After leading Ireland to a series win on Australian soil, manager Seán Boylan was quick to praise his side and their opponents for contributing to the resurrection of a spectacle that almost went under.
Ireland's five point aggregate win came after two Tests that may have appeared 'watered down' to some, but were ultimately a step in the right direction for the future of the relationship between the AFL and GAA.
Speaking afterwards, the Meathman said: "If someone said to me that I would have the honour of managing an Irish team I wouldn't believe that. I would have loved to be a great player and was I not that fortunate, but I was lucky to have a lot of great people around me.
"Some of us have been very fortunate to be associated with many great events and none more so for me on a personal level than tonight. To play some small part in helping these lads represent their country and representing it in a wonderful way," he added.
There was a special mention too for captain Seán Cavanagh who lifted the cup named after former Tyrone skipper and team-mate Cormac McAnnallen, who played in the series in 2001, 2002 and 2003 before passing away in 2004.
"The last time Ireland won the series out here, Cormac McAnallen was playing," Boylan said. "For Seán as his neighbour and friend to lift the Cormac McAnallen Cup has to stand right up there with anything that I've ever been fortunate to be associated with before."
Boylan went on to praise the renewed appreciation between the two codes and Australian backroom staff.
"The one thing they will recognise is that we've learnt a lot from their sport and they've learnt a good bit from ours as well," he said. "You go into shops on the street and people stop to shake your hand and wish you well. We know they are probably the most competitive nation in the world, yet we know that off the field of play it is friendship.
"The friendship the lads have made with the Australian team has been fantastic and we have to thank (Australian coaches) Mick Malthouse and Nathan Buckley so much for creating that environment."
Matlhouse praised his players for adapting to the less physical approach and for playing "within the rules", but lamented the headstart they gave Ireland in both games.
"We were bitterly disappointed that we gave them too much of a start on both occasions and just couldn't get over the line," said the Australian.
"But on the other side I'm very proud of a group of men who by instinct in our game would shepherd, would be more than vigorous in some tackles … and they held back that instinct for the betterment of this game. I commend them on their ability to play within the rules.
"The game replicated the series quite frankly. It was close, tight, played with vigour within the rules and played in a fashion to want to win and played, thankfully, within the spirit of what sport should be when you have two international sides who are playing in what we would call a strange competition.
"You only have to look at the way the Irish celebrated to know what it meant."