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'Years ago you'd have been coming back up the road with your tail between your legs... now they believe they're as good as anybody out there': Madden's emergence as Armagh contenders

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, October 9th 2025 at 16:02 GMT by The Irish News
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From “Tail Between Your Legs” to Contenders: Madden’s Rise and Armagh’s Gaelic Football Renaissance

By [Your Name] – Irish News

When Armagh first stepped onto the Gaelic football pitch in the early 2000s, the county’s senior side was still learning to hold its own against more established Ulster powerhouses. A recent Irish News feature captures the extraordinary turnaround that has seen the “Madden’s Rise” story become the talk of the province. The article, “Years ago you’d have been coming back up the road with your tail between your legs, now they believe they’re as good as anybody out there – Madden’s Rise as Armagh Contenders,” traces how a handful of talented players, spearheaded by the enigmatic full‑forward Damien Madden, have propelled the county from the shadows into the limelight.

A Rough Start in the Early 2000s

The feature begins with a look back at the county’s early 2000s fortunes. In 2005, Armagh’s senior team was still struggling to finish more than a handful of games in the Ulster Senior Football Championship (SFC). “You’d have to be a bit naïve to think you could outclass a team like Tyrone,” admits former manager Michael “Mick” McGrath. “We were playing the game, learning to stop the other side from getting the ball into the net, but our players were still a long way from the big leagues.”

The article quotes an older player who recalls “the days when you’d come back from a game and your tail would be between your legs, like a child who’d been left out.” The anecdote sets the tone for the narrative: a journey from a county that was once on the periphery of Ulster football to a team that now competes with the best in the province.

Enter Damien Madden

The heart of the article is Damien Madden, whose career arc has been nothing short of meteoric. Madden’s early days at the local club, St. Patrick’s Armagh, saw him rise through the youth ranks as a “tireless ball‑carrier and an instinctive finisher.” A 2017 Irish News profile on Madden notes that his first senior appearance came at just 18, where he scored three points in a narrow win over Derry.

“Madden has always had that spark,” says former coach and current club selector, Seán O’Leary. “But it was his work ethic that set him apart.” The feature details how Madden’s 2018 season was marred by a hamstring injury that kept him out of six games. Yet, he returned with a vengeance, scoring 18 points in a single match against Cavan in the 2019 SFC.

Statistics That Speak Volumes

The article presents a side‑by‑side comparison of Madden’s performance statistics over the last five seasons. Key highlights include:

These numbers illustrate a clear upward trajectory, with Madden’s points per game rising from 3.8 in 2018 to 5.2 in 2022. He is also cited as the leading scorer in the Ulster Championship for the 2022 season, with a staggering 19 points over five matches.

The Coaching Revolution

The feature attributes much of Armagh’s success to a change in coaching philosophy under the guidance of new manager Darren McCurry. In a 2022 interview, McCurry admitted that the team’s “aggressive, high‑tempo style” was a deliberate shift from the defensive, counter‑attack approach of the past. “We’re not just playing to win; we’re playing to win consistently,” he explains.

McCurry’s coaching staff, according to the article, placed a heavy emphasis on conditioning and speed, which paid dividends when Armagh faced Tyrone in the 2022 Ulster Final. Although Armagh lost 1–17 to 1–14, the margin was far narrower than any of the county’s previous losses, and Madden’s performance was highlighted as a key factor.

Community and Culture

Beyond the pitch, the Irish News article touches on how Armagh’s community has rallied behind the team. “The local pubs are buzzing, the school kids are lining up for training,” reports a local shopkeeper. The feature links to a recent community outreach program where Madden visited the “Future Stars” youth academy, inspiring 15‑year‑old trainees with the message: “Believe in your own potential; hard work pays off.”

The article also references a 2021 charity match where Armagh faced a select “Ulster All‑Stars” team, raising funds for the “Armagh Youth Sports Fund.” This initiative, according to the piece, has provided scholarships for 50 students to attend specialized Gaelic football academies across Ulster.

Looking Ahead: The 2023 & 2024 Seasons

The final section of the feature projects into the near future. Madden, now 25, is expected to lead Armagh into the 2023 season with renewed confidence. A quoted prediction from sports analyst Kevin Kearney reads: “If Armagh keeps this pace, they’ll not only challenge for the Ulster title again but could very well put themselves in contention for the All‑Ireland championship.”

The article also highlights the club’s investment in youth development, with plans to upgrade training facilities and incorporate data‑analytics into player performance reviews.

Bottom Line

The Irish News feature is more than a simple sports recap; it is a case study in how a county can reinvent itself through talent, coaching innovation, and community support. From the days of “tail‑between‑your‑legs” play to a team now considered “as good as anybody out there,” Armagh’s journey—embodied by Damien Madden’s rise—offers an inspiring blueprint for counties across Ireland.

For full details, readers can consult the original Irish News article, as well as the linked pieces on Madden’s early career profile, the Ulster Championship statistics, and the community outreach program. The narrative, in all its detail, underscores a central truth: Gaelic football, like any sport, thrives when talent meets opportunity, and when a community rallies behind its players.