Armagh star Rian O'Neill has revealed that a straight-forward approach from manager Kieran McGeeney helped them recover from a heart-breaking Ulster final defeat to progress to the All-Ireland quarter-final.
The Orchard County sealed top spot in their round-robin group after two wins and a stirring comeback against Galway last Sunday in Markievicz Park.
Stefan Campbell's late score was crucial, ensuring they would not face a preliminary quarter-final this weekend, with time off now before they try and secure a first semi-final spot since 2005.
In the Ulster decider, Armagh were edged out by Donegal in a monumental tussle that swung several ways before reaching penalties.
Once again spot-kicks did not favour McGeeney’s outfit, the forth time they have lost by that method since 2022.
But they are now primed to have a big say in the Championship thanks to their group-phase performances.
O’Neill, speaking to RTÉ Sport at the GAA’s Continental Youth Championship launch, said: "I suppose there will be a lot of criticism thrown at us but I don't think we're a bad team.
"We've lost in three or four penalty shootouts and we haven't been put away in normal time.
"It doesn't make you a bad team as such. Obviously, there were times we could have finished out games, or whatever, but listen, at the end of the day it's just about us as a group and what we say in between them four walls is what counts.
"After the Ulster final this year, Geezer (McGeeney) said to us 'You have two options, you can feel sorry for yourself or you can get back on the horse and get back at it'. I think that's what we've done.
"If you sit there and feel sorry for yourself, then your season could be over in a few weeks then. Ultimately, you're chasing the the big prize at the end of the year, which is Sam Maguire."
As Armagh watch on this weekend and prepare for their last-eight tie, the GAA are once again plotting changes to the format of the competition, with unhappiness over the lack of jeopardy in the group phase.
It’s possible the group phase format could remain, but perhaps with more sides exiting the competition following its conclusion.
Regardless, O’Neill has welcomed the additional matches and travelling to play in different locations.
"From a personal point of view I love it," he said. "Going away on the road, we were up in Derry and it was a great atmosphere.
"We had Westmeath in the Athletic Grounds and the place was packed and the same again last Sunday in Sligo which was somewhere we wouldn’t have played before.
"I love it, games week on week, and it cuts out a bit of training too."
Armagh fans travelled in huge numbers to Croke Park last year and it’s likely they will do so again for their quarter-final clash.
"We've some of the best support in Ireland, I think, and they're absolutely mad," O'Neill said proudly.
"It’s unreal being able to see them in the field after. The smiles on people's faces and getting people out of the house and getting them to a football match, it's just brilliant."
Watch the Tailteann Cup semi-finals, Antrim v Laois (2pm) and Down v Sligo (4pm), on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
