The Portadown man made an immediate impact in the closing stages of last Sunday’s Ulster semi-final win over Down.

Brian knocked over Armagh's final point of the game and he was delighted be back on board.

He said: “It’s great to be back. I got a minute of action two weeks ago but in real terms this is my first piece of action since the All-Ireland quarter final against Kerry back in 2006. It’s been a long wait alright As far as the score was concerned a few of the boys thought it was going wide. I thought it just about squeezed inside the post.”

Brian however suggested that the win was the main issue. He said: “Everyone was out there to do a job. We got the win. We have to take every day as it comes. The next day will provide its own challenges.”

About Martin O’Rourke’s sending off Brian commented: “I think the two bookings were harsh enough but luckily for us Down dropped their extra man in front of Ronan (Clarke) and Steven (McDonnell) which meant that things were even out the field. But sometimes players push themselves harder when they are a man down.”

In typical fashion the Tir na nOg player wanted to be involved in every single move having been introduced. “That’s the thing, all the subs who came on were jumping out of their skins. When you get in you have to take your chance,” he added.

There was a sweet abandonment surrounding the post match scenes at St Tiernach’s Park last Sunday. Unusually the players celebrated a job well done, there where no grim faces, everyone left on the pitch enjoyed the moment.

Under the old regime the players marched into the changing rooms, the door was locked before Joe Kernan (who was great with the press) eventually emerged to face the pack. Possibly one or two selected players were allowed the same luxury.

On Sunday the new regime were fantastically amateurish, the warm down was conducted with only half the players in the circle, the rest were freely giving interviews to delighted reporters.

This Armagh team are not ‘up tight’ and it is obvious in their play. All the rules and protocol in the world won’t guarantee an All Ireland title. A relaxed management who gives player every chance to play with their clubs and the freedom to express their views after games will encourage a feel good factor, long may it continue.