Over 14,000 spectators packed into the Athletic Grounds for Sunday’s intriguing Division One contest between old foes Armagh and Tyrone.
It felt like a throwback to the mid-noughties when the Blackwater rivalry was in its pomp and the chaotic ending was a timely reminder that there’s no love lost between these two neighbours.
Referee David Gough dished out five red cards, four to Tyrone players, in an extraordinary finale to what was a rather one-sided derby affair.
Armagh burst into a remarkable 10-point lead at half-time thanks to goals from Greg McCabe, who was dismissed in the aftermath of the injury-time melee, and Jason Duffy.
The All-Ireland champions rallied in the second half and reduced the deficit to four points at one stage, but the Red Hands failed to engineer the goal chances their fightback so desperately required.
The six-point winning margin didn’t flatter Armagh in the slightest and the Orchard County are top of the Division One standings having also defeated Dublin in Croke Park in round one.
Yet, McGeeney is all too aware that early-season form doesn’t always equate to silverware later in the summer.
“Don't get carried away. It's a bit early. It's February,” was McGeeney’s reply when asked if he’d a message for the thousands of Armagh fans in attendance at the Athletic Grounds.
“I’ve been around long enough to know that if you’re smiling in February, you’re not always smiling in August.
“It is only two games in, that’s all it is - it is a great start.
“We’d be disappointed with our second half, top teams are always going to have their own purple patch against you.
“They seemed to be able to get a lot of frees against us which brought them back into the game. We did well and kept our composure when it counted.”
After the game, Tyrone boss Feargal Logan indicated that the Red Hands are likely to appeal the red cards issued to captain Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKernan, Peter Harte and Kieran McGeary.
The quartet were sent off by Gough following the melee in injury-time at the Athletic Grounds along with Armagh goal-scorer McCabe.
Like Logan, McGeeney stated that he’ll review the footage before deciding whether or not to appeal, but added that the Shane O’Neill’s clubman felt hard done by.
“Literally, you see where we stand, we can hardly see the game, never mind that,” remarked McGeeney.
“Talking to Greg (McCabe) there, he feels hard done by. When you have a bit of a schemozzle like that there, it’s really hard to see.
“I’m sure everybody’s going to be looking at videos and there’s going to be solicitors all over the place.”
McCabe and Duffy landed the key goals in the first half as Armagh stormed into a 2-8 to 0-4 lead by half-time.
The hosts could have had another two goals with Niall Morgan making a fine point-blank save to deny Stephen Sheridan while the Edendork man also tipped a Ciaran Mackin effort over the crossbar minutes later.
Yet, the key to Armagh’s victory was their ability to stop Tyrone from creating any clear-cut goal chances of their own with Jarly Óg Burns and Aidan Forker outstanding in defence.
“They (Tyrone) are very good at getting in around the back door with the likes of (Conor) Meyler and Harte, McGeary and (Niall) Sludden,"' said McGeeney.
“They are very good at reverse passing. A bit like ourselves, we’ll be disappointed that we didn’t get a few more.
“Morgan, again, made two great saves, especially in the first half.
“We felt we’d some sloppy passing in the second and we were trying to use the wind when we didn’t have to, we’d chances to carry it.
“It was crucial to keep them out and it was the goals which separated the sides at the end.”
While keen to keep expectation levels within his own county in check, the former Armagh All-Ireland-winning captain also stressed that he expects Dublin and Tyrone to be involved at the business end of the season despite their sluggish starts to the new campaign.
“Tyrone are All-Ireland champions and it is not trying to undermine two good points,” added McGeeney.
“They got a hammering from Kerry and came back and won the All-Ireland.
“I’m laughing at the way people are talking about Dublin too. Everyone is writing them off.
“They’ve Con O’Callaghan, (Johnny) Cooper and these boys all itching to get back. Teams don’t become poor overnight.”
