Conlan: We did it for Noogie

The backdrop is often very different to the landscape you see.

The Healy Park pitch was awash with blue as the final whistle signalled Ballinderry’s return to the summit of Ulster football. There were tears, and plenty of them. Tears of joy, yes. But also tears of sadness.

It was a tough three weeks in the quiet loughshore village. The week of the Ulster semi-final win over Kilcoo, Sean McIvor, a club stalwart and brother of backroom man Eugene, passed away unexpectedly.