When Theo Clancy was six years of age, Dublin lost a Leinster match to Meath. They wouldn't lose another one until he was 21 – again to the Royals in a provincial semi-final – and sadly for him, he had the perfect view as a 15-year winning record was shredded in Portlaoise last April.
The Kilmacud Crokes player started in the full-back line that day, as he did for five of the side’s seven championship games last year as he truly announced his arrival on the inter-county scene following sporadic appearances in 2024.
That arrival coincided with Dublin’s first trophyless season since 2010, but it was still a great year of development for Clancy – and he only wants to progress further in the coming months as the county’s rebuild continues apace under new boss Ger Brennan.
"It is what it is," said Clancy, speaking at the Electric Ireland GAA higher education and camogie third level championships launch, of the household names that have departed the scene over the last two years.
"A few lads step away but we can't dwell on it. We just have to keep going ourselves and push on as the new generation coming in.
"We take that as a privilege at the same time - kind of look at what the lads did before us and we want to then strive to do what they did and be as great as they were."
Brennan told RTÉ Sport last week that he had assessed over 130 players already since succeeding Dessie Farrell, and plenty of new faces will be given an opportunity under the former Louth boss.
UCD midfielder Clancy is well aware of Brennan’s expertise given his county manager is also his university’s GAA executive – and he’s excited about a management team that also contains multiple All-Ireland winners Stephen Cluxton, Dean Rock and Denis Bastick amongst others.
"I suppose we're so lucky in the sense that those are the boys that have been there and done it. They know how to win things, how to lead teams, so they've got all the knowledge in the world.
"We just have to listen to them and Ger, I've known him through college and through UCD, so it's handy for me in terms of balancing the Sigerson and the inter-county demands.
"The wealth of knowledge in our backroom team is astounding and (they're) all great coaches as well.
"There's a lot of new lads coming in this year and that can only help us. It gives us a fresh start with fresh and new young players that will push all the starting players and even the older players."
More pressingly, Clancy is in the midst of a Sigerson campaign that he hopes will ultimately erase the pain of the last two seasons.
On both occasions, the Dublin side saw their hopes ended at the very last stage with the player coming off the bench in the 2024 final loss to Ulster University before starting in last year’s reversal at the hands of DCU.
A 3-12 to 0-10 win over ATU Galway on Wednesday has sent them into a round 2A clash with Maynooth next week – another game that will spark reminders of back-to-back final defeats.
Those were the Leinster Under-20 losses to Kildare in 2022 and '23 - Maynooth possessing Lilywhite players such as Ryan Burke, Eoin Cully, James Harris, Aaron Browne and Luke Killian, who got the better of Clancy and Co over those two matches.
The player is enjoying the hustle and bustle of balancing county commitments with college demands.
"January is always demanding anyway, both physically and mentally. But it's an enjoyable demand, I would say," said Clancy who is studying for a bachelor of science in sustainability with business and economics.
"You're playing two All-Ireland competitions in (the) Sigerson and the Allianz League, so that's a privilege in itself. I really enjoy the constant matches week on week.
"You're playing free-flowing football in Sigerson during the week and then going out to Croke Park in the Allianz League, it's great.
"I think it's great for development as a player."
