James Morgan has official retired from inter-county duty after a career with Armagh that started back in 2013. Morgan played in the side that was in Division Three and helped the rise to Division One.
He had plenty of success at underage and club level before making the step up to the Armagh team. He won an All-Ireland Minor title with the Orchard County in 2009 and won All-Ireland club titles with Crossmaglen as well.
His Armagh career started back in 2013, but injury hampered his participation in recent times. Morgan was a touch-tight defender and one of Armagh’s go-to man-markers, picking up the likes of Conor McManus and Shane Walsh down through the years.
Appearances
came onto the scene in 2013 and made his first steps into senior inter-county football during that year’s Division Two National League, coming off the bench against Longford. He went on to represent Armagh 70 times.
He also made his championship debut that same season. Having missed out on the first round of Ulster, he started at cornerback when the Orchard County proved too strong for Wicklow in the qualifiers.
He did make his Ulster Championship debut the following season, as Armagh defeated Cavan in round one. They lost out to Monaghan in the semi-finals, but went on to reach the All-Ireland quarter-finals, where they lost out to Donegal at Croke Park by the minimum.
Morgan didn’t play a single minute in the All-Ireland winning year of 2024 or 2025. He did make a comeback last season, starting against Down in the McKenna Cup, and that proved to be his last game in an Armagh shirt.
Scoring
Morgan’s first ever score at county level came in the first round of the USFC in 2015. He burst forward from corner back to land a score as Armagh fell at the final hurdle, suffering a tough defeat to Donegal.
He also registered a point in 2019, when Armagh won the first Ulster Championship came of Kieran McGeeney’s era. Morgan grabbed a score as the Orchard County defeated Down after extra time.
In all, the Crossmaglen defender scored 0-5 during his time with Armagh. Most of his responsibility throughout those years was keeping the score down at the other end of the field.
Trophies
Morgan starred as Armagh won their first All-Ireland Minor title in 60 years back in 2009. He was unfortunate that injuries kept him out of action when Armagh collected Sam Maguire for the second time ever in 2024.
He did climb the steps of the Hogan Stand in 2015 when Armagh won the Division Three National League title. Morgan missed out when they repeated the feat again three years later.
He was still part of the panel that got their hands on the Anglo Celt Cup this season. Once again, injuries kept him off the field of play, but Morgan was very much still a member of the Armagh squad.
With Crossmaglen, Morgan won two All-Ireland club titles back in 2011 and 2012. He also finished his career with four Ulster Club Championship medals in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
