It was a success a long time coming, and one that tasted all the sweeter for the wait.
St Finbarr’s finally lifted the Cork senior football title after outgunning Duhallow at Páirc Uí Chaoimh to end 33 years of hurt.
They had lost the last eight county finals they'd made, each disappointment deepening the pain and feeding the hunger for glory.
On Sunday, they got it right, and captain Ian Maguire could not hide his pride.
"It's unbelievable," he said. "I'm lost for words. It was a crazy feeling when the final whistle went. It was hammer and tongs, both teams went at it.
"There's some great footballers on this team. Today is really a story of the Barrs warriors that are on this team - the Michael Shields, the Ross O'Dwyers, the Robert O'Mahonys who experienced such heartbreak in 2009 and 2010, and even last year.
"I'm proud to be captain of a Barrs team but I really am proud I could help the likes of Robert O'Mahony get a county medal today.
"It was just a massive team effort. That's what football is about today, 20 fellahs going at it hammer and tongs. It was an unbelievable performance and I'm proud. The warriors got their fair due."
