ARMAGH star Ben Crealey had a dream All-Ireland final day in more ways than one.
The Maghery Seán MacDermott’s man had plenty of reason to celebrate after the Orchard County beat Galway to get their hands on Sam Maguire.
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However, the occasion was made even sweeter when the midfielder reunited with his girlfriend Aoife for the first time in nine months.
Aoife, who has been living in Australia, shared a heart-melting video of their reunion to Instagram, saying: “From Perth to Croke Park. Proud of you Ben, it’s all been worth it for this”.
Crealey told Marty Morrissey on Morning Ireland: “I hadn’t seen her in nine months.
“She was living over in Perth in Australia so I seen her for the first time in nine months after the final whistle over in the Hogan Stand.
“There were loads of special memories yesterday and that’s definitely up there as one of them. It’s something I’ll never forget.
“I was just exhausted at the final whistle, like you said it at the start what was the feeling, it was just a sense of satisfaction I suppose.
“Like all the losses we’ve had over the past couple of years and all the bad defeats and then kind of pick yourself up after it every night going to training.”
“When the final whistle blew, you feel a sense of satisfaction.”
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It was a hugely emotional occasion for every one of the Armagh players, coaches, and staff after a 22-year wait for Sam Maguire.
For Kieran McGeeney, it was vindication after a long 10-years at the helm that included back-to-back Ulster final defeats, consecutive All-Ireland quarter-final eliminations, and an infamous vote of no confidence.
Then there was Oisin O’Neill, who dedicated the victory to the memory of his uncle Padraig, who died last weekend and was laid to rest on Wednesday.
He said: “That’s one thing we were challenged on at the start of the year, the whole group, showing more maturity and being willing to sacrifice yourself no matter who you are or what your reputation is.
“It’s about what you can do for the team and the group.
“There’s another seven, eight, nine boys who could have got on the pitch today.
“We’re the lucky ones chosen to come on and do that job.
“The boys who start the game try to make it as easy for you when you come and the opposition is tired.
“We owe it to the boys behind us. They’re the ones who really won this All-Ireland for us. Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday!
“They are the ones who drove this group and without that we couldn’t have done this and I really hope we can keep this group together and keep that depth we have.
“Without it in our A v B games, the boys that started, they say, at times, the A v B games are tougher than when they go out at the weekend.”
After the extensive celebrations at Croke Park, both on the pitch and in the dressing room, the players returned to Carrickdale Hotel for the post-match function.
The festivity was MC’d by RTE pair Joanne Cantwell and Marty Morrissey, and speaking to the latter, Niall Grimley paid tribute to his late brother Patrick.
Niall’s brother Patrick Grimley, a father of three, tragically passed away in a car accident shortly after his 40th birthday in November.
Speaking to RTE’s Marty Morrissey, Grimley said: “Look, everyone knows my story by now.
“There was three angels looking down on us there today or tonight.
“When you lose someone so close to you there’s not a minute goes by that you don’t think about them, so for me, I said in an interview earlier, it’s not about the medal or the cup or whatever.
“Patrick and Ciara had three beautiful kids, and for me the motivation night after night was basically just to put a smile on their faces, because they’ve been true enough.
“And you know, I don’t know, maybe they helped me with my last score!”
