You have to lose one to win one, goes the old Gaelic games maxim around finals.
Some clubs and counties might rightly snort at the cliché but for Galway and All-Ireland camogie champions Sarsfields it rang true.
Beaten by eventual three-in-a-row winners Slaughtneil in successive deciders in 2017/18, they finally turned the tables on the Derry women in 2020.
Wexford Oulart-the-Ballagh dethroned them in the 2020-21 final last December but in the 2021-22 edition, played three months later, they gained revenge.
So Saturday's third final in exactly a year offers the chance of back-to-back titles, a third triumph overall and a chance to balance the wins and losses column.
"We've lost our fair share," Niamh McGrath told RTÉ Sport. "We lost three All-Ireland finals and it's so painful when you lose.
"Our return from All-Ireland finals hasn't been great so we want to improve on the percentage of winning and losing.
"The back-to-back titles isn't any motivation at all, it's just every game on its own. We're not really thinking about anything, only winning the final because you can't really beat winning. Once you get a taste for it, you want to win as much as you can while you can."
Niamh's sister Clodagh McGrath, Maria Cooney and Shannon Corcoran were all carrying knocks going into the hard-fought win over Dublin's St Vincent's in the All-Ireland semi-final. Younger sister Siobhan's penalty was crucial in securing a 1-11 to 1-10 win.
Another sister Orlaith - their father Michael 'Hopper' is manager - has missed the entire year with a cruciate ligament injury and their fellow Galway star Sarah Spellman will also be watching from the sidelines.
"They're huge losses in the context of a club team because they're inter-county starters," said Dublin-based solicitor Niamh of the injuries.
"I think there was one evening where we had about eight people out of training. It's kind of frustrating but we just have to get over it.
"Our panel has strengthened the last number of years as a result of underage talent coming through.
"We're not making any excuses, we got over the line without Orlaith and Sarah and please God, we'll do the same on Saturday."
Not every member of the family will be at Croke Park or tuning in on RTÉ2 - Granny McGrath "can't watch the matches because it's not good for her heart.
"She relies on my aunties and uncles to tell her how we got on. She prays so much for us to win and lights candles."
They might need them as they come up against a Loughgiel Shamrocks side who ended Slaughtneil's seven-in-a-row tilt in Ulster.
For the previous five years the Antrim women had lost the provincial final to Slaughtneil.
"You could say they were the second best team in Ireland over the last couple of years," suggests McGrath. "They just couldn't get over the Slaughtneil hurdle.
"We've watched them a good bit in Ulster finals because we all know how good a team Slaughtneil are but Loughgiel were the one team putting it up to them and who were actually closest to them. They've had some serious battles in Ulster and we've watched all of those.
"We played them in a number of challenge matches over the years in Abbotstown, and they gave us some rude awakenings and ran us off the field. They're a super team, they're so fast and pacey.
"We'd be well aware of the threat they pose and they're such a hurling team; it's a lovely brand of hurling. It's pacey, quick, using the ball and distributing to people in a better position. They've serious forwards, like Roisín McCormick and Caitrín Dobbin.
"They mightn't get the same amount of exposure that other counties get but we're under no illusions as to how talented they are as players. It'll be a tough one again."
It's Loughgiel's maiden appearance in the showpiece and they are the first club from the county to make the senior final since Rossa became their sole champions in 2008.
"We have got to All-Ireland semi-finals before but were never able to get over the line," said Lucia McNaughton.
"So to get here for a start is really exciting. And to know that we’re in with a chance of winning the senior All-Ireland final is just amazing.
"I supposed the frustrating thing for us was that we couldn't get past Slaughtneil. We were very close to them and I don’t think many people realise that we were.
"We always wondered how we would fare if we ever got out of Ulster so I suppose this is the time to show it.
"We know Sarsfields, we know it's going to be a very tough match. We played them in challenge matches a few years ago and every time we played them it has been very physical and very tough.
"So we’re expecting it to be a mountain really but we’ll just take it as it comes and get ourselves sorted as well as we can."
McNaughton captained Antrim to intermediate All-Ireland glory last year and is looking forward to another taste of action at HQ tomorrow, alongside sister Úna.
"It's our first time ever as a club and any time you get to play in Croke Park is such a big occasion," she said. "It’s a big day for everyone, getting the chance to play on it. It’s what you dream of when you’re a child.
"Most of the Sarsfields girls would have played in Croke Park. But a lot of our girls have played there as well so we're hoping that will give us a bit of comfort too.
"I think there were maybe 10 Loughgiel players on the [Antrim] panel last year. Not all played but there were a fair few of us that got the experience of driving in, the changing rooms and warm-up areas, and being on the pitch.
"You know the workings of it, so it's not going to be a shock to the system for a lot of us. But it’s always a big occasion."
Father Seamus won a club All-Ireland with Loughiel in 2008 and brother James has lifted two Joe McDonagh Cups with Antrim. But Lucia, whose grandmother Mary McGarry won a senior All-Ireland in 1947, has the chance to quieten any talk about who is top dog in the house.
"That kind of stopped after we won the All-Ireland for the county last year," she laughed.
"But I supposed it's different for the club. It’s still ongoing but hopefully after Saturday we’ll be able to tell him [Seamus] that we have it as well."
Watch the AIB Camogie All-Ireland Club final live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player live from 6.15pm on Saturday
