The Armagh star delivered a Man-of-the-Match display as Madden won the Armagh SFC title for the first time with a stunning 11-point win over Cullyhanna
Darragh McMullen is having the kind of breakthrough season that a player dreams off. Well, that is if they can fall asleep.
The Madden and Armagh star admitted to being troubled by bouts of insomnia in the build up to Sunday’s historic county final against Cullyhanna.
One team would be leaving the Box-It Athletic Grounds with the Gerry Fagan Cup for the first time in their history. McMullen’s Man-of-the-Match display was a big reason his side claimed their maiden title as they romped to an 11-point win over St Pat’s.
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“It’s hard not to think about it during the week – I’m buzzing for the celebrations,” said McMullen.
“I am looking forward to going back to the club, and it’s special for the club and the people, especially what’s happened over the last couple of years, and yeah, we did it for them, and the celebrations will be good.
“It’s been unbelievable, the last two weeks. . . it’s hard getting sleep, to be honest.
“I was waking up in the morning and my heart was just racing every morning. You just have to focus on a task, get in the middle of the game, just keep your mind off it, and you just take it day by day, living in the present, trying not to live in the future – we had been told all the week, you can get ahead of yourself.”
“The build up to it was unbelievable, like excitement was unreal, and I don’t know how to describe it, to be honest.”
Like all first-time champions, Madden will enjoy the celebrations for the next few days before resetting for the forthcoming Ulster Club campaign.
The newly-crowned Armagh champions will face the winners of Saturday night’s preliminary round tie between Dunloy (Antrim) and Newbridge (Derry) and McMullen believes Madden will relish the chance to play in the provincial series.
“I suppose that’s where the experience has to come in – some boys have never experienced it or been in the final,” added McMullen.
“We played in the Ulster U16 series (Paul McGirr Tournament) – we didn’t know what hit us and we got chinned by a Derry team (Lavey).
“We are going to be playing the champions of Derry or Antrim. We’ll enjoy the next few days, obviously, and we’ll get back to it during the week and we’ll knuckle down for the Ulster Championship.”
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