It is 2am in a hopping Fiddlestonee Bar in Belleek, and Declan Bonner is in his element.

Everyone wants to get selfies with the man who helped bring Erne Gaels to their first county title since 1981.

The sing-song is in full flow and Bonner is giving it the full welly with all the rest.

But that is one of the great things about this most personable of managers, he is the salt of the earth, has the common touch and plays on the edge.

“The day I lose that edge is the day I will walk from Gaelic football.”

That noted edge saw him banished to the stands following a clash on the sideline in the drawn game.

At one point in the game, his connection with his management team broke down but it was quickly fixed.

Sometimes Bonner’s natural folksy interpersonal skills are misinterpreted as being casual, but it masks a keen football brain that never rests and leaves nothing to chance.

And, ever since he and Paul Brennan took over along with outstanding trainer Ciaran Smyth everything has been one to the Nth degree.

Bonner’s next assignment is a huge one in the Ulster Club championship against Monaghan champions Scotstown, who are one of the big beasts in the Ulster Club championship in Brewster Park next Sunday.

Darren Hughes, Kieran Hughes, Rory Beggan, Conor McCarthy, Shane Carey and Jack McCarron are part of a star-studded outfit who are hot favourites to hammer Erne Gaels.

When asked about this considerable challenge, Bonner said he was going to let his lads celebrate for a few days.

“It is very important to enjoy these occasions, and I know that county titles don’t come around too often and winning one after 43 years is just so special.

“Look around you there and see all the joy on the faces of the people of the area and you just can’t put a price on that.

“This is very important, not just to the players, but their families, their friends and the whole community.

“We will think about Scotstown in a few days time and these lads are a proud bunch so they will give it their all next weekend."

Reflecting on the enormity of the club’s achievement: “I think this final will always be remembered for the exceptional courage and character these lads showed against a very fancied Enniskillen side.

“We lost Brian Mullin, one of our greatest leaders early on and then we lost Shane Rooney to a black card.

“And then we went behind by 1-05 to 0-03 after 18 minutes. Lesser men would have wilted but the lads showed what they were really made of in that game and we, as a management, are just so very proud of them.”

Bonner added: “But you must realise that quite a few of this squad had played and lost three county finals and two were in consecutive years.

“That is a huge barrier to overcome but I admire their immense courage to cast all that negativity aside and come back to beat a very good Enniskillen Gaels side in their own backyard.

“But right from the time we took over last January, these lads gave us 100 per cent.

“We set out what we wanted to do and the lads followed it to the letter, and I want to thank the entire management team in our great journey.

“People were a bit surprised at the sheer quality of our football but that was what we were seeing every night in training.

“And, for the first time this year, they executed it to perfection and what better place to do it than in a county final?

“They are a credit to themselves, their people and their community and are a pleasure to work with.”

But it is equally important to remember that Erne Gaels were being managed by a man who is a natural leader and winner.

He was involved in Donegal GAA as a player and manager from 1983 to 2023 and he managed Donegal to a senior Ulster final in 1998 when he was only 32 after starring for his native county in the 1992 All-Ireland senior victory.

Bonner took Donegal to an All-Ireland minor final in 2014 and an Ulster U21 title a few years later.

He guided Donegal to two Ulster titles on the trot in 2018 and 2019 and significantly he brought his native Na Rossa to their first county title in 2023.

This is the wise-cracking earthy man with the Midas touch who will always be a winner.

Different class.

And he will never be forgotten around Belleek.