Dublin's 7-time All-Ireland winner Paddy Andrews had identified the five players that have given Kerry manager food for thought after an impressive league campaign.
The Kingdom will share the Division 1 title with Dublin after they won their respective semi-finals with Tyrone and Donegal on Saturday, Kerry firing in six goals in a 6-15 to 1-14 hammering of Tyrone.
Paddy Andrews joined OTB AM on Monday morning to recap the league season and says while Dublin look to be going through the gears as they have in similar years, he's seeing a renewed hunger and desire in the Kerry players, who are looking to make up for last year's shock Munster championship exit to Cork.
"No team is going to come out of the pack in their first year and have all of the answers, it takes time. It takes a bit of a journey.
"Despite losing to Cork last year Kerry will have learned a hell of a lot from that. They're not going to go back to that. Although it was a bit of a disaster at the time, they learned huge lessons off that.
"They weren't too fare away in 2019, the drawn final was so, so close. Another two minutes and Kerry could have won that game and it's a totally different conversation," he said.
Andrews says manager Peter Keane will have been hugely encouraged by his side's third quarter performance against Dublin in round 2, when they clawed their way back against the All-Ireland champions to earn a draw in Thurles.
Paddy Andrews | The 5 Kerry players that have stood up to be counted in the league
And the former Dublin forward also pinpointed five players that could see Kerry match Dublin later this year, should the sides meet in an All-Ireland final."
"What was Peter Keane looking for out of this league campaign?
"Can they find a back that can deal with a Con O'Callaghan, Ciaran Kilkenny or Dublin at their best? Gavin White came forward at the weekend, had an amazing game and obviously his goal sealed the headlines. I thought Jason Foley was really good, really fast tight and aggressive on Darren McCurry. They need a defender who can do that alongside Tom O'Sullivan.
"They needs legs around the middle of the pitch. David Moran - as good a player as he's been for Kerry - they need a player that can work the engine room around him and I think they've found him in Diarmuid O'Connor. He's been a real standout performer for them in the national league," he said.
"And two of the most important players; David Clifford is obviously going to take the plaudits with Sean O'Shea, but Paudie Clifford and Dara Moynihan have brought a real edge to that Kerry forward line. They're making all the hard runs, they're allowing the marquee forwards to shine.
"And that's what Kerry needed - they couldn't be over reliant on David Clifford, just putting their hands together and praying David Clifford will score 1-10 in every game, although he'll probably get close to it! Kerry need two or three other forwards who can work the ball and occupy defenders, and that's what those two guys (Paudie Clifford and Dara Moynihan) have done. The balance seems to be right up front," Andrews added.
Episode 5 of The Football Pod with seven time All-Ireland winner, Paddy Andrews and 2017 Footballer of the Year, Andy Moran is now available on podcast – you’ll get it in the OTB GAA stream, or if you search for The Football Pod with Paddy and Andy and hit subscribe there – all five episodes are well worth listening back to!
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
