Dublin hurler Johnny McCaffrey insists his side have put the pain of losing a big league semi-final lead to Cork behind them and are firmly focused on beating Galway in their Leinster SHC quarter-final on 31 May.
The Dubs looked to be cruising into the Allianz Hurling League decider when they led by 2-15 to 0-12 at half-time but were reeled in by the relentless Rebels after the break and lost by a point.
"We're treating it as a lot of positives because of how we played in the first 55 minutes," McCaffrey told RTÉ Sport. "Even near the end when Cork got a run on us, we still had the chances to win the game.
"If someone said to us that we'd make a league semi-final at the start of the season then we'd have taken it."
"If you weren't creating those chances you'd be disappointed but we were and you'd be hoping that the next day you'd take them and put the team away.
"It taught us a great lesson and hopefully we'll put that right the next day.
"Cork got a good momentum on us, got a couple of scores in a row. When we got our chances near the end we didn't take them and the goal that they got propelled them on.
"It's very hard to stop a team like Cork if they get a run on you. They've got the forwards there who can score from anywhere and that's what they did on the day."
Nevertheless, McCaffrey believes it was a successful league campaign overall, especially given the players were getting used to the new management regime of Ger Cunningham and some were playing in unfamiliar positions.
"We were very happy with the league," he said. "A lot of positives were taken out of it. If someone said to us that we'd make a league semi-final at the start of the season then we'd have taken it, especially with a new management coming in, changing positions and new guys coming into the panel during the league."
"[Cunningham] has brought in a freshness and a new voice. Everyone is competing for a place in the team and it's all positive for the summer."
Galway underwhelmed in their league quarter-final exit to eventual champions Waterford and have struggled to hit the heights since their 2012 run to the All-Ireland final.
The Tribesmen are still a match for any team on their day though and McCaffrey is wary of an ambush.
"You can't take your eye off the ball," he said. "You know you have to be 100% for the first game against Galway.
"That's great for us and it's something that we're really looking forward to, a big game early in the summer. Sometimes that can set you up for the rest of the summer.
"They've had a lot of time since the league and had plenty of time to prepare for this game. They've had a couple of injuries over the league as well and will be hard to beat in Croke Park.
"The Galway game is the biggest game of our year. If we can get a victory then it could set us up for the year."
A host of retirements from provincial and All-Ireland champions Kilkenny has raised hopes of a particularly competitive Leinster championship this year, and McCaffrey certainly expects that to be the case.
"I think so, definitely," he said. "Wexford last year had a very, very good campaign and you'd expect them to be strong again.
"Offaly have made good strides through the league this year too. So you've a lot of teams there who are confident enough that they can beat anyone on a given day.
"That makes it an open championship and more interesting for everyone going forward.
"It would be strange to play Kilkenny without JJ Delaney and Henry Shefflin, and Tommy Walsh, who was always very strong when we played them.
"They've got lads there that played last year and are settled in positions who are going to be just as good. They're still going to be a difficult team to beat."
Dublin won the Leinster championship in 2013 before losing to Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final. The Lucan Sarsfields man still believes they have it in them to win the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
"The belief is there now," he said. "It's just that rub of the green on the day. Last year didn't go well in championship but the year before we could have been a puck of the ball away [from the final].
"You've got to keep working hard and make sure you're putting yourself in positions, and if it does comes around again you take them."
McCaffrey also points to Waterford's surprise success in the league as encouragement that the All-Ireland title can end up in an unfamiliar destination this September.
"It's phenomenal really for Waterford, coming from last year. They've been a breath of fresh air throughout the league and they've deserved every victory they've had. There's been no luck involved.
"It's great for hurling that there's another county competing that can push the big teams and can be there or thereabouts at the end of the year."
