The bonfires blazed in Kerry late last night, and up to 15,000 fans turned out on Kerry's streets and roads.
But even before night fell the town of Rathmore on the county border with Cork was the first to greet the team who brought home an incredible 35th All-Ireland title.
"Simply the best, better than all the rest". . . "Champions of the World" and "Winner takes all", blared over a sometimes deafening sound system to huge waiting numbers from Sliabh Luachra, among them the odd Cork supporter keeping quiet.
And as the train from Dublin sped into Rathmore in the shadow of the Paps mountains, detonators sounded and the crowd of more than 1,500 went wild with screams that could be heard across the county boundaries into Cork, just metres away.
No doubt about it, 100 years of rivalry with near neighbours was the catalyst for the biggest ever turnout in Rathmore.
Keeping a low profile among the crowd in order not to take from the 2007 team's special day were two Kerry greats of other days: Séamus Moynihan and the former goalkeeper Declan O'Keeffe.
First out of the special team train were local heroes Tom O'Sullivan and Aidan O'Mahony holding between them the Sam Maguire.
"The Liam McCarthy Cup," quipped Tom O'Sullivan with a big roguish wink as he was hugged and kissed by friends and relations.The Kerry team and management filed on to the stage among them local Kerry county board member Bernie Reen, a sister of Kerry manager Pat O'Shea. Seán Walsh, chairman of the Kerry county board, told the cheering fans: "This was one of the best Kerry teams that ever left Co Kerry. Two in a row is a massive achievement in the modern era".
Next year it would be "three-in-a-row", the chairman said. Addressing the crowds, Tom Sullivan said Rathmore supporters were the best in the county and he thanked them "very, very much". "If there are any Cork supporters here ye probably didn't see the Sam Maguire for 10 years. But as long as this team is around, ye won't see it for 20 years," he said.
Aidan O'Mahony told fans Cork were never going to beat Kerry with Rathmore men on the team. Pádraig Reidy from nearby Scartaglen received special recognition.
Later in Tralee, Pat O'Shea, the Kerry manager said he had been " flabbergasted by the reception". "Crossing the Kerry bounds to be back with your own people was the most special feeling of all," the Kerry manager said in an evening which saw 15,000 fans throng the streets of Killarney and Tralee.
Meanwhile, the defeated Cork Gaelic Football team made the journey home to Leeside last night and were greeted by a small group of dedicated supporters who made the journey in to Kent train station in order to boost the spirits of the understandably dejected squad.
The train arrived in Kent station at 7.30pm having stopped at Mallow to allow fans there the opportunity to meet the squad. In Cork the players boarded an open-top bus and went on parade down the city centre. Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Donal Counihan said that it was as important to support teams when they lost as when they won.