Although Deirdre Kearney made her debut for Kerry back in 2015, it is safe to say that she is still very much a new kid on the block.
Despite spending some time around the squad up until 2018, the now 30-year-old spent a few years in Australia and New Zealand after qualifying from UCD as a physiotherapist.
Last season, Kearney dabbled with the Kerry B team, five years since she had first donned the green and gold jersey.
However, joint first-team managers Declan Quill and Darragh Long liked what they saw and called her into the full Kerry squad.
The Na Gaeil girl relished the opportunity to play at the top level once again and made the 2023 All-Ireland final panel at number 28.
Tough and uncompromising, Kearney has this season turned in some eye-catching performances.
She will now line out for the Kingdom on Sunday against Galway in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final, having firmly established herself in the centre half back position this season.
Her excitement is obvious as she looks forward to taking on Galway on Sunday.
She said: "Last year I was just thrilled to be in the squad at number 28. I hadn’t been with Kerry in four or five years, being in Croke Park was a completely new experience for me.
"Some of the girls had played there a few times at that stage but for me it was all new.
"I learned a lot from it witnessing the crowd and the atmosphere. I had only been in two months before it so I hadn’t been around for the league or anything so looking back now it was great to get the experience of it all and hopefully that will stand to me for the final."
Sunday will mark Kearney’s second All Ireland final of sorts, having lined out at right corner back for UCD in their O’Connor Cup triumph over University Limerick in 2016.
However, she is gearing up for a game "totally different" to any other she has been involved in.
"The crowd, the buzz, the lead up and the attention that game gets ... at the end of the day it’s just another game so it’s a great opportunity to get to play there, something when you’re growing up you strive to do and it’s very exciting," she added.
Kearney has experience of playing alongside some of Galway’s players during UCD’s ultimately successful O’Connor Cup run eight years ago.
She said: "I played with Galway’s Nicola Ward and Roisin Leonard in the O’Connor Cup with UCD when we won it down here in Tralee. Louise Ward was on the UL team.
"They have a great side, very determined, there’s going to be nothing easy with them around."
Kearney is not sure how the final will play out on Sunday, saying it was difficult to predict how Galway will approach the game.
She said: "With the forwards that we have I don’t think Galway will keep it too open, especially in this day and age, we’ll be the same.
"Maybe a small bit more open than other games but we’ve no way of predicting because every team can change their tactics from game to game."
"I really can’t wait for the game," she added.
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