Newly minted nine-time All-Ireland James McCarthy admitted that plenty of players had decisions to make after the Dubs regained Sam after a three-year gap.
With both Stephen Cluxton and Jack McCaffrey, as well as Paul Mannion, returning to the fold after two years in presumed retirement, the narrative had grown that the great Dublin side of the 2010s were determined to land one more title before jetting off into the sunset.
As he sipped from the Guinness presented to him at the outset of the press conference, a reflective McCarthy didn't do much to quieten the narrative, his tone suggesting that an exodus was in the offing.
McCarthy told RTÉ Sport that Dublin's victory over Kerry put two tough years to bed
"Who knows, who knows, maybe..." McCarthy said when asked if this was the last victory for this crop.
"Look, It's not a bad way to probably wrap it up, is it? We'll see.
"But look, there's a lot of guys to make decisions. There's a lot of guys who've to make decisions in the next couple of months. But we'll see what happens. Let's just enjoy this one."
"Look, It's not a bad way to probably wrap it up, is it? We'll see.
Seated beside his manager Dessie Farrell, McCarthy stressed that a key part of the motivation for getting back on top was answering the criticism meted out to the Dublin boss, who took over a gradually ageing side after Jim Gavin's flawless reign.
And he said that it was at his own wedding last Christmas, that he and a few players resolved to "get a few boys back".
"I just thought some of the shots on him over the last few years were disgraceful, to be honest with you," McCarthy said of Farrell.
"It's always on the players who cross that white line out there. We lost two All-Ireland semi-finals, one by a kick of a ball, one in extra-time.
"The margins are tight, they're very, very tight. We've come on the other side of them [tight games] plenty of times as well.
"We were ferociously disappointed the last two seasons. They hurt. They really did hurt.
"But we gathered at the start of the year. We'd a bit of a chat at the wedding and we said we'd try and get a few boys back and they made a big difference as well.
"But not just them. You see Cian Murphy coming on as well, he was absolutely exceptional. Sean MacMahon breaking lines and driving forward. It was a real team performance that got us over the line.
"I'm so happy for this man [Farrell]. His care for everyone is truly special. It's a big one for us."
From early in the campaign, a glut of recently retired Dublin players - who presumably had their ear to their ground - had been insisting that the older crop had the hunger and they were determined that 2023 would be the sweetest win of the lot.
Was this one the mark?
"There was a lot of negative talk after we did the five/six in a row about the finances and money and stuff like that.
"I just think it's bullshit. But everyone will have their say on that.
"To come back after being knocked down twice. And people thinking that your time has passed.
"But I knew we were still good enough to win it. I'd no doubt in my mind. Just get a few pieces together, try and drive a few young lads on. Myself get better, Mick Fitz get better. Stephen Cluxton get better.
"Look what Mick Fitz did today. Mission impossible, some would say. Him going one-on-one with David Clifford all day. I've played with Mick a long time. He's an incredible player. He's like glue. That's the type of player we have in the team, we've guys like that."
Farrell, who has now presided over two All-Ireland wins in four years in charge, and his first in front of a packed stadium after the Covid campaign triumph in 2020, basked in the afterglow of a deeply satisfying triumph.
"Ah, there's always relief. The overriding emotion for me is one of happiness and joy. I don't have to put my body through what the lads put their bodies through [McCarthy: "He tries to sometimes though!"].
"For some of them to keep going back to the well, as they have, it's unquantifiable, it's indescribable. I'm just delighted for those men."
Though Dublin departed for half-time one point behind after Paul Geaney slipped home a goal at the end of the first half, Farrell insists he was reasonably happy with their position, in particular their defensive shape and effort.
"The goal was a bit of a sucker punch but we were happy enough with where we are at at half-time. Some of the team defence was brilliant. We probably weren't far enough in front, it was that sort of day, it was a hard day for forwards.
"But in terms of how we were minimising their attacking effort, really, really happy with that. Second half, we turned the screw a little bit. Some adjustments with certain things up front."
As for the rumours of a general exodus, that the band will now split up again, Farrell said he wouldn't be rushing anybody.
"We didn't dwell on that as a group. It's important the lads get to enjoy it. And that's there's no pressure to make some of those decisions.
"There's a lot of lads have committed so much over the years. And there'll be big decisions to be made for everybody. But I've no doubt, when the time comes again, Dublin football will have regrouped and be the better for what they've come through this season and possibly the last two seasons as well."
