David Clifford said a desire to prevent another downcast day in Killarney this summer was part of the fuel in the fire that powered them past Armagh on Saturday and into an All-Ireland SFC quarter-final.
The Sam Maguire holders were rampant at Fitzgerald Stadium in the Round 3 clash, demolishing a side that had won All-Ireland honours just two years ago.
It also put the recriminations from last month’s tempestuous opening-round defeat to Donegal in Killarney further in the rearview mirror as Clifford told RTÉ Sport.
“At the end of the day, we’re into the quarter-final and we’re out again next week. So it’s just about recovery now and look, we’re delighted to come through this game,” he said.
“There was an element of if we had been beaten, we’d been beaten two times at home in three or four weeks. So look, that was probably in the back of your mind that we couldn’t let that happen.”
The Kingdom will find out the identity of their quarter-final opponents on Monday when the draw is made live on RTÉ Radio 1 during Morning Ireland.
Whoever they face will have to contend with individuals for Kerry who will be going in with confidence.
Clifford himself never needs any introduction and weighed in with 1-10 against Armagh, while the Geaneys and Joe O’Connor were among those who also shone.
Manager Jack O’Connor was also able to reintroduce Seán O’Shea after the injury troubles that had kept him out of the championship to date.
Clifford acknowledged that he and his team-mates had hit on a good vein of form during the match and that they couldn’t help shining in the conditions.
“I think a lot of us were in fairness. Look, it’s a sunny day in Killarney. What more can you ask for really, do you know what I mean? We don’t get too many of them,” he quipped.
“We’ll wait for the draw and then you’re out again next week. That’s the thing with sport. Next week and you could be knocked out as well. So look, we’ll just take this week as it comes.”