After being named Footballer of the Year for a second successive year, there was a still a tinge of regret for David Clifford, with Sam Maguire not residing in the Kingdom over the winter months.
At Friday's PWC/GPA All-Star Awards in the RDS in Dublin, Clifford got the nod over Dublin's Brian Fenton and Brendan Rogers of Derry for the top individual award, and was amongst four Kerry players named on the team of the year.
However, unlike last year, the Fossa clubman was not celebrating an All-Ireland success, with Jack O'Connor's side unseated as champions by Dublin at the end of July.
And Clifford did highlight that loss when speaking to RTÉ Sport.
"It was a real night of celebration last year, we were up here as a group after winning, bit different this year because we didn't get over the line," he said.
"But it still a special night and it's brilliant to have so many of the Kerry lads up here. Slightly different but still a good night.
"These individual honours, you don't start the year hoping to win one, but then when you get nominated, there is a bit of pride and you want to win it. It's something to look back on at the end of your career and it's nice for your family and for Fossa."
After the disappointment of relinquishing their All-Ireland crown, Clifford was glad to get back playing with Fossa, to erase the frustration of that day against the Dubs.
"Seeing the different highlights this evening brings it back a small bit. For me as a forward when you miss chances like I did, it is very frustrating. You can go back and and try to replicate them in training, that's easy. We're hoping to get back on the biggest day again and get back to those days next year.
"We were back in with club games straight away, back getting ready for those games. It's good to be able to take out that frustration in club games.
"We're lucky to be on a great run with Fossa and we're aware of the fact that it won't go on forever. We're trying to milk it while we have it."
On the day before this year's Munster final against Clare, Clifford's mother Ellen passed away after a long illness.
David and his brother Paudie did line out against the Banner, with the latter setting up a goal for his younger sibling.
Thankful of the support on that day, David added: "It was very symbolic (the build-up for the goal) on that day after mum passing away the day before.
"It was nice the way our own team-mates, our management team, and to all the Clare lads on that day put their arm around us. It felt like a massive GAA community. We are thankful of the support our family has got in the wake of mam passing away. "
Watch the Connacht Club semi-final, Corofin (Galway) v Ballina Stephenites (Mayo), on Saturday from 1.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
