Early February and all that. Mayo defeating Dublin for the first time in 12 years in Castlebar may not be mentioned loudly when the days get longer but Kevin McStay saw enough from his side and highlighted their "backbone" in sealing a one-point victory at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.
Fergal Boland knocked over the winning score, popping up four minutes into added time after he was picked out from a quick free by Ryan O'Donoghue.
It's two wins from two in the Division 1 for Mayo; the Dubs are still to register a point. At stages during the encounter in Castlebar, Dessie Farrell's side looked the most likely. They started each half well, but the hosts clawed their way back to nick the victory.
A bit of a bonus for McStay when he spoke to RTÉ Sport afterwards.
"I'd have settled for the one [point] for sure but getting the two is brilliant, he said.
"It gives us four out of the two games and we stayed at it. That's what I loved about the effort."
Commenting more on the resolve his side had to show to earn both points, the Mayo boss added: "Right to the very end they stayed alive and stayed thinking about what was possible.
"Ryan picked out Fergal with a cheeky pass when everything was on the line. We knew it was the last play, pretty much. It was a great way to win it. Delighted, two points is the big one; I can't say that often enough. We try to be in charge of our destiny and that makes life a bit easy.
"What pleases us when we look back on it, taking a hot take on the game, is that we stayed at it. We showed a lot of backbone even after the first quarter which we wouldn't be happy with."
As if often the case in February, things to work on, with McStay going on to say: "Our finishing wasn't where we wanted it to be. But that's the National League, it's not linear; alot of stuff happened in that match and thakfully we came out the right side of it.
"Our conversion rate could be be better."
Commenting on what was ultimately a crucial score for Mayo, goalscorer Stephen Coen told RTÉ Sport: "We are always coached to chase every ball in every chance we get, never give up on any chance. It's not often I get one, so very happy to contribute.
"I'm happy that we we worked hard, worked hard as a group. Guys came in; it's work in progress and we'll keep going."
