Kerry captain Gavin White believes that the disappointment of the team's performance against Meath in the round-robin phase helped kick-start the Kingdom’s push for All-Ireland success.
Despite winning their opening two games of the All-Ireland series, and coming off the back of more Munster success, landing another provincial title, Kerry failed to fire in their final game against Meath, and as a result missed out on top spot in their group.
The 1-22 to 0-16 defeat at Glenisk O'Connor Park sent Kerry into the provisional quarter-finals with the subsequent game against Cavan allowing Jack O’Connor’s side to get back to basics.
Three wins in a row over the Breffni County, Armagh, and Tyrone have catapulted Kerry into this year’s All-Ireland final, where they will take on Donegal at Croke Park on Sunday, and the captain is sticking to the mantra of taking one game at a time.
"I suppose that day against Meath up in Tullamore was completely unlike us and unlike Kerry football," said White, speaking to RTÉ Sport.
"That's nothing to take away from Meath. They were a fantastic side and the results have shown that, but we were very disappointed with that result.
"Not that we lost again, but just the way we performed on the day.
"And look, it was a tough couple of days after, and we were just very lucky that we weren't out of the championship, and we were able to look forward to the game the following week.
"We welcomed Cavan to Killarney, and just went back to basics, I suppose, and took it one game at a time."
The fact that Kerry will be taking on Ulster opposition for the fourth game in a row does not hold much significance for White or influence the Kingdom preparations.
The flying Dr Crokes defender, however, does recognise the size of the task at hand, coming up against a Donegal outfit that have impressed throughout the summer.
"A very tough assignment in playing Armagh in the quarter-finals, but thankfully we were able to get over that. And again, we looked after Tyrone the last day, and look, it's just great to be looking forward to an All-Ireland final," said White.
"I suppose it's not something we would have thought about. On All-Ireland final day, it’s just there to be won, to lift a Sam Maguire is always a huge honour.
"So we're not really thinking about bits and pieces on the outside like that. We're just focusing on Donegal.
"They're a fantastic team and just taking it, I suppose, one training session at a time and look forward to next weekend.
"If we look at their form right throughout the year, they've been absolutely in phenomenal form. In the league they were very, very good and I suppose took the foot off the pedal a small bit towards the end.
"But ever since they've been, they've been quite emphatic with what they've done.
"Their results in the last couple of games speak for themselves and led by a serious man in Jim McGuinness. So look, we know what's ahead of us.
"It's great to be in the All-Ireland final.
"You obviously don't want to be losing the semi-final or the quarter-final, so to get there, we're just delighted with it and just enjoying the buzz now this week and looking forward to getting out there in Croke Park."
Looking ahead to the challenge of this year’s decider, playing the Kerry way is how he hopes the county can claim yet another All-Ireland title, and while David Clifford has once again provided the inspiration for this year’s tilt, White emphasised the importance of the squad impact, as well as paying tribute to the backroom team.
"I suppose just winning primary possession and playing Kerry football like we've always done. Kicking through the lines as much as we can and just taking it every play as it comes," said White.
"Obviously, there's other bits and pieces that comes with the opposition that are ahead of us in Armagh and Tyrone and Donegal will bring different challenges to us as well.
"We'll try to play Kerry football as best we can and hopefully we can nullify Donegal's threats as well.
"David is very experienced at this stage. I think he's going to play in his fifth All-Ireland final, so he's very experienced, and his leadership for the younger lads inside the camp is also very, very important. He's been phenomenal for us all year, like other players as well.
"It's 15 that take the pitch at the start of the game and then obviously you have a serious background cast that come into this along with the backroom management and all that. They're huge part in it.
"Obviously David takes all the plaudits, and well-deserved, he’s a phenomenal player, but we try to support, and every player tries to play as best they can on the day."
Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship final, Donegal v Kerry, on Sunday from 2.15pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
