Saturday's defeat to New York in the Nickey Rackard final was the final act for Antrim-native Stephen McGarry as Tyrone hurling manager, bringing the curtain down on a memorable half a dozen years within the Red Hand camp.
From where it started in 2021 to where he leaves the county six years later are worlds apart.
With his playing days drawing to a close in 2021, the Ballycastle hurler fielded a call from clubmate and recently appointed Tyrone hurling manager Michael McShane.
The gist of the chat was would he like to get involved and coach the Red Hands and implement structural change and growth within the football-dominated county.
"I had to check Google Maps, and I could see it was a two-hour commute, but Michael is a great salesman," he tells RTÉ Sport.
During his coaching tenure Tyrone broke new ground by achieving promotion to Division 2, while also securing Nickey Rackard glory at Croke Park. Along the way, a greater emphasis was put into improving structures and pathways, no easy feat in a county where there are four clubs to pick from.
When McShane departed in 2024, he was the obvious candidate to build on the body of work.
"I was slightly hesitant," he says. "When you've been there for three years as a coach and you're still only 36 years of age, you've built up so many good relationships that you're worried that maybe those relationships could go sour."
The prospect of letting new standards slip was enough to convince him to take over.
"It would really have broken my heart if we were to lose the structures and progress that we had made. That's why I stayed on."
McGarry has ensured the pathway from Under-20s is more seamless by linking both camps closer together. There are just four clubs to choose from, but competition within the panel has never been as strong. The match-day panel on Saturday had 31 and the strength-in-depth McGarry says is the best it has been in his time in Tyrone.
Last year they lost an All-Ireland B title to Down, while the Under-20s are adding quality rather than simply numbers to the senior set-up.
"Tyrone hurling may not be a massive community, but the community that's there is just top class and they're so passionate about their hurling."
Some learning curves are steeper than others.
Last year, after achieving promotion in his maiden season in charge, they found Division 2 far too hot to handle. Six defeats from six with an average margin of 16 points, they found the likes of Down (conceding 9-26) and Kildare (2-34) a huge step-up in class.
"It was just a step too far, but you have to play them teams to gain that experience," he said.
On Saturday his side posted 2-17 at Croke Park, but it wasn’t enough to deny New York a maiden Nickey Rackard Cup title.
The Exiles only returned to Championship hurling in 2025, following a 19-year gap, and duly took the Lory Meagher Cup title, though it has caused a stir among other counties.
Whereas the other six teams in the Nickey Rackard competed in the round-robin in order to advance to the knockout rounds, New York were given a bye straight to the semi-final, just as they were last year in the Lory Meagher.
Monaghan manager Arthur Hughes labelled that decision "an absolute disgrace" and it is anticipated the Exiles will receive similar special treatment in next year’s Christy Ring Cup. There is also a period of exemption from relegation.
McGarry is at pains to point out that New York are an "exceptional" side and without diminishing their achievement on Saturday at GAA HQ’s, feels there is an unfair advantage at play.
"It doesn't sit well with me," he said. "I just don't think it's right. New York would be brilliant if they were included on the right terms and in the right structures.
"It's obviously an expense issue, but cost shouldn't impact counties that are really trying to promote hurling. Everybody wants to see New York play, but not at the expense of counties that are really, really trying hard to promote current and retained players.
"I just wish the GAA would promote and push hurling for the likes of Tyrone, Cavan, Fermanagh, Donegal etc. Push what is on the doorstep."
McGarry knew, regardless of the outcome on Saturday, that it was his final hurrah. With a busy homelife and sapping commute, the time had come to move on.
The management and players stayed in Croke Park to support the Under-20 footballers in their All-Ireland final before heading back up the road and a night out to bring the curtain down on 2026.
He said nothing, keen to let the moment be about the players, before letting them know shortly before a public announcement was made on Monday.
"Having spent six years up and down the road to Tyrone, it was sort of coming to an end," he said. "It will feel very strange, because for six years, literally, Tyrone hurling was part of my daily life. My boy Ronan is seven and Tyrone hurling is what he knows.
"Every day I would just think, how can I improve Tyrone hurling?"
He's given little thought to his hurling future. Tyrone's loss will be Ballycastle's gain as he gets to put more back into the club.
Whatever lies ahead, his six-year stint will be fondly remembered.
"I loved managing, but I also loved coaching. I absolutely loved it."
Watch a hurling final double-header, Carlow v Laois in the Joe McDonagh Cup (3.45pm) and Dublin v Galway in the Leinster Hurling Championship (6pm), on Saturday from 3.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch Cork v Limerick in the Munster Hurling Championship final on Sunday from 1.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
