Athy powered past the challenge of Baltinglass in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship on Sunday and David Hyland believes their blend of youth and experience, along with a big home crowd, could give them the edge in their quarter-finals.
The last time Athy were in Leinster was in 2011 - Covid ensured there was no provincial competition after their 2020 success - when they progressed to the semi-final before eventually being beaten by a seasoned Garrycastle side of Westmeath.
That Athy team was all about youth and energy but there's the feeling that they have a stronger balance this time around with some older and more experienced heads to steady the ship when needed as they prepare to face the Meath champions.
Their 15-point demolition of Baltinglass may raise a few eyebrows but Hyland says this year's team has a better blend of experience and youth, which he suggests makes them fearless.
Having already denied Naas a fifth consecutive Kildare title, Athy really turned on the style against Baltinglass and two Ronan Kelly goals along with one from James McGrath gave them to platform to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
"I suppose we're probably a bit more advanced now in terms of the experience that we have on the team, we probably had Mick Foley and Emmanuel Kennedy at that stage and then everyone else was between 17 and 20," Hyland told RTÉ Sport.
"We probably have a better split across the group in terms of young guns and then kind of experience at the other end of the scale, so I think we're probably really well set up to give anyone a crack really.
"We kind of knuckled down on Wednesday, 10 days ago, and we kind of set our stall out and we really just said 'look we want to go to Aughrim, get out, win by a point' and whatever happens after that happens after that.
"I think we put in a really good block of 10 days training...those kind of Leinster championships games, the kind of wind doesn't (be) a factor in the first say, 10 minutes.
"It's always going to be a kind of cagey affair so we were like look we didn't want to lose that 10 minutes with the wind in the second half so we kind of dug our heels in early and kind of got stuck in and we went into half-time in a good position.
"The forwards are really kind of humming it now and our systems are coming into place, there's probably a bit more free flowing football when you get into the Leinster championship and that kind of suits us I think as well."
Athy will need all of the experience of the more senior players along with the energy and exuberance of their rising stars as they prepare to face Summerhill in the quarter-final in just under two weeks time.
Hyland is counting on Athy's supporters to get behind them and is expecting a big atmosphere under the lights at Newbridge.
He said: "I've seen Summerhill players at their county final this year, they're very good, six backs, really solid and then a few marquee forwards so it's going to be challenging but where else would you want to be?
"Newbridge on a Saturday night, I think it is seven o'clock, it'd be great, hopefully we can get a good bit of support there."
Joint manager Ross Bell, who takes the side with Conor Ronan, is also counting on a big support and is looking forward to a huge occasion at Newbridge, where he hopes his side could have the edge.
He said: "I think back in 2011, the last time we played in this competition, we had two good wins and then got pipped by Garrycastle in the home semi-final, so yeah, looking forward to getting back to Newbridge and getting the big Athy support over there and support from the rest of the county.
"I suppose if you drive through Athy at the moment, I mean, it's just a sea of red and white. Everybody's come out, local businesses, other clubs, you know, they've been great for us.
"The well-wishers have rang long since the county final into today as well, so we're really happy and the fans have travelled anywhere for us. They're brilliant.
"Delighted with our own performance, delighted with the application of the lads. Probably one turnover there at the end of the game really sums this group up. They would train 10 times a week if you ask them, so I'm really happy now."
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