Dublin defender Andrew Dunphy is disinclined to dwell on the past as the capital's hurlers seek to escape their recent funk at inter-county level.
Last year's campaign, like so many recent ones, ended in frustration for the Dubs.
All appeared to be going well after an apparently decisive one-point win away to Wexford - best recalled for Danny Sutcliffe's stunning diving block in the dying seconds of the game. With three wins from three, they seemed to be set fair for at least a preliminary quarter-final appearance.
They fell to earth with a thunderous jolt following another dismal showing at home to Kilkenny, a game which, alarmingly, was close to a replica of their league meeting three months earlier.
In Round 5, they slumped to an abject defeat to table-toppers Galway in a goalless affair in Salthill. This wouldn't have been fatal had Wexford not turned over Kilkenny in the simultaneous game down in Nowlan Park. As word filtered through from Kilkenny in the closing minutes, the Dubs made frantic attempts to rescue the game in Pearse Stadium but could only manage to reduce the deficit from nine to six.
Dublin wound up in the dreaded fourth spot in the province and Mattie Kenny subsequently departed as manager after a four-year reign, when the capital occasionally threatened a breakthrough, landing the odd win but ultimately failing to reach the semi-final stage.
Dunphy, who begins his Fitzgibbon Cup campaign with DCU next week, broke onto the Dublin starting team at the tail end of last year's championship, having been a regular fixture in the league since 2020. Introduced late amid the slaughter from Kilkenny in Nowlan Park, Dunphy was elevated to a starting berth against Galway.
"You can't dwell on the past too much," Dunphy says conclusively of 2022.
"Don’t look too far ahead and don’t dwell in things in the past too much. There’s another game coming up in the Walsh Cup against Galway this week and you just have to look at that. If you played last week it’s about what I can do to improve my game this week. That’s how you build consistency and you have to be consistent across the board with the way the Leinster Championship is now."
The accusation that Dublin were particularly helpless against Kilkenny naturally cropped up in the wake of last year's inter-county season. In two home games against the Cats in league and championship, the Dubs lost by a cumulative total of 30 points.
Dunphy dismisses the suggestion, pointing out that the emergent crop of Dublin players had enjoyed success against Kilkenny players at schools level.
"I think there’s always been a belief there and you wouldn’t be scared going out against a team, you have to make an account of yourself. The team itself needs to perform. It’s not necessarily on who you’re playing.
"But that’s definitely a factor, the young lads would have taken great confidence out of beating Kieran’s [College] and beating Galway in a Leinster final at under-20 naturally gives you that little boost when you win those big games.
"They are pressure scenarios so when you come out on top there it does give you that little bit of confidence."
The Dubs made a big move in the off-season, replacing Kenny with his county man Micheál Donoghue, who guided Galway to the 2017 All-Ireland title.
"I suppose I was surprised but Mattie was there for a good while," says Dunphy.
"I didn't exactly see it coming. We had a short enough year last year so Mattie would have had plenty of time to reflect.
"(As for Micheal) sure look it's early days, and we've only played one game (Walsh Cup win over Antrim). There's a good panel in there at the moment, and plenty of competition for places. It's the environment you want to be involved in."
For the time being, Dunphy is immersed in thoughts of the Fitzgibbon Cup, with DCU - Sigerson Cup royalty in the modern era - seeking to win the crown for the first time.
For Dunphy, along with many others, third level hurling is a particularly enticing realm, offering a rare chance to hurl alongside top level players from rival counties. Next week, Dunphy lines out on the same team as Adrian Mullen, a regular thorn in Dublin's side in the Leinster Championship.
Dunphy argues the Fitzgibbon is especially useful for players on the fringes of county teams.
"It's great for lads who are trying to break onto an inter-county panel because it's at a standard that's just below that. You're getting great exposure because you're marking inter-county lads who could be from Kilkenny, Wexford, Carlow, or lads down in Munster.
"You're forced to get up to that standard, even if you're not involved with your country. You could go to 20-22 (years old) playing with your college, and then you get a call up to inter-county, at least you've been able to play at that standard, and you're up to it.
"You can do all the training you want, but when you're getting that exposure in games, it's a great advantage to have."
As far as the competition's placing in the calendar, Dunphy says any time of year will present challenges.
"I know there was talk of the Fitzgibbon going ahead in December, but no matter what time you have it, you'll be stuck for a full panel. Because just say for the likes of Adrian Mullen, if it was in December, he would have been too busy with the club, but this year, he'll be able to play our first game for the Fitz.
"The same with a few of the Dublin lads from (Kilmacud) Crokes. I suppose it is awkward but it's probably at the most workable time of the year now, so it's not too bad."
DCU have been landed in a group with Mary Immaculate College, Limerick and SETU Carlow.
"The way the competition is formatted, you don't have room to not perform on the first game. Look, if we get through that group, we can take confidence from it, so that's one thing."
