Stephen Bradley's three kids were still up when he turned the key in the hall door late on Monday night.
But it was the sight of his son Josh standing in front of him, wearing Roberto Lopes’ jersey ‘like a nightdress’, that brought it all home for the title-winning Shamrock Rovers boss.
Josh, 8, was diagnosed with leukemia in June and the personal difficulties that Bradley and his family have gone through are well documented.
READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou gives Celtic assessment after side dumped out of Champions League
But after clinching a third league in a row - and in doing so joining the likes of Jim McLaughin and Stephen Kenny - Bradley yesterday dedicated this league crown to Josh.
“This one’s for him,” said the Hoops manager, during an at times emotional sit down interview at the club’s Roadstone training ground.
Rather than watch Derry’s must-win game away to Sligo on LOI TV, Bradley went to Tolka Park on Monday night to scout UCD - who Rovers face in their final game - against Shelbourne.
He tried to find a quiet part of the ground and remain blissfully unaware of events at the Showgrounds but, well, he's recognisable and Shels fans were quick to relay the latest.
“Some man sitting beside me said congratulations when there was 10 minutes left,” laughed Bradley.
“I didn't want to hear it, so I just got up and left because I thought I'd keep hearing it.”
He hopped in the car for home and his wife, Emma, phoned soon after with the news that the title race was indeed over and he had just secured a third league title.
Bradley said: “I was excited to get home to the wife and kids because like everybody’s family, they’re the ones who see you at the highest and lowest points.
“We’ve had some personal issues so I wanted to get home and give them a hug.
“When Josh was diagnosed, I missed the game against Dundalk away and I wasn’t sure where I’d be going, staying on or what way my family would approach it.
“When they told me to stay on, I met the players and staff here and had a chat.
“I explained everything that was going on and asked them if they would do everything possible to allow me to be able to celebrate it for Josh.
“So yeah, this is special.”
Bradley continued: “We had a tough day last Friday in the hospital. I thought we were going to struggle to make the game (against St Pat’s)
“But thankfully we got out of hospital and he was able to go to the game, which was brilliant.
“He’s in the intensive part of his treatment now which is tough but hopefully he comes through this.
“He’s doing well. Still a long road, but right now he’s doing as well as can be expected.
“He’s the reason you come in. When stuff like that happens it makes you re-evaluate what you’re doing, and why you’re doing it.
“He’s the reason you get up every morning, why you stay up late at night and watch all the games.
“When you’re travelling home from games and people are sleeping, you’re watching your next opponent because I’ve always been thinking of getting a medal for him.
“This one's for him.”
Rovers ace ‘Pico’ Lopes gave Josh his match jersey after a game earlier in the season and it has been a cherished possession ever since.
Bradley said: “He had Pico’s jersey on when I came in on Monday night, it was like a nightdress on him! He didn’t take it off him all night.
“We went down to Glenn’s (Cronin, his assistant) and he had it on all night which was brilliant.
“My wife said Josh had notifications on his phone (from the Sligo-Derry game). My wife is always nervous around football. She wasn’t watching it.
“I’d say she must have cleaned the house ten times and Josh was running around after her telling her the score!
Shamrock Rovers will have a second star above their crest next season to mark their 20th league title.
And while that may seem like a small, cosmetic detail, Bradley revealed the significance it played in propelling him to glory since taking charge in 2016.
Not least how this third title has helped the club reconnect with the Hoops’ legendary four-in-a-row team of the 1980s.
Bradley said: “When we came here, we sat down with some board members.
“I felt we had lost our connection with the four-in-a-row team and the players of the past who have been great players for the club.
“We wanted to reconnect with those men and get them back around the club and get them in to talk to the players.
“We wanted to give the players a feel and understanding for what the club is about with players like Pat Byrne, Mick Byrne and so many of them.
“Pat would text me quite often, and especially when things weren't going quite so well he was a great support.
“We made sure that our players understood what came before them and we wanted those players to be a real influence on this group.”
And assessing his three league crowns, Bradley added: “This was definitely the hardest, because of the group stages in Europe.
“But that also makes it the most enjoyable, when you know you’ve had to go to the well and dig deep.
“They’ve had to block out noise and focus on what we do. It’s definitely been the most enjoyable because of the challenges it’s thrown up.”
