Truagh gaels captured the ulster Club Intermediate Football Championship in emphatic style with a five-point victory over Eskra Emmett's on Saturday night.
The margin of victory does not tell the entire tale, however, and the Tyrone team will be cursing their luck after squandering a host of gilt-edged goal chances at vital moments.
Eskra had to battle for every score they got, while Truagh's work-rate and point-taking efficiency meant the McCully Cup always looked Monaghan-bound on a night when Brian rafferty's side demonstrated genuine all-Ireland title credentials.
Eskra had a number of golden opportunities to raise a green flag but were constantly thwarted by the inspirational Ian Treanor between the Truagh posts.
The Emmett's kicked seven wides and dropped seven shots into the goalkeeper's hands while the Monaghan champions ruthlessly punished Eskra's timid approach in the final third to cap a truly memorable year for Monaghan football.
The game started at an electric pace with Eskra captain Peter hughes and Truagh talisman Daniel McKenna trading points.
McKenna notched two of his side's first four scores - Barry Cuddy and John McCarron got the others - as the Monaghan opened up a 0-4 to 0-2 lead in a pulsating first 10 minutes.
On 17 minutes, the game was level as Paul Feeney's side showed a determination not to let Truagh develop a healthy lead.
Niall Marlow should then have found the back of the Truagh net after midfielder Eoin McCaffrey fed him in acres of space, but his fisted effort rattled the bar and went over for a point. After a brief period of Eskra dominance, McKenna vacated his corner-forward position, dropping deep in search of the ball, and started dictating the game alongside captain PauricTreanor.
McKenna's composure and influential build-up play led to his third point of the game and a further three unanswered scores from Chris McKenna (two) and half-back Paudie McKenna sent warning signs to the Eskra bench. Hughes, at the hub of every Eskra attack, began to exert more influence and Joe McCarroll was on hand to trim Truagh's lead with a fine left-footed score before Cormac arkinson fired a blistering soccer-style shot which would have ended up in the net but for a Treanor save.
Truagh went in 0-9 to 0-6 in front at the break after McCarroll notched another score.
Centre half-back Rory Treanor extended Truagh's advantage three minutes into the second half before Treanor brilliantly tipped a Shane hackett shot over the bar.
Powerful forward Chris McKenna was becoming more of a menace as the game began to slip beyond Eskra as he and namesake Daniel McKenna gave their side a 0-12 to 0-7 lead as the Monaghan champions began to carve open the Eskra defence. A hughes free was quickly cancelled out by Chris McKenna before McCarroll missed another goal chance for Eskra, with the ball bundled out for a 45.
From the resulting placed ball, Truagh's counter-attack was devastating and Mark Counihan fired over a left-footed effort to put six points between the sides.
Paudie McKenna extended his side's lead further before Eskra had a shot cleared off the line and arkinson's follow-up effort was once again saved brilliantly by Treanor. adrian Scullion pushed further forward as Eskra tried desperately to rescue the game and his influence was positive as Truagh substitute aidan Coyle was sent off for a second bookable offence for a tackle on him before McCarroll slotted over his third point of the game.
Paul Marlow got his name on the scoresheet with a fine point before Treanor pulled off a stunning double save to deny Scullion three minutes from time.
The game's two most influential outfield players, Daniel and Paudie McKenna, fittingly scored the last two points of the game to send the crowd into raptures.
MATCH STATS
Truagh: I Treanor; J McCarron (0-1); N Feely; N McQuillan; D McRory; R Treanor (0-1);
P McKenna (0-4, 0-1 free); P Treanor;
N McRory; N Coyle; B Cuddy (0-1); E Kelly; M Counihan (0-1); C McKenna (0-4);
D McKenna (0-5, 0-1 free)
Subs: A Coyle for J McCarron (11 mins), A Treanor for E Kelly (54), K Sheerin for
M Counihan (59 mins)
Eskra: D McCarroll; J Hackett; A Scullion;
K Kelly; P Marlow (0-1); N McGinn;
C McCaffrey (0-1); E McCaffrey; C Arkinson; S Hackett (0-1); P Hughes (0-4, 0-2 frees);
J McCarroll (0-3, 0-1 free); C O'Hagan;
N Marlow (0-1); P Turbitt Subs: N Meegan for C McCaffrey (h-t),
P Meegan for N Marlow (48), A Kelly (0-1) for Turbitt (50), M McGinley for C Arkinson (54) Referee: N Mooney (Cavan)
STAR MAN
Daniel McKenna (Truagh)
Star Man could have easily gone to Truagh goalkeeper Ian Treanor for his heroics between the sticks, or rampaging half-back Paudie McKenna. But Daniel McKenna was the man Truagh looked to in tight situations. The Monaghan corner-forward showed his county class with a string of composed scores at crucial times.