It's a spin down the road for Celbridge and Naas to Netwatch Cullen Park for today's Kildare senior football final. Throw-in 4pm.
With St Conleth's Park in Newbridge currently being refurbished, the decision was taken by the Lilywhites board to move the decider outside the county.
Celbridge PRO Niall Lanigan highlighted the "novelty factor" in taking the final to Carlow town, when speaking to RTÉ Sport ahead of the game.
"Our team had a run out at Cullen Park last weekend, so did all the finalists (Allenwood take on Castledermot in the intermediate decider). Playing there then shouldn't be an issue, but it will be the buzz that's generated on the bus journeys down from north Kildare.
"Ourselves and Naas travelling at the same time, that's will only add to sense of colour and excitement. And then there's Kildare legend Johnny Doyle playing for Allenwood at 45. His presence will swell the numbers. Cullen Park holds 11,000; we're expecting an attendance of 8,000.
"In Celbridge town, the flags are out in force, lots of buntings. You'll know that there's a county final on on Sunday.
"For all our fans there is a nervous energy. We've only one Kildare senior title on the board."
That success came in 2008, when a team managed by former Dublin stalwart Barney Rock defeated Sarsfields after a replay. Another final appearance came in 2017, a day when Moorefield edge a tight contest, though Lanigan was quick to share the general "disappointment" of how Celbridge performed over the hour.
"We only lost two points but we didn't do ourselves justice. It was defintely one that got way, a chance to beat one of the big guns from Newbridge."
Sarasfields are the other big gun. With 25 titles they lead the way in the Kildare roll of honour. Neither they or Moorefield reached the semi-finals of this year's championship. Does that suggest a shifting of the power balance within the county?
Lanigan wasn't prepared to say that it definitely is, but did add: "I think there is a refocus on the north of the county. Naas, who are going for three in a row in football are also strong in hurling (the club's hurlers recently completed a senior five-timer).
"In recent years, ourselves, Naas and Clane have shared of the lot of the underage titles. Aaron Brown, from our club, was on the Kildare U-20 side that got to the All-Ireland final last year. His younger brother Killian was part of the winning team this year. Niall O'Regan and Dean O'Donoghue also starred for the U-20s.
"Fergal Conway (retired last year) Kevin O'Callaghan, Kevin Flynn, Mick O'Grady and Tony Archbold are involved with the seniors.
"Tommy Konstantin, a selector for the U20s, is also part of our set-up.
"It's too early to say whether power now resides in the north of the county. For us the focus is solely on Naas, we know them well, they know us well. This year's final should be a great occasion. An opportunity for Kildare to put its best forward as regards the club scene; teams from the county have not been performing well in Leinster in recent years."
Steering the Celbridge ship this year is Micheál McDermott. A native of Shercock in Cavan, McDermott now resides in the village of Bearfield in Co Clare, though he still spends some of his working week in his native patch.
An experienced coach, with much success having come his way so far.
McDermott spent three years as Clare boss at the start of the last decade, guiding them to a Munster final appearance in 2012. Kilmurry-Ibrickane tasted county and provincial success under his tutelage and with it an appearance in an All-Ireland decider in 2010.
County success with Monaleen in Limerick, Cavan's Ramor and Meath outfit Wolf Tones, enhances McDermott's CV even more.
And now comes the challenge of adding to that list; ending Celbridge's 15-year wait for a title, and knocking Naas off their perch.
McDermott has enjoyed the journey so far.
"Any challenge that has been put in front of us we've overcome it," McDermott outlined to RTÉ Sport.
"We have a very committed group of players, an ambitious group of players and an ambitious club. We're back on the big stage again. One senior win in their 138-year history, the club desperately want to add to that. But it will be a huge, huge task in attempting to dethrone Naas."
"If you were to ask me to get involved with a club committee or a chamber of commerce I would quickly decline the offer"
As a manager, McDermott is at pains to accentuate the collective, while also stressing for getting "down and dirty" during training sessions.
"I was fortunate to work with a lot of good players over the years and enjoyed success as a result. It wasn't Micheál McDermott winning those championships but also the talented and committed people you have around you.
"What I love doing is getting down and dirty on the training fields. If you were to ask me to get involved with a club committee or a chamber of commerce I would quickly decline the offer. Thanks very much, but no!
"I'm in an office from 9 to 5. When the release of energy comes out on the football field there's nothing more enjoyable than being in the middle of a training session, that is a training session that's going well and then looking forward to games."
Lets meet the players....and management !!
— CillDroichidCLG (@CelbridgeGAA) October 19, 2023
Joe Mallon Motors Kildare GAA Senior Football Championship
Best of Luck to Micheál, Tommy, Paul and the players
Sunday Oct. 22nd
Netwatch Cullen Pk, Carlow
Celbridge v Naas #BígíLinn #CillDroichidAbú pic.twitter.com/LgvvJ29xcK
Niall Lanigan also sings McDermott's praises, when stating: "He's a great character, has brought a great buzz to the club. He also has a good backroom team with him - Paul Barden, the former Longford player and Tony (Konstantin). There is a great buy-in from everybody, we won the Aldridge Cup, did well in the league.
"Things have been building steadily all year. I think Michael has brought a bit of metal with him. His experience with county teams, as is the case with Paul and Tommy, has come to the fore in the last couple of weeks. "
So how do you dislodge Naas?
Well, McDermott feels his side will have to be at full tilt.
"If we show up and produce a 10 out of 10 performance I think we have a great chance. It will need that 10 out of 10 performance. If that's not good enough, then so be it."
"There are many inter-county players who don't have a county medal. It a treasured possession.
"We have put in a lot of work over the year and have played good football along the way. We have given ourselves a chance to make another bit of history in Celbridge."
