There is a sense in Down that no matter what the upcoming Tailteann Cup final against Meath will bring, their journey will continue.
The Mourne men recorded five wins in the Allianz Football League this spring but lost to Cavan and Fermanagh, which ultimately cost them a place in Division 2 next year.
But they learned from each defeat and responded in style with a great win over Donegal in the Ulster SFC, and now an impressive run to the second-tier decider that will see them play the Royal County on Saturday (Live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
The road has been trod with a core group of young players, most of whom played their first game at Croke Park against Laois in the recent one-side Tailteann semi-final.
"We're a very young team, most of the lads are around the 23 or 24 mark," says Down skipper Pierce Laverty.
"We are not going to automatically leap to where we want to get to in one season, so this competition is huge for us. It's the one we are in and the one we want to win.
"Even the last day, for most of us to play at Croke Park for the first time and get used to the setting and the stadium was a huge thing.
"We're still young and still inexperienced so the more games like this we can play the better it will be for Down football."
Manager Conor Laverty, no relation, coached a lot of the current senior panel at under-20 and that group they will form the nucleus of the Down team for the next decade.
It’s a team with athleticism and pace to burn and the future looks bright.
"The buzz is unreal around the place at the moment with flags up all over the place from my own club (Saul) all the way into Newry.
"Conor has come in and revitalised the whole set-up. We have a group here that really wants to play with Down. There is a real drive about the group and we are all about setting standards and trying to maintain them all year round.
"We always knew there were great players in Down - as good as anywhere in Ireland- but from the end of November when we started with 'Lav’ he drove the standards, told us it was all about setting the bar.
"Myself and the more senior lads look to maintain that then."
How can the players sustain those levels throughout such a hectic season?
"Well, no matter what is going on in your life you can come to training with good body language and a good attitude and do your bit to help the group gel. Then come the summer months that’s when it will pay off.
"The Tailteann cup has been a massive development for this group. We want to come up through divisions and this is where we are at right now - with a second game in Croke Park on the way and the first time Down will challenge for a cup in Croke Park since 2010."
Laverty was at that 2010 All-Ireland final when Down endured a one-point defeat to Cork.
Whilst devastated, he left Dublin that day wanting to play for his county down the line and if they beat Meath at the weekend, he will be the man climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand to lift the Tailteann Cup.
He can’t get wrapped up in the emotion of it all, however. The next step is to focus on performance.
"Playing football in July - that’s where you want to be," he states. "Simple as that."
Watch the Tailteann Cup final, Meath v Down, on Saturday from 2.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch highlights of the weekend's football action on The Sunday Game, 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
