, 6:18 PM

    lol itโ€™s gone :p

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    Mute Mahon Slattery
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    Oct 5th 2013, 6:23 PM

    Except for the mad โ€œHalf Timeโ€ heading which will probably also disappear now

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    Mute Anna Gram
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    Oct 5th 2013, 6:24 PM

    Ya that confused me too!!

    Freaked out looking for the tv guide!! :p

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    Mute tomeenoldstock
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    Oct 5th 2013, 6:29 PM

    I took a screen grab of it so iโ€™v the proof.

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    Mute Ping Pong
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    Oct 5th 2013, 6:29 PM

    App of the year?

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    Mute Fergal Kelly
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    Oct 5th 2013, 6:34 PM

    Come on Munster! Time for a big performance!

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    Mute Jim Hanley
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    Oct 5th 2013, 7:25 PM

    Poite gives a penalty to Munster from the scrum, and then has a word with both captains. Ridiculous.

    And Madigan in a blatant lack of fair play.

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    Mute robby rottenest
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:10 PM

    Is Poite a rugby referee? Evidence would suggest not.

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    Mute John B. Reid
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    Oct 5th 2013, 10:00 PM

    This is a huge win for Rob Penney. It gives Munster a great platform from which to attack their season.

    Mr Penney arguably needed this win more than Matt Oโ€™Connor, who is still in his honeymoon period. Although Iโ€™m a Leinster man, Iโ€™m happy for Penney tonight; heโ€™s taking Munster in the right direction.

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:58 PM

    Heโ€™s a joke of a ref but just as bad for both teams. Munster won fair and square, wanted it more and done what was needed. Good to see earls on the wing once again.

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    Mute Paul O'Connor
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    Oct 5th 2013, 10:31 PM

    Nice one Chris, ye won the breakdown we won the scrums but we wanted it more. Not one for the purists but weโ€™ll take it. Looking forward to Smithfieldโ€ฆโ€ฆ.. sorry, the RDS already!

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Oct 6th 2013, 9:19 AM

    Can you Munster boys admit the transition is now over!
    Form a Leinster point of view what a difference odriscoll makes, take this week compared to last week

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    Mute Paul O'Connor
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    Oct 6th 2013, 11:51 AM

    All evidence would point to your assertion Chris, for sure. However a team without, BOD, Nacewa, Sexton,Cullen and Jennings (not to mention losing the best coach in world rugby), points towards a team evidently starting their own period of transition. So it would seem.
    As an aside. Can we all admit Heaslip is no captain and Kearney is a too much of a liability in defence for the good of Irish rugby?

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    Mute Anna Gram
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:10 PM

    Nothing worse than a ref dominating and ruining a gameโ€ฆ

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    Mute Anna Gram
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:38 PM

    Well done Munster :D

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    Mute Kevin Buston
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:33 PM

    Muuuuuuuuuuuunster!!!!!!!

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    Mute Jonathan Flynn
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    Oct 5th 2013, 6:47 PM

    Come on yee boys in blue

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:02 PM

    Well done poite. Moron.

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    Mute Brian O' Connor
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:39 PM

    I think on this occasion the better team won, but only just.

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    Mute mattoid
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    Oct 5th 2013, 9:38 PM

    Only just on the scoreboard, but they won all over the pitchโ€ฆ.

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    Mute Stephen McMahon
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    Oct 5th 2013, 7:58 PM

    Someone get the ref his blue jersey. Joke of a man, giving everything he possibly can to Leinster.

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    Mute Joe Bet
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:04 PM

    Donโ€™t cry itโ€™s just a game

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    Mute Paul O'Connor
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    Oct 5th 2013, 10:33 PM

    Third, ahem, Province?

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    Mute Kevin Buston
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:32 PM

    Muppet!!! ^^^^^

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    Mute Martin Jones
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:27 PM

    Every decision going to Munster. Shocking result if Leinster lose to these bunch of cloggers

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    Mute Barry Casey
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:43 PM

    Taxi for Martin !!

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    Mute Fecky Din
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:59 PM

    Bitter much now Martin

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    Mute mattoid
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    Oct 5th 2013, 9:37 PM

    I think you were watching the wrong match Martin.

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    Mute Rory O'Connor
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    Oct 5th 2013, 9:58 PM

    What a shock! the team that were hungrier and showed more invention won

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    Mute Andrew Potts
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    Oct 5th 2013, 11:01 PM

    Leinster did a good imitation of a good team becoming a bad one overnight.

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    Mute Tomas O Beag
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:34 PM

    If this is the cream of Irish rugby weโ€™re fecked. Brutal rugby by both teams

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:40 PM

    I wouldnโ€™t agree. This fixture brings its own pressures. The fear of losing can stunt open play. Nobody wants to loseโ€ฆ

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    Mute Paul O'Connor
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    Oct 6th 2013, 4:13 PM

    The Northern hemisphere rugby season starts in September.

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    Mute Sacha Mahady
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    Oct 5th 2013, 8:38 PM

    Ref is terrible. Touch judge no better. If this is the best Munster have at home I fear for their season. If this is the best Leinster have I fear for theirs too. Huge massive improvements needed for next week from both sides. Ref needs to be rested for a season or so.

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Oct 5th 2013, 7:46 PM

    Perfectly balanced at half time..

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    Mute Anna Gram
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    Oct 6th 2013, 2:36 AM

    Martin will you stand still while I open fire on youโ€ฆโ€ฆ

    Thanks.

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    Mute Paul Kelly
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    Oct 5th 2013, 9:51 PM

    Leinster were poor munster a little less poor I fear for irish rugby if this is the best on offer. Give munster their day they were the better team but is Matt Oโ€™Connor imposing too much of a structured game on leinster? I think so weโ€™re far more dangerous in second half in the loose.

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    Mute Tom O'Brien
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    Oct 5th 2013, 7:50 PM

    any links to stream the game?

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    Mute Jim Hanley
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    Oct 5th 2013, 7:54 PM
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