When Padraig Joyce told the assembled media at his unveiling in 2019 that if he didn't win an All-Ireland title, his tenure would have been a failure, many felt he was setting unusually high standards for a new appointee.
However, three years ago, he was unlucky he didn't achieve that, and now he arrives again at the decider with a squad that many would say is the most complete that Galway has fielded in many a year.
Boosted by the battle-hardened Paul Conroy, Damien Comer and Shane Walsh, the team of youth and determination has excited the country this summer, first putting a stop to the Dublin gallop and then ensuring that Jimmy won't be winning any more matches, this year at least.
Now, on the cusp of perhaps his greatest achievement, Joyce himself seems in a better place; Contemplative, more reflective, melancholic, nostalgic and firm in his belief that his squad is perhaps the best in Ireland at the moment — and that now is the time to show it.
There were some times during this year that this starring role in the decider seemed unlikely to be on the cards, but now it is down to 70 minutes to decide who is the best team in Ireland.
"The side that makes the least mistakes on Sunday will win the match," he told me at the media gathering this week, adding that the games between the two sides over the past few years showed they are evenly matched. He is full of admiration for the Armagh determination.
"In the semi-final when Kerry were four up, people were saying Kerry missed goal chances, but I would look at it as being Armagh that denied those goal chances. They keep going to the bitter end and that's probably coming through Kieran as a manager. Bar the group game against Tyrone last year, I don't think they're been beaten in normal time for two or three years.
'In extra time when they got the goal, we knew there was only going to be one winner and that was Armagh, the way they played and their bench made a huge impact as well.
He ruled out any special adjustments to combat the Armagh style.
"What our team is good at is adapting to the team we're playing and able to mark different fellas here and there; and we have the flexibility in our team to do that.
Full forward dominance is key
"We'll definitely look at some of their key men to try and nullify them, but whatever full forward line gets on top will probably be the difference in the game."
Joyce is one of the most recognisable sports stars in the country through having known victories at the turn of the century, and he knows that the job of deflecting the players from the hype of the build up and the occasion is communicated through discussion and an understanding of what not to do.
"You point them in the right direction of what not to do. The weather might be great, but they won't be around town drinking coffees three times day or anything.
"They're focused on the game and all that matters is that by a quarter past five on Sunday that we have Sam Maguire in our possession.
"You can never win a game before but you can certainly lose it before if you don't get yourself right and get your attitude right."
He said that Sean Kelly will play a role on Sunday and would have been used against Donegal if he had been absolutely needed, but that getting the extra two weeks rehab into him is a bonus.
He paid tribute to Damien Comer for his contribution.
"Damien has missed a lot of this year with injury and while his body is good, he just needs to get the match sharpness. He was struggling against Dublin but it was great to have him on the pitch, keep him up high at the goal.
"He said he contributed four or five assists against Donegal. He still kept Donegal back to keep an eye on him. Every time he got the ball, there were two or three around him. We got free space in others because of that happening," said Joyce.
He praised John Maher and Cein Darcy for the evolution in their careers which have seen them become key parts of the jigsaw. The full back line too have impressed him with their steadfastness over the season.
That impenetrable full back line
"The three of them are great pals too having been involved with the U20s over the years. I remember the Christmas party a couple of years ago and maybe late in the night, Johnny McGrath came up to me, gave me a puck in the back and said that the day I play him, I will never have to drop him after that.
"He's a great character; they all are. What they're lacking in stature, they have it in heart. Johnny, Jack and Sean are unbelievably good and have settled into intercounty football so well."
He said that the key for these last few training sessions is to get enough done without overworking them.
"We need to keep them fresh for the game."
He admitted that there were times in the year when progress did not feel as smooth as it needed. The long injury list, the need for a late winner in Sligo, but it all changed after the Mayo game.
"The win in the Connacht Final gave us huge momentum. it is always important to win your provincial title as you get a good kick off from that. We are undefeated all year. We have not lost any game and we have been in some really tough battler with Derry, Westmeath, Mayo, Armagh, Dublin, and Donegal.
More in the tank
"I still think we can up a level. There is more in the tank and we can tap in into that in the next few days. If that happens, I think you might see a different Galway on Sunday.
He said there is a toughness to this team now that has changed the perception of Galway football.
"Over the years, many have felt there was a soft centre to Galway. teams were not afraid of playing us. They felt that 'get them down the track level and they'll wilt and they'll fold'. These boys are different. Even the last day against Donegal. I felt comfortable that we would find a way to win it and we did.
"There is a good edge to these fellows, which is great. I'm not going to take the credit for it, but it's something we try to put into them in the training, the standards they have in training, the intensity. But they are fantastic lads.
"I cannot praise them enough for what they do. They all have personal lives to live, work lifes, their families are supporting them and there is a great family culture to it all at the moment, which is great.
"And that's evident when the games are over. We have some great fun when the games are over, but when we have to work hard, we work hard.
"The camaraderie of the lads is really good. We'd be very well connected with them as managers and coaches. We have some great craic with them, but we are not afraid to criticise each other and that's what a group is about.
"Everything's always going well when you're winning, we want to keep it going that way," he said.
And with that, he was off. Next time we meet, hopefully he'll have gold streamers hanging off him.
