Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney laughed off rumours of a fallout with star player Rian O'Neill after his side were relegated to Division 2 following a two-point defeat to Tyrone in Omagh.
The loss in Healy Park, combined with Monaghan's victory away to Mayo, condemned Armagh to Division 2 football in 2024, ending their three-year stint in the top flight.
Reflecting on the campaign, McGeeney pointed to his side's failure to see out games in the closing minutes - most notably in their home defeat to Galway last week - and said they would benefit from having their best players back on the pitch.
Along with O'Neill's absence, Armagh lost another key attacker early against Tyrone, Andrew Murnin making way with an injury midway through the first half.
"It seems to be the story of the year. We're controlling games coming down to the wire and it just seemed to fall away," McGeeney told RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport after the game.
"It's unfortunate but that's sport at a high level. Fine margins and coming out on the right side of them.
"Getting all our best players back on the pitch would be the biggest thing. Rian (being out) and then losing Andrew (Murnin), they're all big things. (James) Morgan, Conor O'Neill, Oisín (O'Neill), Paddy Burns, they're all starting players and you'd like most of them back.
"We had good enough players on the field today, as we did in most of the games, because we've been in control coming into the last two. So I suppose it's repetition and trying to find that small thing to give us the extra bit."
As for O'Neill, McGeeney cheerfully mocked the rumours of a bust-up, which had caught fire in Armagh over the past week.
The manager said his star forward had taken a "small nick" on the leg in training and they were hopeful he would be fit for the start of the Ulster championship.
"Needless to say, we haven't been in a boxing match or done anything to each other.
"There's five of us that have a shiner in there so we thought that might add to the story.
"He took a small nick on the leg on Tuesday evening. So, the rumour mill was going before he got it. So, maybe it was a case of talking our way into history.
"He seems to be okay. But he's a big fella, he's a big lad, big muscles. He can still run but it's something you have to be cautious of.
"He's running. Because he has big legs, you have to be careful about those things. We'll be hopeful he'll be back for the Antrim game."
"Needless to say, we haven't been in a boxing match or done anything to each other."
Armagh had been touted in some quarters as a team capable of joining the ranks of All-Ireland contenders, following their tumultuous 2022 season.
Asked whether relegation would set them back or even provide a helpful jolt, McGeeney said they would have to find out.
"It's hard to tell. It can galvanise us or cause us a bit of a stutter. It's going to be disappointing but it's my job to lift it and get us going again."
