“I promised my granny that I would win an All‑Ireland title at Croke Park one day.” That was in 2014, when they lost to Down in the All-Ireland final. “Look, it’s grand coming away from Croke Park with the ‘gallant effort’ tag and a pat on the back after you lose — but we want to end that rubbish,” he says. The Tyrone club went on to win Ulster last year and reach the All‑Ireland final, with Barry and the McKenna clan in the stands. I never thought I’d be managing a team at Croke Park in an All‑Ireland final.