Rory O'Carroll has slotted back into the Kilmacud number three jersey like he was never away.
In fairness, he's been keeping himself busy over in New Zealand for the last few years.
https://twitter.com/GAA__JOE/status/1102948466152620033
The Crokes have begun their county title defence in impressive fashion this April club month, and that man O'Carroll, the three-time All-Ireland winner has been faultless.
They were pitched right into the deep end in a tough group along with Ballymun Kickhams and Na Fianna but they've come through those tests emphatically.
O'Carroll has been one of their steadiest performers.
First of all, he marshalled former Dublin teammate Dean Rock well two weekends ago but it was on Thursday night in Donnycarney when he really showed off his fitness, pace, reading of the game and general mastery of the full back position.
With Jim Gavin and Paul Galvin among the interested spectators in attendance, O'Carroll was up against the fast and jinky Conor McHugh. The lively forward ran hard early on, forcing O'Carroll to cough up possession for an early goal chance but with that blazing wide, the number three began to take over.
He stayed tight in the first half and got in a few crucial blocks and tackles that would break the spirit of any attacker.
By the second half, he was coming into his own and this interception of a Glenn O'Reilly pass shows off his athleticism and reading of the game.
CREDIT: DUBS TV
Those in North Dublin were witness to plenty of that.
Na Fianna ran out of ideas in the closing stages with Crokes' experience beginning to tell and it was clear to see that O'Carroll was enjoying himself out there.
Teak tough but skilful and clever too, he certainly hasn't lost it.
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The debate obviously with a man like O'Carroll is whether he'll make a comeback in the sky blue this year, and speaking on The GAA Hour Show recently, O'Carroll's former teammate Alan Brogan shared an interesting insight into the Kilmacud Crokes man's mindest.
"It's certainly an option for Jim. I obviously know Rory well but he's one of these guys who can nearly take it or leave it. When I played football for Dublin, I was completely obsessed by it but he wins a couple of All-Irelands and then disappears for three years, like it was no bother at all..."
"He looks in good shape. Have Dublin a problem in the full back line? There's talk that they do. He's an aggressive full back that would solve that problem for sure - the only thing is whether he's interested in coming back or not...It's just one part of his life.."
On their quest for five in a row, the Dubs would surely take him.
