Tommy Lyons got little thanks in the long run for ending Dublin's curious Leinster championship drought of the late 1990s.
Only two years after re-introducing the Dubs to the concept of silverware, Lyons was slung out on his ear, with the jeering of the hordes on the Hill and the Hogan Stand ringing in his ears.
This was the era when the media were still obsessed by the financial benefits of a good Dublin run in the championship. These concerns have eased greatly in recent years.
Before the 2004 Leinster quarter-final match against Westmeath, Martin Breheny reported that a Dubs loss would be disastrous for the Leinster's Council's coffers.
Showing scant regard for the Leinster Council's financial position, Dublin proceeded to go out and lose to Paidí O'Sé's Westmeath.
In his Herald column today, Alan Brogan recalled as perhaps the worst day of his Dublin career. Lyons was spat at by the Dublin supporters underneath the Cusack Stand.
The Hogan Stand was still under construction then, so our dressing-rooms were beneath the Cusack Stand and my horrible and abiding memory was Tommy Lyons coming off the pitch that day, down that tunnel and some of the Dublin fans spitting down on top of him.
It was one of my worst days with Dublin - maybe the worst - and the way Tommy was treated made it sickening. Ultimately, he paid the price but what people don't appreciate is how well Tommy looked after his players.
Everything was sorted with regard to training. And there was no question in my mind that Tommy always had the right intention.
Lyons left Croke Park without speaking to the media.
Dublin received handy draw after handy draw in the qualifiers, beating London, Leitrim, Longford and Roscommon but they ran into Kerry in the quarter-finals and never got close. They lost 1-15 to 1-8.
