McConville was 'the difference' for Armagh - Houlahan

Ger Houlahan played for Armagh between 1983 and 2000

Ger Houlahan and Oisin McConville reminisced fondly on this week's GAA Social BBC gaelic games podcast about their time together in the Armagh football squad.

Houlahan, who secured an All-Star in 1993 and was part of the county's Ulster Championship winning squads in 1999 and 2000, said McConville was "the difference between Armagh being an ordinary team and being an All-Ireland team".

"We had some great games but just couldn't get over the line. With him around, you always got over the line," said Houlahan, who made his county debut in 1983 and remained part of the squad until 2000.

"I remember Joey Donnelly who was a corner-back trying frees…..John Rafferty when you [McConville] were coming into the set-up taking frees but they were never free-kick takers.

"It just came so naturally to Oisin and he was ballsy enough to score the big ones. That was the difference."

In a highly entertaining podcast, McConville laughed as he recalled Houlahan's attempts to console after his sending off in the Ulster Football Championship replay against Donegal in 1999.

"Houlie [who was on the bench] followed me just to make sure I was OK because I went straight into the changing-room. I was absolutely devastated. I was accused of elbowing Niall McCready. I actually ended up getting it rescinded on the video evidence.

"I remember saying at the time 'That's us.....we're up the left now' and Houlie said 'yeah….you were our only chance'. But we actually won the game. [Diarmaid] Marsden had an absolute stormer."

McConville added that he had watched the Pearse Ogs man "for 10 years with club and county".

"He was an absolute wizard. His left foot was wonderful," added the current Wicklow manager.

"But he was so encouraging to me because he instilled confidence in me.

"Every single free-kick on the pitch, he's be saying 'that's your free-kick'…..no matter where it was on the pitch. He wanted me on it. I came on the panel at 18 and if you have that sort of backing, it's nice. We had great fun too."

Their fun included owning a greyhound together with a couple of other Armagh squad members which raced on local tracks.

Houlahan's sporting career included a soccer stint at Sligo Rovers and he revealed that then Portadown FC manager Ronnie McFall attempted to sign him at one point.