Dunloy, standard bearers in Ulster hurling in the 90s and 2000s, are back in the All-Ireland series for the first time in over a decade after conquering their modern tormentors Slaughtneil at the fourth time of asking.
On Sunday, the class of 2022 get a crack at a wily St Thomas' side as they seek to emulate their teams of yesteryear and break into an All-Ireland final.
For the experienced Paul Shiels, the primary feeling after the Ulster final was "relief".
Having fallen to Slaughtneil in 2017, 2019 and 2021, the Antrim champions shed the baggage of recent defeats to triumph by two points, a seven-point haul from Conal Cunning and 1-01 from Nigel Elliott delivering them a first Ulster crown since 2009.
"We were starting to feel the pressure from ourselves and maybe the people within Antrim that we had won four county titles in a row and we hadn't made the breakthrough in Ulster," Sheils tells RTÉ Sport.
"So it was more of a relief than anything to be honest.
"We were sort of told when we won our first county title that we came a wee bit too early, but I would say in the provincial stage Slaughtneil were just that wee bit further down the road than we were.
"We had to cross swords with them three times really to try and get the measure of them, but you know they're a super side with some really quality hurlers. You know it took everything to try and beat them.
"They had sent us back to the drawing board three times, so we looked at everything: hurling, physicality.
"I would definitely say they helped drive our improvement because it's not easy losing a provincial final or semi-final, you have a long time to think about it."
The club, now joint-top in the roll of honour in Ulster, have gone close to the summit before.
With 10 minutes remaining in the 1995 All-Ireland club final, Dunloy looked to be on the brink of emulating the Loughgiel Shamrocks side of 1983 and bringing the All-Ireland title north of the border.
On a miserable day, the Antrim champions led a poor game 0-08 to 0-06 against Birr, inter-county star Gregory O'Kane hitting 0-03 from play.
However, the Offaly winners rose from their slumber in time to force a replay and eased to victory the next day.
It was the first of four All-Ireland final appearances over the subsequent decade, Dunloy reaching deciders in 1996, 2003 and 2004, though never would they get as close again.
For Shiels, who first broke onto the senior team in the mid-2000s, the finals of 2003 and 2004, where they fell short against Birr (again) and Newtownshandrum, stick in the mind, more so.
"We were down at both of them. I was maybe 13/14. They were great days.
"Dunloy came up against some really really good teams. Birr, one of the greatest club sides in history and Newtownshandrum as well when Cork were in their pomp, with the two O'Connors. They were two tough losses but it's nice to be back in the All-Ireland series."
If history is a judge, Dunloy shouldn't be daunted against Galway opposition. They previously overcame Athenry (1995) and Portumna (2004) en route to All-Ireland finals, two clubs who went on to claim multiple All-Ireland titles in the years following.
Three years ago, St Thomas' were taken to the brink by Cushendall at the same stage, needing a goal-line clearance at the death to stay alive.
"We're not silly, we're aware that we're the underdog," says Shiels. "But, look the Ulster teams have competed well. Loughgiel have obviously won an All-Ireland club recently (2012). Cushendall have played in a final and Slaughtneil played well in the semi-final.
"It's nice to be there. We're going to give it everything. St Thomas' are a quality side. Umpteen Galway medals, they've won a club All-Ireland. So we're under no illusions and we're looking forward to it."
Shiels, a survivor from the Ulster winning crop of 2009, has been focused on Dunloy since departing the inter-county scene in 2017, just shy of his 30th birthday.
"I retired from Antrim when I was 29. It was a tough decision at the time. But the inter-county season is so intense, it's a young man's game now.
"I had a few injury problems in the past. The body wasn't holding up to play both county and club. I was content after all because maybe if I did keep it going, I might have picked up more injuries. I felt every year I played county might shorten my club career.
"Dunloy had looked after me so well, so I wanted to give some of my best years back to the club, after everything they'd done for me."
"Your career goes by in a blink. There's a few of the boys playing this weekend who's fathers played in club finals and semi-finals. I'm sure it's a proud moment for them, but it's a proud moment for the whole club."
