Vinny Perth admits he spent too long worrying about the noise surrounding his job rather than on what was important during his debut season as Dundalk manager.
Perth rounded out the season winning the inaugural Unite The Union Champions Cup after a 7-1 aggregate win over Linfield in the final on Monday night.
However, he said it was during the League trophy presentation last month when he took stock to evaluate what was important in his life.
Speaking to Joe Molloy on Wednesday's Off The Ball, Perth explained that the presence of his 11-year-old son, who has autism, at the trophy presentation was a hugely special moment for all the family.
"The night we lifted the trophy he came out onto the pitch and he wasn't at last year's Cup final - not because I was only Assistant Manager but he just had no interest.
"He asked if he could not go because he didn't want to be in anyone's way. When someone has autism they tell you the truth.
"You can perceive that as cheeky or bold and with the so-called normal kid you say, 'No. You're going to the final that's it.' But it was very definite that he didn't want to go.
"It's actually a very sweet thing because he wanted the rest of the family to enjoy it and he wanted to stay with his nan.
"When we lifted the trophy I got a shock; he was on the pitch and he was clapping and when they lifted the trophy his arms went up and he was spotted on TV.
"And I probably got more texts that night from friends and family saying that was amazing what he did."
It was at that moment, Perth said, that it dawned on him again what was important in his life.
"That was a real thing for me to go, I probably spent too long worrying about what other people think and trying to prove people wrong.
"Because everybody was saying that's Dundalk finished and nearly hoping they were because the more successful you are the more people want to knock you.
"It made me realise why I do it and what it's all about. It put a bit more perspective into what I do and made me get back to focusing on what I was good at and what we were all about."
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