Armagh hero McCambridge says new status is 'crazy'

Armagh All-Ireland winner Barry McCambridge says it's "crazy" to hear him being described as favourite for the footballer of the year award after not even being a regular starter for Kieran McGeeney's side at the beginning of the campaign.

McCambridge scored Armagh's match-turning goal in their surprise semi-final win over Kerry in addition to subduing the Kingdom's star David Clifford.

The Clann Eireann man followed that up with superb display in the final victory over Galway when he again got on the scoresheet and he has been nominated for an All-Star in addition to being one of the three contenders for the player of the year award with Galway pair Paul Conroy and John Maher.

"It's very different now," said the school teacher of the recognition he is receiving.

"Usually I'd be happy enough slipping about when no-one knows you but as I've said before, it comes with the territory with what we achieved. It's amazing.

"I wouldn't change this because we're All-Ireland champions and how amazing it is for the whole community of Portadown, where I'm from in Lurgan and the whole of Armagh," said the Armagh defender who was speaking at St John the Baptist Primary School in Portadown where he teaches, as he was joined there by a number of county team-mates on Thursday.

McCambridge says that winning an All-Star was a childhood dream but admits being a prospective player of the year was "something I've never really thought of".

"When you look at the list of players who've achieved [that honour], you think they're legends of the game and I somehow got on the list."

Despite that, the Clann Eireann man insists that he "always believed in myself and knew I was good enough" to represent Armagh.

"Just at the time there were people playing better than me or the management thought there were players better suited to those games.

"It's not just me in that situation. You've got Niall Grimley who only started his first game against Derry in the championship and is nominated for an All-Star.

"Joe McElroy has been one of our best players all year and he didn't play too many games last year. It shows the quality and calibre of our team that anyone can step in and do the job.

"I just happened to get lucky and it fell for me at the right time."

McCambridge does feel that his new found status confers a responsibility to be a "role model" for his students and the younger generation in his club and county.

"I hope I do it right and just and inspire people to look for dreams and achieve them. You never know when you'll get your break and you have to be ready for it.

"That's why you need to believe in yourself and work hard. If I'd have given up, Armagh may still have won an All-Ireland but I wouldn't have been playing."

McCambridge's Armagh team-mate Oisin Conaty, who has been nominated for the young player of the year award and is also among the 11 Orchard County contenders for an All-Star, describes the Clann Eireann man as a "great lad" who can "do anything really" on the field.

"He can score, he has an engine, he can mark the best forwards in the county and going by what we've seen this year, I feel he definitely does deserve the player of the year."