Years of hard work finally pays off for Monaghan’s old brigade

In one corner of the tunnel was Dick Clerkin holding court with a gaggle of journalists.

In another, Paul Finlay yapped away, while Tommy Freeman was positioned closer to the pitch. There stood the lads after history was made — Monaghan’s boys of the old brigade.

Sweeter it probably was for them than most on the panel, having toiled for so long, coming up against the great Armagh and Tyrone teams of the 2000s only to see Donegal snatch the baton.