Barry John Keane knows how hard it is to seize opportunities in sport.
When he was pushing for a place on the Kerry team, the forward lines featured Colm Cooper, Kieran Donaghy, Bryan Sheehan, Declan O'Sullivan and Darran O'Sullivan.
As his career progressed and the Super 8s were introduced, Keane looked on as Kerry started a game against Galway with a full-forward line of David Clifford, Paul Geaney and James O'Donoghue.
Over the bones of nine years, Keane pushed hard to make that vaunted Kerry attack. He played 37 times for his county in championship football but only made three starts. He had to wait five seasons to get the first one and in almost half of his 37 appearances he was given 10 minutes or less game time. Yet, his championship haul stands at 2-37; a hugely impressive return in the circumstances.
When he got on the field, he made it count.
He thinks that Sunday's final will offer each side two or possibly three purple patches. How they use them will determine the winner. Whoever makes the possession count.
"You could maybe argue in the All-Ireland semi-final win against Derry that the better team lost," he said, speaking at an AIB event ahead of this Sunday’s final.
"Some of Derry’s shooting in the first half was incredible but they had another purple patch late in the game and they didn’t take possibly 1-03 that was on offer.
"Kerry bounced back, hit home hard and strong and got through to the final. Semi-finals are there to be won and you have to take your chances."
Keane feels that while Kerry will obviously be looking to David Clifford, the Dubs are reliant on Cormac Costello too.
"You can look at it both ways," he says.
"Dublin still got over line against Monaghan without Con O’Callaghan and Colm Basquel in top form. That says a lot about them.
"But you could say that they brought back Stephen Cluxton, Paul Mannion and Jack McCaffrey because maybe Kerry had got back on top again and maybe Kerry can use that too – that they had to bring these boys back in because they need them.
"Against Tyrone, David Clifford’s shot selection was a bit off but everyone has a day like that and the lads really stood up. They won by 12.
"The last day, outside of Clifford in terms of scores, maybe Derry could have got the victory.
"So, there will be serious pressure on David again but that won’t faze him. Likewise with Dublin, they have been looking to Cormac Costello for much of the year.
"That’s why this game will be so close. I think it's going to go down to the last 10 minutes and both teams will be in it. Kerry will be looking for a big start like last year and Dublin are a third quarter team.
"What happens as the game unfolds will be fascinating."
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Keane feels that midfield and restarts will decide the game ultimately.
Will both teams go short, be brave and go long, or retreat and let the opposition come at them?
"Last year, Kerry went for it against Dublin, they were up three or four and could have scored a penalty which would have been a massive cushion if they scored it.
"Kerry will want a good start again. I think it will be tight at the start but will open up then and maybe turn into a shoot-out in the last 10 minutes.
"The benches will be significant and I think we will get a boost from Steve O (Stephen O'Brien) and Dublin will be hoping for one too in that regard.
"I look at the battle Monaghan gave Dublin and I look at the one Derry gave us and maybe Derry are further down the line in their development than Monaghan and maybe that will tell a bit about who wins on Sunday too."
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