Armagh’s Niall Grimley dedicated his team’s All-Ireland Football Championship final victory to his late brother Patrick after the Orchard County claimed the title for the second time.
The midfielder was asked about how he would celebrate their long-awaited win amid scenes of jubilation at Croke Park this afternoon.
Speaking shortly after the full-time whistle in today’s final victory over Galway, Niall Grimley said: “I’ll go see my family [to celebrate] because this isn’t about the medal or the cup for me.
“I’ve been through a lot this past eight and a half months. I lost my brother and there’s not a minute goes by where I don’t think about him.
“That was for him and I just wish he was here to see it. He wouldn’t believe it. Every night I was turning out to train, I was just doing it for him.
“I just wanted to put a smile on his children’s faces because they deserve it. They’re amazing.”
Grimley said Armagh’s perseverance and resilience has finally been rewarded, as well as that of their supporters, who travelled to Dublin in big numbers over the last two seasons in particular.
The 29-year-old continued: “It’s a wee bit like a dream here now, but look, we’re absolutely delighted.
“We’re buzzing. The Armagh fans are unbelievable and days like this make up for a thousand bad days.”
Grimley did not feature early in the season due to injury and he had to bide his time to make an impact in 2024.
He scored from play in today’s tight encounter, building on an even more impressive display against Kerry.
Asked how it all came right for him and the county in the latter stages of the All-Ireland series, he said the triumph was down to the players’ determination and the management team headed by Kieran McGeeney.
Grimley explained: “I wasn’t involved in the first 12 games for Armagh, so I had to bide my time and it eventually came.
“‘Geezer’ gave me the nod against Derry, so look, we know this Armagh team and the management team, they do absolutely everything for us.
“No stone is unturned and we’re that sort of team. We never say never, we never give up, so we keep going.
“It just shows the character of the lads, the manager. It all comes from ‘Geezer’. He’s the sheriff, he’s the boss and what he says we do. He’s unbelievable.”