Trillick's star midfielder Richie Donnelly dedicated their emotional Tyrone SFC final win to some dear and departed members of the club who have passed away this year.
Donnelly kicked three points from play as Trillick held off defending champions Errigal Ciaran after extra time in Healy Park, Omagh.
After the game, the county star told RTÉ Sport that the memory and inspiration of members passed had led this team over the line.
"That’s a feeling I just wanted. I wanted to feel it all week, I just couldn’t help myself today," Donnelly said. "We came here today to just finish the job and I just couldn’t wait. The last 10-15 minutes out there were unbelievable."
"All year we’ve been building unrelenting spirit in this group. We know what’s coming. We know what’s in us. With recent events in the club, we’ve had a number of big characters that have been laid to rest this year from our club."
Errigal were looking to become the first Tyrone county champions in 18 years to successfully defend their crown. And they almost pulled it off when their late flourish forced extra-time in a game that Trillick might have thought they had sewn up.
Donnelly reckoned that this win, dedicated to the memory of those vital club men and women who have passed, made this championship success their most special ever.
"My aunt, Kathleen O’Hagan, Uncle Gerry, Eileen Monaghan, Vincey, Charlie Keenan, Conor Mulcahy, there’s been a lot a people that have been with us who weren’t here. But they’re looking down on us and we’ve drawn on that the whole way through this championship and it’s nice to deliver for them.
"I go as far to say – and I think a lot of our older people would agree – this is the most special championship this club’s ever won and you can see what it means to everyone out there tonight."
Next up for Trillick will be the sizeable presence of perennial Armagh champions Crossmaglen in the Ulster championship. Ross saw off Clan na Gael to annex a 47th county title last weekend. As far as Donnelly is concerned, playing the very best is what it’s all about.
"It’s a huge battle that we’ll absolutely relish," he said. "They’re a great club with a massive tradition. We’ve watched them on TV for years, growing up, we’ve looked up to them, mesmerised by them, but we cannot wait to play Crossmaglen because they’re a great team, they’re very, very tough. They’re hard as nails and we can’t wait to see how we came up against them."
