In what has already become a season of shocks, Sunday's result from Casement Park didn't attract as much attention as might have been expected. But Antrim's defeat of Cavan was only the county's second championship victory in 21 years.
Although Cavan were under-strength, they were expected, after a good season in Division One of the National League, to survive.
In the event they didn't, and Antrim progress to the Ulster semi-final, where they will meet Casement Park's other winners over the weekend, Tyrone, who easily won their replay against Derry.
As well as the two wins, on Sunday and three years ago against Down, Antrim's meagre record since 1982 includes two draws, against Derry in 2000 and Tyrone in 1987.
Then, as this year, Tyrone were favourites, being Ulster champions and having threatened Kerry with a major sensation in the previous September's All-Ireland final. Antrim's manager that day was current county board treasurer Eamonn Grieve.
"I remember it well. Tyrone got a point in the last minute. We had possession and I was on the line going mad. Inside yourself you'd be crying out 'hold it, hold it' or 'make sure it goes dead'.
"But someone lost possession and I could have killed them. The ball went back down and the score came from about 50 yards out. It was a real desperation kick."
Tyrone comfortably won the replay in Omagh.
The weekend's great result was all the more surprising given what happened to the breakthrough of three years ago.
Under Brian White's management, Antrim won the All-Ireland B competition, defeated Down and drew with Derry. But just as a solidly-based revival looked on the cards, calamity descended.
The county final between Cargin and St Paul's featured some ugly scenes, and in the fall-out, between suspensions and withdrawals, White's great advance hit the rocks.
"You can get these outside influences," says Grieve, who was also then a member of the county executive, "and sometimes it's inexplicable why they cause everything to go to rot.
"But it changed the focus, left people sour and I said at the time: 'We are going to be the big losers out of this. If we take action or if we don't take action, this situation will sour the whole county'. And it did."
When White left it was no secret that Antrim were struggling to find a successor. Eventually PJ O'Hare, previously manager in the early 1990s, was persuaded to return.
"We had to go and ask PJ," according to Grieve. "We were criticised for not getting a big name, but PJ's a good GAA man, a good football man and knows his business. Even his critics would now have to recognise that."
The only negative aspect of the weekend for Grieve was the attendance at Casement. "I was a bit disappointed with the level of support, but I'm sure that will improve the next day."
