St Gall's erased the bitter memory of their 2006 All Ireland Club Championship final defeat when they capped their centenary celebrations with a comfortable win over Clare side Kilmurry-Ibrickane at Croke Park on Wednesday.
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Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-05 - 0-13 St Gall's
It was the Antrim men's first-ever national title after their only other appearance in the showpiece resulted in an agonising one point loss to Salthill four years earlier to the day.
The first-time finalists produced an early scare when they scored a first minute goal but after that setback St Gall's never looked back.
The west Belfast outfit led by double scores at half time, 0-8 to 1-1, and stretched their lead to seven points by the start of the final quarter to effectively end the game as a contest.
In truth St Gall's had stiffer tests along the way, most notably in their extra-time semi-final win over Corofin, but that certainly didn't dampen the celebrations as the hurt of 2006 was put to rest.
"It's an indescribable feeling - something you dream about, winning an All Ireland title at Croke Park on St Patrick's Day," said midfielder Aodhan Gallagher.
"It makes up for 2006 alright but to be honest that didn't really play too much a part in the build up - it was more of a media thing."
Half-forward Kevin McGourty, one of three brothers in the side, echoed Gallagher's sentiments.
"We've been waiting a hundred years for this - not just four and Antrim football is now on the crest of a wave," he said.
"We knew Kilmurry were a good team and it wasn't a great start for us but Lernny (Harbinson, St Gall's manager) always said to us when a team scores a goal in the first minute you've 59 minutes to hit back."
"Hopefully this will prove a real boost for football in Belfast and Antrim especially at juvenile level."
Full-forward Kevin Niblock was named man-of-the match and he agreed with the assessment that the final wasn't as tough as some of St Gall's earlier assignments.
"Conceding an early goal wasn't the best way to start but maybe it wasn't the worst thing to happen," he added.
"It was a bad mistake that let them in but it really focussed us and we didn't let them score again apart from one point in the rest of the first half."
St Gall's had a point on the board after only 18 seconds when Kieran McGourty scored from play.
But straight from the kick out Kilmurry half-forward Stephen Moloney found himself in acres of space and he capitalised to score the only goal of the game.
However that setback seemed to sting the Antrim side into action and they responded with five unanswered points from Gallagher, Anto Healy, CJ McGourty (2) and Kevin McGourty.
After a Johnny Daly free for Kilmurry Terry O'Neill and Kevin MCGourty pointed to leave it 0-8 to 1-1 at the break.
St Gall's scored four of the first five points of the second half to stretch their lead to seven points.
The gallant underdogs battled away and reduced the margin to four by the 56th minute.
But Niblock added the insurance point in stppage time to prompt the celebrations as the St Gall's players and management sank to their knees on the hallowed turf before heading home with the Andy Merrigan Cup taking pride of place at the front of the team bus.
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