Niall Grimley steps back from the Armagh panel
Armagh and Madden star Niall Grimley has announced that he will step back from the Orchard county panel for at least the start of the season.Grimley, who was part of Kieran McGeeney’s All-Ireland-winning squad in 2024, cited family reasons for his departure.The announcement was made on a special podcast made by Armagh GAA, where Niall, along with his brother, Ryan, spoke to Shaun Casey after the Grimley duo were part of the Madden and Loughmacrory county championship-winning teams.Read more:“I met the boss man (Kieran McGeeney) a couple of months ago and made the very tough decision to step away,” said the Madden Raparees clubman.“It’s not a decision that I have took lightly; a lot of thought has went into it.“Obviously, I have two kids at the minute, Olivia is three and Kaden’s only coming three months, so it’s just very busy.”Grimley has become a crucial member of McGeeney’s Armagh set-up in recent years, forming a great midfield partnership with Ben Crealey.It is unclear as to the length of time that Grimley will be away from the panel, but he indicated that he will miss at least the Dr McKenna Cup and some of the National Football League.“I’m just taking time to step away, it could be for three months, [I] come back next October and give it another rattle, I could never go back.“I know the lads [have been] unbelievable, they’re only going one direction.“It’s been a decision I’ve had to make for myself. I’ve been on the road 10 years, [and] the past couple of years hasn’t been easy with injury.“I’ve two kids now, a lot going on, I’d do anything for the Armagh lads, some of them are the best friends in the world; Joe McElroy is as close to me as my brothers.“It was a tough decision, but it is a decision that I am happy with for me and my family right now.”Grimley lost his brother, Patrick, and sister-in-law, Ceira, in a car crash on the Gosford Road on November 4, 2023.Armagh start their inter-county season against rivals Tyrone at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds on Friday, January 2, in the Dr McKenna Cup.
