Tyrone All-Ireland winner Peter Harte has been there, done it and won it all yet even he is preparing for unchartered territory with a first Ulster club final appearance with Errigal Ciaran.
Their 0-14 to 1-10 win over Armagh champions Clann Eireann in Newry on Sunday put Errigal back into a final for the first time since 2002, when the club won the last of its two Ulster titles.
Now a new generation of Errigal players will savour the experience, and as underdogs, against experienced campaigners and 2022 All-Ireland winners Kilcoo on 8 December.
“We were lucky enough to growing up watching Errigal playing in Ulster club finals, and you always dreamt about being there and hopefully winning one,” says the two-time All Star.
“So look, we’ve put one more step on the ladder today but we are up against the best club team in Ireland the next day in Kilcoo.
“Their record in the last five, ten years is maybe better than anybody’s so we are under no illusions.”
Like everyone else in Pairc Esler on Sunday, Harte could only admire some of the scores taken by his brother-in-law Ruairi Canavan, who finished with a superb 0-9 including five points from play.
“They are serious scores for any man to get, we’ve all seen how good he has been for us and Tyrone and hopefully he can keep it going,” said Harte.
“I’m sure he’s good for any neutral to watch as well.”
Errigal captain Darragh Canavan could hardly be labelled as neutral, but when asked to explain why his team had edged the game, he pointed to his younger brother.
“Ruairi, probably!”
“He had a savage game there and we are buzzing. The defence too was unbelievable and has carried us over the line in many a game this year.”
Ruairi Canavan scored Errigal’s last four points including two superb efforts in stoppage, one off either foot but he was quick to deflect away from his own outstanding performance.
“The boys will tell you I miss plenty of them, some times they go over and sometimes they don’t,” he said.
“Semi-finals are for winning and Clann Eireann definitely made us work for it.
“A lot of us weren’t even born whenever they (Errigal) won it last in 2002 so it’s exciting times but our performance will have to go up I don’t know how many notches.
“Along with Glen, Kilcoo have been the best team in Ulster or maybe Ireland this last few years so we have our work cut out.”
We are ‘addicted to winning ugly’ says boss McGinley
While Kilcoo coasted into the final with a five-goal haul against Scotstown, Errigal really had to battle and while happy with the character shown, Enda McGinley would love his team to be playing better right now.
“We didn’t play well but the only thing that matters is we got over the line,” he said.
“If winning ugly is a good habit, I think we’re addicted to it at this stage.
“I would love to be looking really impressive and the confidence of scoring five goals because then you know the boys are really clicking.
“We can build up how good it is to win ugly, we can build up that they have come through adversity but there are much more benefits to playing good football, so we still have that bridge to cross – but you can’t work on that if you’re out.
“It’s brilliant to have two weeks to try and get ready to play a team like Kilcoo.
“When it’s a special team like Kilcoo it could bring the best out of you, that’s what you’re hoping to harness, without wanting to put any weight on their shoulders.
“It’s just a sense of opportunity and a great place to be so I don’t think we will have to build it up too much for them.”