Kieran McGeeney has described Dublin and Kerry as “way above” Donegal in terms of physicality, and expressed a desire for more hard-hitting encounters like the All-Ireland semi-final replay between Mayo and Kerry last summer.

The Armagh manager, whose team play Donegal in the Ulster SFC first round on June 14th, applauded the last two All-Ireland winning teams for raising the bar in terms of physical combat in Gaelic football.

Speaking at a breakfast media briefing, hosted by the Armagh County Board in Newry yesterday, McGeeney was unequivocal when asked if Donegal presented the biggest physical challenge in the game right now.

Harder hitters

“No, definitely not. I would put Kerry and Dublin way above them in terms of physical contact. The physicality, I think, is seen more in Ulster than in other provinces, but from a playing point of view, I can categorically state they [Donegal] are not even in the same ball park.

“They might be closer, because of the northern thing – and you might as well call it northern, more than Ulster – there is more of a rivalry and there is more friction in it [Ulster championship]. But in terms of actual physicality, you are on about bigger men and harder hitters.

“In fairness, Mayo have stepped up too in the last couple of years in terms of the size of the men they have and the way they hit. When I say that, people think that I am being derogatory and I am not – I am being the opposite – and that is why I always enjoyed playing against those teams, because I think you were allowed to play that way.”

Heated exchanges

Armagh and Donegal were involved in heated exchanges during last year's All-Ireland quarter-final in Croke Park which resulted in the Donegal team doctor, Kevin Moran, being knocked to the ground.

McGeeney cited last year’s All-Ireland semi-final replay between Mayo and Kerry in the Gaelic Grounds as an example of how he’d like all games to be played, and refereed.

“There were rows in that, bibs torn up, fellas thrown over signs, there was all sorts of things [happened] and not a dicky bird. It was a great game of football, but we [in Ulster] are not allowed to play like that.

“All games should be played like that but no-one else referees a game like that. In fairness to hurling, the players get up and get on with it, and I think football should be played like that.”