It was both a powerful and fitting statement from David McCague post-match as the blackening sky in Armagh City was painted blue with flares of his beloved home.
This was Kilcoo’s time to fall and Scotstown’s to rise in an arena where destiny is mythical and luck is of your own making:
“There was a lot of talk about Scotstown deserve one, but we deserved the opportunity to go and earn it, that’s all.”
Many argued their time had come and gone. A late collapse against Corduff back in September only reinforced the notion that the scars of 2024 would take more than a winter to heal.
How the towering Micheál McCarville stood taller still 12 months on, making a home at the heart of Monaghan’s midfield and taking his club to heights they hadn’t seen in his lifetime.
A Division Two league title at Croke Park, another Monaghan SFC title, and finally this Ulster crown that has been playing ding-dong-ditch on their doorstep for a decade and more.
Earn it they did:
“You see tears in men’s eyes there. My father, in his late 60’s…. I cannot describe our feeling at the minute, it’s unbelievable.
“Other days it hasn’t went for us. Gaoth Dobhair 2018, Cross’ 2015, Glen a couple of years ago, taken to extra-time twice before and just didn’t get over the line.
“It could have been very easy for us there to throw the towel in. The collective with this group of players, it’s unmatched at the minute, you know, it feels unmatched at the minute.”
Knocking around since 2013, McCarville has become a growing force as his side have collected ten county titles.
The post-match scenes after the extra-time win over Inniskeen a matter of weeks ago were joy, but it was box ticked when the dust settled.
It was nothing on Saturday’s elation, the foot on the throat that comes with the territory of being a Scotstown footballer finally lifted.
For the second occasion running, it was a late, heart-breaking concession of a score that brought a period of extra-time they thought they had done enough to avoid.
Therein comes the doubt, the test of character, the script in certain quarters written as history threatened to repeat itself.
Instead the hurt of three final defeats and that nightmare semi-final loss were sandblasted and washed down the drain as happy tears fell.
Read More: Monaghan’s Darren Hughes: The man who gave life to the badge and the badge that gave life to the man
In a way it was inevitable these sides would meet again, but this was a chapter very much unwritten:
“Definitely it was a lonely, lonely winter. Especially, as you say, the five goals. We had to learn an awful lot from that defeat.
“It was a very cagey affair, you see the threats that they have. Shealan Johnston, he had probably a field day here last year. Jerome Johnston, even Ryan McEvoy coming late from the full-back line. They’re full of talent, but we did our homework.
“Probably discipline let us down a wee bit in the second half. I know myself I had one moved forward, the two-point free, and I thought: ‘Jesus, I’m after letting us down here.’
“But as I say, 14 other men, they fairly dug me out of it for the 10 minutes after that. When you have Darren Hughes there, a 38-year-old, he looks as fresh… I’m playing with him since 2013, and he’s just been an absolute warrior for us.
“Kieran Hughes, Shane Carey, I can’t give these boys enough credit. They have took us through so many tough, tough days, just getting us over the line year in, year out in Monaghan.
“There’s a lot of good footballers in Monaghan. We probably owe an awful lot to them, but these boys bleed blue.”
