GAA: Dublin manager Pat Gilroy paid tribute to match-winner Stephen Cluxton after the goalkeeper kicked an injury-time free to claim the capital's first All-Ireland title for 16 years with a one-point win over Kerry at Croke Park.
Dublin were four points down with seven minutes left but a goal from substitute Kevin McManamon and a point from Kevin Nolan drew them level.
With a replay looking likely, McManamon was taken down and Cluxton left his goal to take a career-defining kick. The veteran showed absolutely no sign of nerves before sailing the deadball over the bar from distance for a 1-12 to 1-11 win.
“If there was a man to pick out of the whole crowd he’s the man to do it,” Gilroy told RTE afterwards. “He practices them every day and he’s the right guy.”
The manager described the win as a “great sense of achievement” and commended every member of his squad, who pushed eachother hard for starting berths all year.
After receiving the Sam Maguire from GAA president Christy Cooney, captain Bryan Cullen praised a “fabulous bunch of players”.
“What we've been through, the hard work, lads, it's all worth it today," he said. "We've been to hell and back over the last few years and the support was there all the way. Thanks very much."
Kerry, he said, have “been an unbelievable force for the best part of a decade”. He added: “You've been the team to beat and no doubt you'll be the team to beat next year as well.”
"See you in Coppers," he concluded, in reference to the Dublin nightspot where a few pints will be sunk tonight.
"It's an unbelievable feeling and I just wanted to cherish it,” said Bernard Brogan after staying out on the pitch for some time. He insisted there was never a time when they thought they were out of the game.
“No, in the last two years we've never given up in any game.”
On his goal, McManamon added: “I think we got a counter-attack going and I saw the opportunity and just went for it.
“It’ hasn’t settled in yet, even walking around the pitch half an hour afterwards it still hadn’t settled in.”