DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons attended his first ever GAA match as Armagh beat Derry in the Athletic Grounds in their All-Ireland opener.
Mr Lyons, who is responsible for sport in Northern Ireland, watched the current All-Ireland champions begin their defence of Sam Maguire with a nervy four-point win over their Ulster rivals.
Prior to throw-in Mr Lyons said: “I am demonstrating my commitment to all sports, in all areas, at all levels, and that’s where the focus should be on today, on the sport.”
Mr Lyons, who was greeted at the city venue by senior Ulster GAA representatives, president Michael Geoghegan and secretary Brian McAvoy, did not take his seat in the main stand until after the traditional pre-match singing of the Irish national anthem, Amhran na bhFiann.
Mr Lyons had been invited to previous Armagh games – last yearʼs Ulster final and the subsequent All-Ireland final but declined, citing diary commitments.
Meanwhile, on the field, Rian OʼNeill made a return to the Armagh set-up, replacing Aidan Forker in the starting 15.
His side surged into a seemingly unassailable 13-point lead – with the help of second-half goals from Clann Eireann duo Barry McCambridge and Conor Turbitt – before Derry pegged the scores back.
Ultimately, time got the better of Derry as Armagh saw out the tie on a scoreline of 2-21 to 2-17.
Next up for Armagh is a tie against Dublin in Croke Park next weekend.
