McDonnell: I'll be back

Armagh's Steven McDonnell

Steven McDonnell has no plans to retire from inter-county football in the wake of Armagh's All-Ireland exit at the hands of Dublin.

The news will come as a relief to Orchard County supporters who had feared that the Killeavy sharpshooter would hang up his boots after 11 years of service.

"I'll be back. There's no doubt in my mind at all," McDonnell told the Irish News.

"It was a different story over the last couple of years because I wasn't enjoying my football and didn't have the hunger for it.

"But certainly this year I enjoyed our set-up, I enjoyed the training. I got a new lease of life and I've no reason not to play next season. I'll take a few weeks off, but I intend to continue with my training with Mike McGurn (Armagh trainer) and be ready for next season and Division 1."

With an Achilles injury preventing Ronan Clarke from playing in this year's championship, the main scoring burden was heaped on McDonnell, but he insisted that he "didn't feel any pressure".

He added: "My job as a forward is to score, just like the other forwards in the team. Scoring for me is part of what I do and I enjoyed my football this year rather than feeling any pressure.

"But I still believe there is talent and potential in Armagh that can go on and win an All-Ireland over the next few years. When you've playing like Jamie Clarke doing well, that encourages you. He was remarkable for us this year."