Cian Lynch had a less than ideal 12 months from May 2022 to the same month this year, but this was a sporting story with a happy ending for him.
A hamstring injury disrupted his summer last year, and then on his return he injured his ankle in the run up to the All-Ireland final and it required surgery to be rectified.
All told he missed the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny, although Declan Hannon made sure that the Patrickswell man was there to lift the Liam MacCarthy with him at Croke Park.
Jump forward 12 months and the roles were reversed last month as captain Hannon missed out on the final against the Cats due to injury.
"Once the final whistle went I knew I had to pull my socks up and get ready to say a speech," he told RTÉ Sport as he accepted the PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month award for July.
"My main aim was to get over to Dec and grab him and do exactly what he did for me last year because not togging out on the day, because of an injury, is hard.
"You do spend all your life hoping to get to these days - All-Ireland final day - and being able to tog out. Dec has never been injured either and to have that taken away is hard.
"It [last year] was a moment I'll never forget, the way he grabbed me on the pitch and brought me up those steps and lifted the cup. He's so laid back, he'd hate the limelight to be on him.
"But I was like, 'Dec, come on, let's do this!' I was grateful to have that privilege to stand beside him because growing up, even in Ardscoil Rís [Limerick secondary school] when I was in third year and he was in sixth year, playing Harty Cup I was idolising him.
"Then he went to play seniors with Limerick, and I was with the minors, so to have the opportunity to walk up the Hogan Stand with him is just mad."
But it was nearly very different.
In the Allianz League back in February Lynch had a heart-stopping moment against Clare at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
"In the same hamstring I got a dart [of pain] in it and you're paranoid straightaway that it's the same thing. In my head I was thinking this could be another 12 weeks [out].
"You don't want that; no one wants to be injured. I was just trying to get my body right following the two injuries last year, and it coming back with a little niggle [was worrying].
"Mentally you're trying to get your head right that you need to cut loose and get these injuries out of your head and drive on.
"Confidence is the main thing. We're creatures of habit and our bodies are so well tuned into going out training. Once you feel something isn't right it can seep into the head and obviously there is a bit of trauma with an injury as well.
"You miss out on something that's so big in your life, so you just try to get that out of your head and get the confidence that the body feels great. You enjoy feeling good and being able to go out with the lads and have a bit of craic on the pitch."
And they did just that as Lynch played a massive role in the All-Ireland series - after being in and out of the team in Munster while he tried to regain full fitness - as the Treaty men claimed a fourth Liam MacCarthy Cup on the bounce.
It puts them amongst the truly great teams to have ever played the game, matching an achievement that only Kilkenny and Cork have managed before.
Of course it means that the potential for the five-in-a-row is on the horizon for 2024, and with it true hurling immortality. That's all ahead of them, but for now, Lynch can reflect on a unique All-Ireland final for him as he got to be the player to lift the cup - with Hannon - and then make the speech.
"I had a trial run of it with the semi-final, getting to captain the team" he adds of the difference versus his previous playing finals in 2020 and 2018.
"My main focus was the game and making sure we pushed on as a team and got over the line. Every year takes on a life of its own and with the captaincy this year you lift the cup on behalf of the team - you're representing the group. Obviously it's a great honour."
His speech came in at nearly seven minutes on the day and he adds with a laugh, "it wasn't off the cuff anyway!
"Declan, with him not togging out, gave me a small bit of advice - a word in the ear - and that was it. Once the game started the main focus was the game."
Two players who looked out for each other in their darkest moments as the Limerick juggernaut continues to roll on. It would take a brave person to bet against a similar result in 12 months' time.
