Only the select few know what life is like as a player in the weeks preceding an All Ireland final. For a county as Limerick, whose last hurling crown was placed upon them in 1973, these will be heady days for all of the panel.
As we heard this morning on OTB AM, not all of this is plain sailing. Ciaran Carey, who played for the Shannonsiders in the 1996 final, kept us abreast of what will happen. The panel may find that their family extends a good bit further than they had anticipated, particularly given the wait.
"Well, they haven't had an All Ireland win in 45 years, so the hype is going to get fairly big!
"But I think these guys will enjoy it, and I think they will get through it. I don't think that they'll allow the hype to prevent them performing from how they have performed. And if that is the case, then they will be in with a fantastic chance."
Ciaran let us into the secret horse-trading that used to go on among family members and friends before the Croker set-piece.
"There were a lot of third or fourth cousins popping up! I come from a family of ten and there were uncles and aunts, but at the end of the day no player should really have any extra pressure around tickets. Park it up and designate it to a family member.
"There is a job to be done here and you certainly do not want any distractions put in your way that could prevent you from igniting in an All Ireland final. That is what everyone wants to do - go out and ignite Croke Park on an All Ireland final."
Limerick fans can rest easy that this is less likely to be the case for the current panel.
"I was captain in 1996 [when Limerick made the All Ireland final] and I said to my friend 'Guess how many tickets I put through my hand in the '96 final? Eighty-five!
"That alone, that heat isn't on the players as it was in our time. The whole thing has changed now from 1994 and 1996 to now. I think they are being a lot more minded, a lot more camouflaged, talking to the media and what you need to say to the media. I think they will take this in their stride."
Ciaran was diplomatic on who the team would rather meet in the final on August 19th.
"Being honest with you, I don't think they even mind who comes through.
"Whoever comes, comes. They are in a lovely position. They're sitting back, they are in an All Ireland final. They are watching two teams going at it next week down in Thurles. They have played both teams already - they know each other fairly well.
"I think we probably say we have a better chance of overturning Galway, more so than Clare. But I would say that from the players' point of view, they are thinking 'whoever comes'. That is the attitude that is required really."
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