Emotional homecoming for Tyrone players and Sam

IT was just after six o’clock yesterday evening when history was made. A Tyrone football team crossed the Blackwater with Sam Maguire, bringing to an end with one small step, 119 years of heartache.

A dream that so many people had thought they would never see, had finally come true. The sight of Peter Canavan and Mickey Harte, at either side of the trophy, symbolised the good times that have arrived in the Red Hand county.

More than 60,000 people thronged the streets of Tyrone to welcome Sam, thousands more lined Monaghan towns and villages to wish the All-Ireland champions well.

"This is unbelievable," Canavan gasped as Aughnacloy thrilled.

"This is everything I have lived for, everything I dreamt of."

Aughnacloy, with its one wide street bedecked in red and white, was the first stop. And the elation was etched in every face. Exhortations from the master of ceremonies for Aughnacloy to make themselves heard didn't go unheeded as the village vented years of frustration.

The voice of Mickey Harte was straining with each sentence, hoarse with celebrations but he had to save his voice. Next stop: Ballygawley.

This is the spiritual home of this Tyrone team with Harte and seven panellists maturing into All-Ireland champions in this town.

The town sign no longer welcomed you to Ballygawley, but to the new home of Sam. Among the seven that call this land home, is of course, Canavan. And when the great one hoisted the cup aloft, the cheers could be heard in all of Ulster.

This victory, after all, was for Peter and the Province.

"How's the ankle," somebody cheekily wondered. The injury that cast such a shadow over the All-Ireland preparations was forgotten in a blaze of blaring horns and manic celebration.

Some of the players still looked shell-shocked, as if they mightn't be believing what was happening. As Philip Jordan said: "Maybe in 10 or 15 years we will realise what we achieved."

As Ballygawley buzzed, Omagh waited. To the tunes of Hurt So Good, how apt after Sunday's war of attrition Tyrone's county town had been shut by five. The pubs swayed to re-runs of the final.

In Sally O'Briens, every tackle, shot and score was cheered. Some 40,000 people thronged the street as inside the bar, they revelled in Conor Gormley's historic block.

On TV screens, Kevin Hughes was doing simple things well while Ballygawey refused to let go of their heroes. This is where the success germinated and they wanted to milk every moment for its worth. Brief stops to the mother of Peter the Great and Kelly's Inn before Omagh beckoned.

The stage was erected at the courthouse where on Sunday evening, enhanced by Dutch courage, one daring fan scaled the 40ft building to put up a Tyrone flag.

Omagh District Council chairman Allan Rainey, of the UUP, welcomed Sam into the triumphant scenes.

Tears were shed as the team vibrated to the fact that their county were now King of the Hill.

A long time coming.