There is a photograph on the Ballybay Pearse Brothers Twitter page and it is surely one of the most meaningful GAA pictures out there.
In the shot is every senior championship winning captain that the club has ever produced.
Paddy McKearney is on the left of the frame – he led the club over the line in 1953, '54,'57 and '59. Sean McKearney is beside him – he captained the club to glory in 1969.
Next is Jim O'Hanlon, who lifted the cup in 1962.
Eoin McKearney had that honour last weekend when they beat Scotstown in this year’s final while, at the end of the line, John Joe McKearney stands as the team leader of 1987.
Towards the right of the shot is Paul Finlay, who led Ballybay to county title glory in 2012.
Six years back, Finlay retired from inter-county football with two Ulster titles to his credit between 2013 and 2015, the first bringing a 25-year drought for provincial success in Monaghan to an end.
He also featured in Ulster final defeats in 2007 and 2010. He gave 14 years playing for his county and since then he has devoted every waking minute to getting his club back to the top of the pile in his native county.
Last Sunday they got there. The emotion came pouring out.
Every Senior Championship Winning Captain: Paddy McKearney (1953,54, 57 &59), Sean McKearney 1969, Jim O'Hanlon 1962, Eoin McKearney 2022, Paul Finlay 2012, John Joe McKearney 1987. #ballybaypearsebrothers pic.twitter.com/FC9ISqYCAF
— Ballybay PearseBro's (@PearseBrothers) October 17, 2022
"A lot of special things happened when the final whistle blew last Sunday," Finlay told RTÉ Sport.
"But taking that picture of all our captains was surely the most special of them all. We are a small club, there are only around 4000 in the parish, and numbers are our biggest issue.
"Still, we have a great tradition and to have all our county championship winning captains in one picture is unreal. A very special thing to have and very important to everyone in our club."
In beating Scotstown, they bridged a 10-year gap in Clones to stop their opponent’s three-in-a-row bid in the Monaghan SFC final.
They had been serial contenders since Finlay led them to the promised land in 2012.
"But we didn’t get over the line, we fell short in finals and semi-finals," the 39-year-old added.
"That was disappointing, there was a lot of pressure and expectation to get over the line and we didn’t. We were right up there all along, but we should have won more.
"So, to be able to get over the line with a performance like last weekend’s is right up there with anything that happened in my career. It’s sweet. It’s probably the best feeling I have had.
"You enjoy everything you won but this was special."
So, what was the difference this time around?
"The attitude of the group," Finlay said without hesitation."We never shied away from the disappointments – we always came back.
"After every setback we were always wanting to front up again and put ourselves in a position where we could come back and challenge.
"And this time around I just think we had every box ticked. We were spot on tactically and physically. Great work was undertaken by Jerome (Johnson) and Mark (Doran) in that regard to make sure we were spot on and a fit squad always helps too.
"You need that wee bit of luck but we were making sure we were going in with the best squad, with the work done and we were able to concentrate on delivering a performance.
"Other stuff can get in the way, emotional stuff, especially when you just want it so badly. Sometimes the performance doesn’t follow, but it did last weekend."
Led by their Down joint-management team, Ballybay will now face the winners of the Armagh final between Crossmaglen and Granemore in the Ulster Club SFC.
For Finlay, being still involved is a tribute to his own longevity and determination. It would have been easy to step away having lost county finals in 2018 and 2020.
"Myself, I would have doubts surely," he admitted. "I’m 39 right and those defeats were difficult. I was wondering ‘do I go again?’
"I had a good career but the answer is the rest of the guys on the team and squad made it easy for me to stay at it. They helped me with their attitude and belief and it’s easier then to throw your lot into it.
"You keep trying to knock on the door, it doesn’t always end up like this, with a win, I have to acknowledge that – some guys play and never get over the line, but I’m delighted I stayed it out."
With several members of the squad in their early 20s, Finlay admits that there was something of a generation gap here and there at moments in the post-match celebrations.
"There were a few tunes knocking around and I didn’t know what the hell they were about," he said.
"But seriously. it was great fun, just to be still to be involved with these guys, to play team sport and to win with them.
"It is a relief for everyone in Ballybay, a great lift for the town and club. and it shortens the winter. We are going through tough enough times and this puts a smile on faces."
Before they play Ulster championship football, they must again face Scotstown in the Monaghan league final this Friday night.
Finlay welcomes all the games and hails the split season format.
"I certainly would see huge positives in it," he states. "Guys can commit to the county and there are no constraints.
"There are defined dates for club players and that is huge – knowing when games are on just helps everyone get the balance right."
