In an age where preparation is of paramount importance throughout most strands of organised sport, Cork hurler Anthony Nash counts himself among a group of inter-county players acutely aware of how varied the divide can be.
At 33-years of age, Nash is entering into his seventh season as Cork's #1 goalkeeper. Having been a member of the squad for more years beyond that again, the All-Star 'keeper has experienced life amongst the relative pinnacle of what an elite GAA player can expect.
With so many of their individual and collective needs catered for, Nash, who plays his club hurling with Kanturk, a finalist in this year's AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship, discussed the practical difficulties that still plague some of the country's 'smaller' sides - even if they are playing in an All-Ireland final.
Since claiming their maiden Intermediate county title against Mallow in October, Kanturk have been on a virtual journey into the unknown:
Like since we came out of Cork, we didn't know anything about St. Mary's of Clonmel, we didn't know anything about Ballyduff really, didn't know anything about Kilmaley, same in London, so we were kind of in a similar pattern all the time.
Although Nash conceded that "you'd hear rumours here or there", there is an element of going into these games blind.
In his well-received autobiography last year, former Kilkenny hurler Jackie Tyrrell divulged the preparatory levels he was willing to go to ahead of an All-Ireland final against Tipperary.
Setting a photo of Tipp's Lar Corbett as the background picture on his phone, Tyrrell's insight into his direct opponent (however extreme it may have appeared) was naturally not impeded by limitations the like of which Nash and his teammates must now deal with.
Ahead of their All-Ireland final on Sunday, Nash does admit to being a little bit better prepared for what is to come from their opponents, St. Patrick's of Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny:
All we know is they're going to have 15, 20 players the next day, they're all going to be able to hurl guaranteed.
They've played with u-21s Kilkenny, Kilkenny minors, and they've got a few lads that have touched the senior grade as well.
Having managed to get this far relatively deprived of any information regarding the opposition, one feels Kanturk will be confident they can overcome most potential pitfalls.
