Monaghan may still be chasing its first Sam Maguire Cup triumph but for one evening last September, the most famous cup in Ireland felt very much at home in and around the drumlins of south Ulster. They say if you scratch a Monaghan person, a little bit of Tyrone blood is bound to ooze out. In this regard, the great swathe of land that runs from the Killanny/Inniskeen quarter to the far reaches of Gaeil Triucha territory formed a perfect amphitheatre for the O'Neill County's unprecedented homecoming last September. With all the predictability of a mist-covered Sliabh Beagh, the trip home for Mickey Harte's All-Ireland SFC winners saw their neighours join in the celebrations with great brio. From the Carrick road out of Ardee to the edge of Aughnacloy, Monaghan's landscape turn dreamscape for the good and great friends of Tyrone football domiciled in the Farney County. Yes, the joy which spilled out from the hostelries and homes of Tyrone's diaspora in Monaghan on the day Sam was scooped by the Tigerish Tyrone terriers was ALMOST equalled by the unconfined joy which immersed Monaghan the following day. And for all that, the thought of what things would be like if Monaghan actually lifted the ultimate prize itself surely must have done the rounds in Carrrick, Blayney, Monaghan and everywhere else besides. But on September 29th, Monaghan folk were at one in rejoicing in the wonderous achievement of their near-neighbours. Tyrone was the operative word on every Monaghan person's lips as Sam made his way through their red and white-bedecked land. Though no one dared to labour the point, the tide of goodwill which Tyrone lent on en route to breaking their All-Ireland SFC duck must have weighed heavily on the mindsets of the Armagh camp. And the tide of support that the O'Neill County garnered on All-Ireland finals day from Tyrone, Monaghan and further afield must surely have lifted Peter Canavan and his men no end. So when the Tyrone team coach departed Dublin city shortly after 1pm on September 29th, Monaghan braced itself for almost unparalleled rejoicing. Not since 1979 perhaps when Monaghan made the breakthrough in modern times in Ulster, was such sporting happiness let loose by those traditionally festooned in white and blue. As the Tyrone entourage broached Monaghan's border and approached Carrickmacross, it seemed like the market town had, in a matter of minutes, been flung north by magic. Crowds never seen on any market day in the south Monaghan metropolis in years gone by never came close in terms of volume, colour or animation as those which enveloped the Emmets' home base for Tyrone's trip back home. Although the Carrick stop-over wasn't an official thank-you exercise, it was one which was as joyously received and as appreciated by Monaghan gaels as anything pre-medicated and posted in the hours that immediately followed the final whistle. Blayney and all the trappings loomed large on the horizon, of course. When the newly-crowned Ulstermen made it to the home of the Faughs, all the emotion and bonhomie which embellished Tyrone's victory over Armagh bellowed and billowed in the surrounds of the Glencarn Hotel. The team set up camp as their minor predecessors (under the tutelage of the self-same Mickey Harte) did back in 1998 when the All-Ireland minor championship title was secured. But who could have anticipated the sort of delirium, camaraderie and level of goodwill which fairly exploded in 'Blayney shortly before 3.30pm. And weren't the reception plans engineered to the finest degree? In a mirror image of Mickey Harte's modus operandus nothing was left to chance by the organizers of the reception for the great O'Neills. The Tyrone team coach was led through the streets of 'Blayney by the St. Macartan's Pipe Band, Lisnagrieve to the accompaniment of Mickey (Joe) Harte's Eurovision anthem 'we've got the world tonight.' The welcoming party included Jimmy Cunningham, Chairman of Castleblayney UDC, Gary Carville Chairman of Monaghan GAA County Board plus local politicians, Mayor of Monaghan, Councillor Rosaleen O'Hanlon, Councillor Sean McCooey, Castleblayney UDC, Joe Brennan, Castlblayney UDC, Councillor Brendan Hughes, Castleblayney UDC, Jackie Crowe, Castleblayney UDC. Several officers of Monaghan GAA County Board were also part of the welcoming party. All the above must have felt like proud parents at their children's wedding as smiles and cheers abounded. In extending a warm welcome to the Tyrone panel and management, Chairman of Castleblayney UDC Jimmy Cunningham, a native of Armagh was fulsome in his praise for the newly-crowned champions. The chairman admitted that although he was an ardent Armagh fan he wished to unreservedly proffer his congratulations to the Red Hand county. "Yet another Ulster success. This is Tyrone's first All-Ireland senior championship victory and it is a great honour for Castleblayney and County Monaghan that you have taken out from your eager journey home to the land of O'Neill to allow us to share in your celebrations," the chairman enthused. Mr. Cunningham added that the welcome for Tyrone "comes from all ages and all sections of the people in Castleblayney." Mr. Cunningham concluded his duties by presenting Peter Canavan with an inscribed piece of crystal to mark the occasion. Meanwhile Monaghan County Board Chairman Gary Carville declared that Tyrone's blue riband success "was a reward for the work they had been doing at underage level over the years, a programme that was a model for all the counties." Mayor of Monaghan, Councillor Rosaleen O'Hanlon paid due recognition to Monaghan's neighbours, declaring into the bargain that "last Sunday was a great day for Ulster with the two best teams in Ireland contesting the final." Responding to all the generous marks in the way he so selflessly brings his team-mates into play in even the hottest of hot spots on the field of play, Tyrone team-captain Peter Canavan said: "It was perhaps significant and an indication that Monaghan could at some stage emulate their achievements as they were the county that had denied them a clean sweep of trophies in Ulster by defeating them in the McKenna Cup final." For one of the Tyrone players in particular, the trip home via 'Blayney had more than a touch of nostalgia about it. Five years previously stand-in full-back Cormac McAnallen made the same journey as captain of the Tyrone minors that won the All-Ireland championship in 1998. The inspirational McAnallen felt there was a lot of comparisons to be made between the two homecomings: "It's something similar to '98," he admitted as he felt the full force of another jubilant fan's slap on the back. "The greeting we've got here (in 'Blayney) today brings back memories of that. The journey back has been the same," the impressive number 3 opined as the team's bus prepared to start off for the next leg of their journey to the waiting multitudes further up the road. The smiles of joy on the faces of the multitude of fans gathered in Blayney almost turned to tears of joy as the Tyrone entourage eventually pulled out of town after their meal in the Glencarn Hotel to continue their journey home. Thereafter the euphoria rocketed several notches as inch by inch the Blackwater River guided the team bus towards the Tyrone border. An all-too brief appearance by the 2003 All-Ireland champions in Emyvale was compared by one observer to an interlude in a big, high-profile match. But for the Tyrone players there was simply no respite from the tributes which flowed, the back-slapping and the genuine kudos which swept their way ad nauseum. For one day, Emyvale became a Tyrone-esque valley, a sea of red and white - a classic case of neighbours rejoicing in the playing out of their common heritage. In less than it takes to win an All-Ireland final, the Tyrone entourage was, thereafter, lapping it up in Aughnacloy. And didn't Sam look at home! Tweet

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