After speculation about his future swirled, the clubs and executive of the county backed McGeeney 46-16 to continue for a 10th season, and their faith has been spectacularly rewarded with a run to the All-Ireland final against Galway.
“I wouldn’t call it difficult,” he said of the episode in the Carrickdale Hotel.
“It was actually probably one of those moments that the vote reinforced . . . whatever it was, 70 to 80 per cent of the clubs, voted for me. So, if anything, it was a good start to the year. As the year went on, I think that percentage went down!” he smiled.
“I’ve been around football a long, long time. [I’ve] seen all of those things come and go.”
McGeeney insists he has no issue about which jersey Armagh wear in the final, having beaten Kerry in their black strip last time out.
However, he revealed that two of his panel are colour-blind which can cause issues, while they have worn their traditional orange jerseys in each of their last three championship matches with the Tribesmen.
“They are very funny about that, don’t ask me why. You have to get special permission. We have two players with colour-blindness, that’s an issue at different times, so when you have full-block colours it can be an issue for two of them.
“Listen, I don’t know, that sort of stuff goes way over my head. You’d think it’s a simple enough thing, like wear what you want as long as you can distinguish between the two teams.
“But, like, do I have a luck thing attached to [the colour]? No.”
McGeeney renews rivalries with Galway manager Pádraic Joyce, who he revealed sent him a text after Armagh beat Kerry to say they would meet in the final.
“He told me after the thing, he says, ‘we’ll meet in the final’. He actually predicted two or three things that have all come [true]. I have asked him who did he see winning the final but he hasn’t told me that one yet! Joyce is a good fella, I know him a long time, an unbelievable player in his day and he’s a competitor through and through.”
