"Tá sé chugainn anois and no-one can take it off them"

Máire explains that Noel is a different man off the field than on the field. He is shy enough off the field," she says.

The talk in the O'Leary family home is of the celebrations by neighbours who supported Noel with placards, flags and bonfires. And the phone is constantly ringing. " It's giving people something to talk about other than the recession," said Máire.

But the big celebrations must wait as there's a championship match to be played on Saturday evening.

Mum and dad Maire and Donal, sister Cliodhna and brother Donal Óg and neighbour and good friend John Riordan are all there delighted with Noel's part in Cork's victory.

" It means everything really because from the day we came out of the cradle we live for football that gives you an idea of what it means to us," Donal says.

Donal played in the Junior A championship at 41.

" I hardly ever won anything we had a small club. I was as proud of that as if I had won 20 Mid Cork titles," he says.

Máire says it's been a long hard battle with ten years for Noel. " We're very sad that poor Anthony ( Lynch) didn't make it on the day but I think with the fact that they've broken the voodoo now, maybe Anthony will stay on because next year there won't be the same pressure," she says.

Everyone in the house travelled on Sunday, not just the family but everyone around the area, all the neighbours.

At the side of the Hogan Stand Pub it was like being in Cill na Martra, Baile Bhúirne, Beal Atha an Ghaorthaidh or the Halfway last Sunday morning. " Fantastic support, brilliant altogether and the same with the banquet on Sunday night, all the neighbours around were at it," Máire says.

" When the final whistle came there was a lot of people were very emotional, very, very emotional," he said.

Noel won his Minor medal in 2000, making his debut for the senior panel in the same year. This is his eleventh year playing. He also has a Junior All Ireland medal making this his third All Ireland medal.

" But this is the one that matters most because every team aspires to lifting the Sam Maguire and getting that All Ireland medal," says Maire.

" Cill na Martra is a very small parish and Noel's is the first senior All Ireland medal to come to the parish," Donal explains. Mick Gould from the parish played in two All Ireland finals 56 and 57 but lost both. He played with Macroom.

" The way I look at it is that it is great for the future for the people coming up that are interested in football, that's what they want to achieve, to achieve what Noel has achieved and that will push them on," said Donal.

Clíodhna plays with the combined Baile Bhúirne team. Donal Óg plays with Cill na Martra. Colum played on the Minor panel with Noel the first year and two years ago he won a McGrath cup medal with the seniors.

Neighbour, John Riordan has known Noel since he was a toddler. He cried on Sunday that Sam was coming to Cill na Martra.

Donal Óg let the match do the talking: " I think all the talking was done on Sunday."

Maire travelled on the four bus convoy to Cork on Monday evening. " The amount of people that were out on all the bridges, all the way from when we hit County Cork was unbelievable. It was very emotional really," she said.

" Tá sé chugainn anois and no-one can take it off them," said Máire.