'What would you do without it?': Championship success means the same, even in western Australia

'I was very surprised by the standard. It’s the lifestyle as well. A lot of lads do HYROX or whatever, just really into fitness'

PERTH PRIDE: Rob Ó Sé (left) after Western Australia SFC success with St Finbarr's, alongside centre back Mattie McKenna (Cavan).

THEY were the next dreamers. The summer of 2014: Kerry’s latest golden generation had not yet come of age. The future was still unwritten. What mattered then was school and county and the small universe of Gaelic football. It was the beginning.

From that minor team, a considerable cohort would graduate to the senior dressing room. In August, the likes of Shane Ryan, Killian Spillane, Tom O’Sullivan and Brian Ó Beaglaioch claimed their second All-Ireland medal.