Clare hurling manager Brian Lohan is satisfied that the squad have the desire to try and match the success last year, where for the fifth time in both the league and All-Ireland championship the Banner reigned supreme.
Early April saw victory over Kilkenny in the Division 1 decider and while again Lohan's men fell short in claiming a Munster title, they regrouped superbly and brought home Liam MaCarthy after a thrilling battle with Cork on 21 July.
And now on the weekend where competitive action resumes, the Banner are at the starting blocks, ready to do it all again, with Derek Lyng's Cats the opposition at Cusack Park on Sunday for the opening game in Division 1A.
The Clare boss cut a relaxed figure when addressing the media at the launch of the 2025 Allianz Hurling League.
There was a team holiday to Miami and Nashville, with trips also to Chicago, Boston and New York.
"The general mood has been brilliant," was Lohan's summation of the post-All-Ireland celebrations, with the manager "satisfied with how the team played last year and winning the trophies that they won".
That was then.
With no pre-season games to fine-tune, it's straight into the thick of it in Ennis. Lohan has an injury crisis to contend it, with the likes of Conor Cleary (below with Lohan) and Peter Duggan sidelined.
A chance for others to step up then, with 15 new players added to the panel in preparation for the league.
Looking ahead, Lohan said: "The wheel keeps turning. We're back in since the 7th of December and we've expanded our panel a bit. A number of guys have picked up injuries and then they are those who were carrying injuries throughout last year and they have to be sorted out, operations will have to be done - and have been done to an extent.
"We're under pressure from an injury perspective and we've just been a little bit unlucky with that. But it's an opportunity as well for other guys to come in and see how they go and pitch themselves up against good quality players and that starts next Sunday.
"We want to win as many matches as we can in the league and see where it brings us. From a management perspective you want to win matches but you also want to introduce a couple of guys into the set-up.
"We've made a conscious decision over the last couple of years to do that in the league. This year it's been taken out of our hands a bit because we have so many players injured at the moment so we'll certainly see different players and it'll give us an idea of what they're like and how they're able to handle good quality teams which is what is there in Division 1 of the league.
"We start out in the league next Sunday with a big game for us, Kilkenny coming to Ennis, so it's something to really look forward to and we're hoping we have another good year. It's a new challenge and everybody is in the same position."
While Clare finally delivered silverware in 2024 under the stewardship of the Wolfe Tones clubman, Lohan was at pains to put out that his charges always possessed a good work ethic across his time at the helm, and that trying to match last year's exploits will not be an issue.
"The team worked exceptionally hard every year sometimes you don't get the rewards for all that work and sometimes you do. We got the rewards last year. There is a good level of ambition in the squad and within individuals in the squad. We're hoping to add to that by bringing in a couple of new guys. Obviously a couple of guys have finished up with us (Séadna Morey and Paul Flanagan).
"We will hope to have a good amount of spirit in that group and that we can take on the challenges that are ahead of us now."
On of those challenges in the months ahead will be to try and add a Munster title to the haul of silverware. It's 1998, when Lohan was involved as a player, since the blue and gold last conquered the province.
The current boss is all too aware of how difficult it is to emerge from the round-robin bear pit.
"You would love to be able to do it but you have four other counties who also would love to do it. You have to play those four and typically there is very little between any of the counties. There is such an even standard and you don't want any other team to be in a better position than what you're in. You have two home games and two away games but it is very difficult in Munster to go away and win.
"Sometimes it is very difficult to win at home. It is such a tough competition and it's all compressed, done within six, seven weeks. One bad injury or two bad injuries, you're under pressure straight away.
"The big thing about the Munster championship and the league is that everybody is starting on the same footing; there are no excuses.
"It is a great competition. You would probably like an extra week to prepare between league and championship but it's not the end of the world."
Watch Galway v Armagh in the Allianz Football League on Saturday from 4.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
Watch Allianz League Sunday from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates around the country on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
