Monaghan fans were naturally feeling melancholic on Saturday night. It seemed like their loss to Armagh had marked the end of a journey, the resignation of Malachy O'Rourke after the game felt like a confirmation.
Where next?
Is there a way back?
But in the middle of all the uncertainty and dejection, the venue had to be prepared; the Ulster final was mere hours away the next day. Preparing the venue required strength in numbers and there numerous local people put their pensive sadness to one side, understanding that the championship must go on - a game was to be played with or without Monaghan, a venue had to be ready.
Forgot I took this picture.. snapped as phone hit 1% battery life and maybe not doing full justice to all @ClonesGAA and that mighty club effort to clean up and prepare St Tiernachs park for the @UlsterGAA final. Community/GAA spirit alive and well.. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/qDnX5lFVca
— Sean Mc Caffrey (@Smccaffreyradio) June 24, 2019
And so it was.
It may have been undesirable work, but that's the mindset that has been instilled within the GAA community in this area of the country. It was a sacrifice by all accounts, and one that many Monaghan and Ulster folk will argue is best illustrated by the decades of graft put into preparing St Tiernach's Park pitch by Tommy McCabe.
Having spent much of his life preparing the ground for the big games, and the small ones, McCabe was rewarded on Sunday afternoon when presented with a momento to acknowledge his years of service.
The Clones venue can hosts up towards 150 games a year, with McCabe centrally involved in preparing the pitch on each occasion, whether it's getting the facilities ready or ensuring the gates are unlocked for teams and spectators alike.
His work may often have gone unnoticed though it rarely went unrecognised.
Speaking during the BBC coverage of the Ulster final, former Down start Marty Clarke paid tribute to the groundsman.
What a wonderful job he has done. Without doubt, for me it's the best surface I have ever played on.
It's certainly deserved and he's a great character.
