Almost two years after tragedy rocked their community, Madden - and the Grimley family in particular - were enjoying the greatest day in the club's history as they won their first-ever Armagh SFC title.
As the full-time whistle blew in their 11-point triumph over Cullyhanna and the celebrations began for a Raparees’ side including Niall and Liam Grimley, phones were still being checked to see what was happening in the closing moments of the Tyrone decider.
Incredibly, like Madden, Loughmacrory grabbed a late winner against Trillick to also end their wait for a first senior crown, and those last few moments were played out with another Grimley brother on the field – Ryan.
In November 2023, the trio lost their brother Patrick, his wife Ceira and Ciara McElvanna in a four-vehicle crash as they returned home from Patrick’s 40th birthday party. Ciara’s husband Kevin McElvanna, an All-Ireland winner with Armagh in 2002, was part of the Madden management this term.
A small, close-knit village just outside Armagh city, it’s no surprise that the family connections extend throughout the team, and Conor Grimley, a cousin of the three Grimley brothers playing yesterday, explained what it meant to the club with his eight-point haul making a big difference in the 0-20 to 0-09 win.
"We’ve eight cousins on the team today," he told RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland.
"Our grandad passed away five years ago, he’d have loved to have been here with Patrick beside him. They’re both called Pat, they’re both buried beside each other.
"We went up last night (Saturday) just for a brief five or 10 minutes, it was nice to be with them, they're still here in spirit and they’d be delighted looking down on us today.
"As tough as it was, it still showed the character of the community. It’s an unbelievable community, it’s hard to even put into words.
"It can give people a brief bit of happiness when things are going tough."
There could be one more twist in the tale yet, of course.
For the first time, the two clubs enter the race for the Seamus McFerran Cup, Madden coming up against the winners of Derry’s Newbridge and Antrim’s Dunloy and the Lough’ hosting Down kingpins Kilcoo next weekend.
Get through those, and their respective semi-finals, and the Grimley brothers will have an Ulster final to look forward to – one in which Ryan would be severely outnumbered.
Watch Old Leighlin v Portarlington in the Leinster Senior Football Championship on Saturday from 6pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
