Although a proud Castleisland man, he too would have watched in awe the outpouring of emotion when the hooter sounded at Croke Park on Sunday, ending a 75 year Mayo drought and years of final heartbreak.
I didn't go to the final as it was obvious Mayo would capitulate, and watching their supporters crying in Croke Park again was not an attractive proposition.
There was a flood of tears, this time however, from a well of sheer joy and memories of years of pain with thoughts of loved ones who yearned to see this day but departed, their dream unfulfilled. The country cried with them.
While it wasn't Mayo's first All Ireland win, 75 years is a long time and twelve intervening final defeats was, as a priest from the West said to me walking up Jones Road about 5pm on the afternoon of such a loss (there were so many I can't remember the year) "that's our purgatory here on earth".
It was wonderful. The scenes on the screen of supporters sobbing, embracing, praying, dropping to their knees in thanksgiving brought back special memories of 28th September 2003, when Tyrone reached the Holy Grail for the first time.
It's not that long ago but in two years they will be the aul lads being wheeled out as the 25 year Jubilee Team.
They used to say, whoever they are, that you hadn't won an All Ireland if you didn’t beat Kerry along the way. Tyrone did just that in the semi-final. They took it badly.
Of all things, the current Mayo coach, Paddy Tally from Galbally, had them tackling in swarms. These days it's called tactical genius or a high press.
Yearning
In the final, Tyrone met the neighbours Armagh, who had won their first All Ireland title a year earlier, amid similar scenes of unbounded rejoicing.
Current GAA President Jarlath Burns captured the mood in the pundits' studio when he spoke of the great poets and singers and footballers from the Orchard County but until then, there was a void, something missing, before giving a rendition of The Boys of the County Armagh. (Jarlath! Where did it all go wrong?).
We too had that yearning, and while it was not a plethora of All Ireland defeats, losing from a seven point lead to Kerry in '86 and by one point after a dubious refereeing decision gave Dublin victory in 1995, had taken its toll.
Watching Donegal then Derry and of all things Armagh winning their first titles added to that sense of loss and yearning. Ache.
In his first edition of the History of Tyrone GAA penned in 1984 (The GAA Centenary Year) the late Joseph Martin wrote of the great Gaels and visionaries down the years, the concluding sentence of the last chapter titled, 'The Cherished Dream' read:
Tyrone GAA, proud of its past and inspired by an awareness of its present potential and a total belief in itself, can aspire to and attain the ultimate success - the winning of the Sam Maguire Cup.
The final whistle sounded and Brian Dooher held the ball and ran off like he was going to eat it. Grown men and women openly wept in the stands as the Croke Park pitch turned into a sea of red and white.
I left my seat in the Cusack Stand and galloped across the hallowed turf, the electricity coursing through me. The stewards made little to no effort to stop the jubilant invasion. I recall about a dozen clamouring over Cormac McAnallen. Of all things, I planted a kiss on his cheek!
Armagh supporters knew the feeling. They held out an open hand and said 'enjoy it'. They really did! It was the Tyrone community as one. Even the Mammy was there.
Tears flowed and hard men and the reserved were hugging their neighbours. It was finally done.
I thought of my father who departed in 1994. He'd have loved this. He dreamt of this day, as he told me stories of going to headquarters in 1947 when Tyrone won their first All Ireland minor title and the great men of 1956 who came so close to reaching an All Ireland final, only to be denied by Jack Mangan of Galway who turned in mid-air to miraculously claw away the ball that was goal bound from Iggy Jones, and 1960 with bonfires across the North when Sam came over the border for the first time. The great men of Down.
Then he took us to those Ulster finals in Clones and for a while thought the day had arrived in 1986 but it was not to be. Afterwards you discover many were having similar emotions on the Croke Park field, remembering those who went before.
On Sunday a Mayo woman, tears streaming down her cheeks, told RTÉ that her father signed her jersey before he died, and told her he'd be with her on the journey to bring home the Sam Maguire Cup. No doubt he was.
It was an incredible afternoon that brought back so many memories of that day in 2003.
Sam has been here three times since, including a fantastic day I spent with my daughters five years ago and our clubman Paudie the captain.
However, there will never be another first time.
For that day I will be eternally grateful. It is a privilege not everyone gets to experience.
Enjoy the win, people of Mayo!
* After the second All Ireland win in 2005, pI interviewed Joseph Martin who wrote that inspiring paragraph. Indeed he signed it in my book.
I asked him how it felt when Tyrone finally won the Sam Maguire Cup... he paused and reflected and finally tears welled up in his eyes... No words were needed.
⏩Ronan McSherry from Tyrone is a life-time GAA member and former newspaper columnist.
