The Return of Rian O’Neill

By Cathal Haughey

Fans across Ireland, Armagh in particular, were delighted when they read reports that Rian O’Neill was returning to training following his break from football, after having his best year of football in his career playing a key role in helping Armagh winning the Sam Maguire and being awarded an All Star last year.

At first Armagh fans were concerned for Rian when he wasn’t named in the squad against Galway in Armagh’s first match since winning the All Ireland, but after after the match, manager Kieran McGeeney reassured fans that the Crossmaglen man is taking a break from football although he didn’t say when he would be back. Rian’s uncle and fellow all Ireland winner Oisin McConvile said a similar line of his former teammate saying he could be back in weeks or months. 

Bar a Crossmaglen 7s match, Rian’s last professional match was on 6th October 2024 when Crossmaglen lost to Clann Eireann 0-10:1-11 in the Armagh senior football championships semi final with the old rules.

When the FRC introduced the new rules which included the 2 point arch, Armagh fans were looking forward to seeing Rian playing for Armagh with the new rules because he is one of a handful of players who would go and be willing to score a 2 pointer. For Armagh this year, players haven’t gone for 2 pointers and instead go for either a goal which they have scored a goal in every match this year so far.

You then compare that to Galway against Donegal a recently when Galway scored seven 2-pointers, much to thank for the sweet boot of Shane Walsh. With Armagh picking up 5 points in division 1 so far, it is up for debate if Rian has come back early from his break because of Armagh’s form in the division so far, or was it the plan all along to come back around this time around the year. There’s hopes that Rian could be involved in some way against Kerry on 15th March even if he is on the bench when RTE reported that he returned to training last Tuesday.

Whatever you think of Rian O’Neill, let’s celebrate the return of the player that is so good there is even a song about him.