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The All-Ireland champions were given a tumultuous welcome as they returned to Tyrone.
Thousands of fans packed Aughnacloy's main street as the team crossed the border in an open-top bus after their sensational victory over Kerry.
The border village was the first point of call on a victory parade which also included Ballygawley before the main event at the county's Healy Park grounds in Omagh.
Many of these fans had waited hours to catch a glimpse of their heroes, who 24 hours earlier had secured a third All-Ireland title in six years with a 1-15 to 0-14 victory over holders Kerry.
And huge cheers went up as the team bus pulled into Aughnacloy shortly before 7pm last night, where the victorious players were mobbed by flag-waving fans.
The team was led onto the stage by captain Brian Dooher and manager Mickey Harte, who said he was overwhelmed by the occasion: “It’s great to be back here tonight,” he told the crowd. “This team has a great desire for success and we’ve proved that again this year.
“We have had some wonderful nights and it is a great occasion to come here every couple of years, but we’re not satisfied with that.
“Our ambition is to make this happen every year.”
This Tyrone side had come back from the dead after a first-round Ulster Championship defeat against Down earlier in the summer, and Dooher praised the fans who stuck by the team.
“We want to thank you all for your support,” he told cheering fans. “You have been following us from the Down match onwards. Things didn’t look so good back in May and June but the boys stuck at it and it’s great to see these scenes.
“It is very hard to believe we’re back here tonight and a lot of the credit has to go to Mickey. Hopefully we’ll be back here again next year.”
The hero of Sunday’s match, Sean Cavanagh, played down his own role and insisted it was a team effort.
“The most important thing is that the cup is back home in Tyrone,” he said. “That was always the number one aim, it is what we set out to do and it’s what we achieved.
“This (reception) is something special. It is great for fans and supporters but only now is it starting to hit home for the players that we’re All-Ireland champions.”
This was the third time that Sam Maguire had returned to Tyrone and the chairman of the County Board, Pat Darcy, said it was a victory to rival the two previous triumphs.
“It’s a great occasion,” he said. “Both teams did us proud yesterday, particularly the seniors who represented Tyrone and Ulster football with great distinction.
“There were many negative comments about Ulster football earlier in the year but this Tyrone team has made those people eat their words.
“We won it in 2003 and then again in 2005 but I think this is even better. None of the critics gave us a chance, we were rank outsiders, and that made it all the more sweeter.”
Among the fans in Aughnacloy last night were Danielle Dunlop from Moy and Cathal McKenna from Eglish who were both at Croke Park to see the match.
“It was brilliant at Croke Park and the atmosphere was amazing,” said Danielle. “Now I’m looking forward to welcoming the team home. They did us proud, they did Tyrone proud and Sean Cavanagh did the Moy proud too.”
Cathal added: “It’s great to see Sam Maguire back home. This is where he should be, the streets of Tyrone, and it’s all down to Mickey Harte. He’s a legend, a master tactician, and he wrecked Kerry’s three in a row bid.”
Also among the crowd were two brave men, Des and Michael Nelligan, who were sporting Kerry jerseys amid a sea of red and white.
“It is great to celebrate the homecoming of Sam albeit it’s to my wife’s county and not my own,” Des said. “I live in Tyrone but I’m a true Kerry man. My brother came up all the way from Kerry to watch the match with us.
“We’re probably the only two Kerry fans here tonight but I think we can handle it. Fair play, the better team won on the day, but we’ll be back next year.”
