Tyrone manager Gerard Donnelly has revealed new West Ham player Joel Kerr was one of the first to congratulate him on their All-Ireland Minor Football Championship success as Diarmuid Martin grabbed his opportunity to win the game.
Kerr had been a vital part of the Red Hand's season but his move to the Premier League side, beginning from 1 July, meant he had to sit out the decider.
Martin came into the side in Kerr's place and nabbed three points as Kerry were edged out in heart-breaking fashion at Cedral St Conleth’s Park.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the 1-16 to 1-15 victory, Donnelly revealed: "Joel’s father is just beside me and he’s the happiest man here.
"Look, we knew from the first of July that Joel was a West Ham player. From the very first trial last September, I joked with him, I said, 'Joel, we'll push it back a week' and you never think it's going to be going to get this far.
"I was just on the phone to him. He's in London. He's starting his career tomorrow morning and I'm so delighted, but isn't it just unbelievable that the man that came in for him, Diarmuid Martin, scored three points, including the winner at the end?
"You couldn't script it, could you? You couldn't script it."
While it was a special day for Donnelly, he couldn’t help but feel sympathy for his counterparts in Kerry, having already experienced losing such a big game previously.
He admitted a contentious piece of play fell in favour of the Ulster county.
"Look, I feel so sorry for Kerry because I've been there and I thought another one had gone from me. We got the luck at the end, it was a really good tackle from Elliott [Kerr].
"Another referee might have given a penalty and when that final whistle went, I just couldn’t believe it. I thought we'd lost another one, but thanks Christ we've got it. It's just emotion, it's just relief.
"It was incredible. What these boys did four point down with 15 minutes to go, it’s just them. We're standing on the sideline and you just hope they'll go for it. You can't do anything. I have to say, the crowd, the atmosphere, this was incredible and I think it was a brilliant game for everyone to watch."
Wayne Quillinan was gracious in defeat as well as filled with pride, ruing the closing moments of a classic as Tyrone bagged late points to win the day.
The referee’s decision not to award Ben Kelliher a penalty was undoubtedly on his mind as he instead turned thoughts to his own side.
"It has been the story of it all year, just never say die, never let up, never give up," he explained.
"I think they showed that again today, they've grit, determination and everything. They just have everything you want, the characteristics of a brilliant, special team. And I'm gutted that the game ended that way.
"When guys are so young, the first thing you have to tell them is that we absolutely believe in them, and have confidence in what we're doing.
"And they had that today. We came up here with full belief that we were going to win that game. And unfortunately, it didn't happen for us."
Quillinan didn’t want to comment on the officiating in the closing stages, saying "it’s for another day’s conversation."
The Kerry boss added: "I’m just hurting now for my boys inside. It’s a tough dressing room, but it's up to me to pick them up and tell them how proud we are of them, how they represented the county with such pride and such distinction for fellas so young.
"They showed such maturity, Down at home, they can be nothing but proud of that Kerry minor team. They're just a fantastic group of players."
