'To win just once against the odds, and once be smiled on by the gods.'
Well, we will be in the arms of the gods for quite some time after this most epic of victories on a balmy autumn night in Brewster Park.
Our famine is over and there is a black and amber moon shining over the verdant village of Belleek, for 43 years is a mighty long time.
And I can still see our greatest warrior and captain Seanie “Cruncher” McCaffrey with fire in his eyes and steel in his soul as he strode into the Carlton Hotel with the New York Cup in his grasp, a proud Mulleek man and the breed of giants in 1981.
As good news stories go they don’t come any better than this one.
For, to lose three county finals in a row would be just unthinkable.
We know all the anthems of the dispossessed off by heart. All the near misses from county finals in 2016, 2022, and 2023.
Character trumps everything and Belleek had it in buckets after losing the inspirational Brian Mullin, to a shoulder injury early on and then Shane Rooney was black-carded.
Enniskillen Gaels went 1-05 to 0-03 up but what a comeback as Ultan Kelm led so magnificently from the front.
The Kelms are GAA blue bloods and he was well supported by his brothers Oisin and Aogan.
And when Eoin Murphy blew the final whistle I thought of some of our departed legends like Seamus Heron, Tom Cullen, Gerry Gallagher, Willie Rodger, Matt Hughes, Joy Heron, Martin O’Shea and all of those who wore the black and amber with pride for the village with no frontiers.
I wore the Erne Gaels jersey in football and hurling on and off from 1974 to 2003 and missed out on our last two wins in 1981 due to illness and I was travelling in Germany in 1979 and won a few Division Two and Three titles as well as hurling titles.
But the feeling on Saturday was pure euphoria as a whole village and community said 'Yes we can' when it really matters.
This group of players could have given up after reaching and losing three county finals and that is what makes this one so very special.
It is all about identity and pride in where you are from and this win will lift the whole area for weeks.
Ryan Lyons made a brilliant acceptance speech and he is the breed of the great Tommy and Yankee Jimmy Gallagher, Seamie Ryder’s grand uncle Eddie John Gonigle played for Donegal and Tommy McCaffrey’s father Arthur and grandfather Pat played for Fermanagh.
Shane Rooney’s grandfather Patsy Rooney played for Donegal and Fermanagh and the Kelm boys' father, Seamus and uncles Sean and Liam were Gaels stalwarts and Liam was exceptionally gifted and the four McCann’s - Barry, Jack, Ben and Dan are third cousins of Rory Gallagher.
It is special for our family too as Liam was in goals in 1979 and 1981 and Maurice managed the Geels to a county final and they lost by a point in 2016.
Maurice was working with Fermanagh TV and it makes you think that the GAA at club level is all about families.
On Saturday night it seemed like the whole village was in Brewster Park and the black and amber was everywhere.
Sometimes we rightly give out about the GAA but on nights like this, it is the greatest club in the land.
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