It's the first instalment of a unique Dublin decider double-bill at Parnell Park today.
Reigning dual-champions Kilmacud Crokes take on former giants Na Fianna in the county football final at 4.30pm. Next Sunday, the same clubs face off in a rematch of last year's hurling showdown.
Crokes, agonisingly beaten in February's All-Ireland club final, are seeking their third Dublin football title in five years. They have won six since Na Fianna last ruled the roost in 2001. The Glasnevin club haven’t even appeared in the final since ’05.
Na Fianna players Donal Ryan and Conor McHugh line out for both panels, and football captain Ali Fitzgerald believes the hurlers’ progress to a first county final in 2021 has motivated their clubmates.
"The hurlers really inspired us to push on a little bit this year, seeing that occasion they were involved in last year," he says.
"There's just great friendship across the two teams, a competitive friendship. We've got plenty of talks, or sessions together.
"It all just feels like one, even with the ladies footballers, and the camogie. The four senior adult teams are really bonded at the moment. It seems that over the last couple of years, that's got stronger.
"It's huge for us to be able to show nursery and underage members that there is something to aspire to, to see football, hurling, ladies football, camogie, in finals."
Fitzgerald was only six when a Na Fianna team full of household names sealed their third title in a row 21 years ago.
"I have the memories of being back in the club after games, meeting players like Geezer [Kieran McGeeney], Dessie [Farrell], and Jayo [Shelock] - club icons, national icons. My dad was running the [club] bar at the time.
"The likes of Senan Connell, Steo McGlinchey, Tommo Lynch, Dan McGowan, all these lads are huge supporters. They're not directly involved with the team this year but have been in the past. You'd see them after games. They are always giving words of wisdom - sometimes a lot of words of wisdom! That's great, it ties back in with seeing those lads when you're younger, and looking up to those lads.
"That was always the Na Fianna team that you want to be like - you wanted to have something like that for your own team, for yourself. You think back on their stories, and hope that in 20 years’ time, that there will be somebody else sitting up here talking about our team."
A huge underage drive has seen Na Fianna swell to 3,000 members in recent years, rivalling the likes of Crokes and Ballyboden for 'super club’ status, but the pickings at senior level have remained slim.
"We've had a lot of humbling moments over the last few years," says Fitzgerald.
"There's was a huge emphasis on the underage structure over the early parts of the 2000s, come 2010 onwards as well. Now it's coming to fruition.
"Maybe years we thought we were closer than we were. My age, the '96 lads who might have had a lot of success underage, when we transferred to senior, that wasn't the case. It wasn't just going to happen overnight for us.
"The development of our team has come over the last few years with underage teams coming together and developing a bond."
Crokes are favourites but not overwhelmingly so. Na Fianna beat last year's runners-up St Jude's and 2019 champions Ballyboden St Enda's to get here.
And despite the contentious transfer of Galway star Shane Walsh to the Kilmacud ranks, Na Fianna have their own county stars: Jonny Cooper and Eoin Murchan are established Dublin starters, forwards Conor McHugh, Aaron Byrne, James Doran are all on Dessie Farrell’s panel.
"You don't have to go too far to know that Shane is a massive asset for them," admits Fitzgerald. "Everyone saw him in the All-Ireland final this year, and even over the last few years, he's been brilliant.
"At the same time, we're not going to get too caught up on it. He's an extra player for them, and they've had great depth all along last year. While he is a fantastic player, and a great asset, we're just focusing on us."
Crokes captain Shane Cunningham describes his new team-mate Walsh as a "phenomenal player".
"Naturally enough, when there was talk Shane Walsh was joining Kilmacud Crokes, a big South Dublin club, there was always going to be mud thrown," the inside-forward reflects. "So we just ignored it.
"We know ourselves that he is just extremely motivated to play football. The first time I met him, within about 10 minutes of speaking to him, I could tell he was GAA-mad. I think his main determination is to play football at the best level he can. Having Shane Walsh kicking in ball to us is a bonus. He's a quality, quality player. Hopefully he can do more of it on Sunday.
"In fairness to him, he has settled in brilliantly. We socialise a lot with each other off the pitch, and he's made a massive effort in that regard. He's really made an effort with us, and around the club as well, he has volunteered his time with teams to get to know people. He was out supporting the ladies footballers a good few nights during their championship."
Walsh is the new kid on the block but Kilmacud will be missing their long-time superstar Paul Mannion, who injured his ankle in the hard-fought quarter-final win over Cuala.
Cunningham admits to being slightly surprised that Mannion is ending his inter-county hiatus next year – "himself and Jack [McCaffrey] will be two massive additions to a squad that’s already very strong" – and feels for Mannion after a knee injury kept him out of the heartbreaking All-Ireland final loss to Kilcoo earlier this year.
"He’s obviously a massive loss for us but I’m nearly more devastated for Paul on a personal level because he got injured last year too. I think he was determined to make amends for that so for him be ruled out for the rest of the campaign is devastating.
"He’s one of the stand-out players and leaders so to miss him will be a big blow. But we coped well without him last year so hopefully we can do the same again.
"He has always been a leader but last year, I saw a different side to him in terms of what he was adding in the dressing room. He spoke unbelievably at times, and in particular after we lost [to Kilcoo], he had a few words in the dressing room that will definitely stick with me. He’s injured again, he’s doing the same again. Whatever he says, people listen to."
Crokes were seconds away from a third All-Ireland club title earlier this year, only to concede a decisive goal to Kilcoo's Conor Johnston at the very end of extra-time.
"The way we lost last year was heart-breaking and getting over it was tough," admits Cunningham.
"I think the best medicine for us was a really tough training block in May and June where if you were feeling sorry for yourself, it was run out of you.
"Losing the way we did, it adds an extra percentage or two to the motivation but for me that motivation will always be there."
