The amateurism of the GAA is never far from anyone's mind when All Ireland finals come around. When those outside a GAA tradition are witness to the kind of skill and ability we saw at the weekend, it's fair to say they are simply astonished that there's no monetary reward involved.
Kilkenny may have won yet another All Ireland this week but, save for a few day's celebrations, they'll soon be back to the classroom or the office to put in a day's shift like the rest of us.
It's always been that way and, for the time being at least, it's unlikely to change. Perhaps that's a good thing but when you hear what Eoin Larkin has in store for himself over the next couple of months, it really does put the life of a GAA star into perspective.
Larkin and his teammate Jackie Tyrrell were speaking to Marty Morrissey from the Kilkenny hotel this morning when Larkin revealed that he would soon be travelling to Syria as part of the Irish Army's peacekeeping forces in the Middle East.
Given the incredibly volatile situation in Syria at the moment, it's fair to say Larkin's comedown from an All Ireland final win will be rather severe.
It certainly will be different to most other years but it's something that I have to do. It's part of my job and we'll go out and do it this year and see how it goes.
I'm apprehensive and very nervous. All my family are nervous seeing things on the news but hopefully things will go okay and I'll come back in one piece.
If ever there was a situation to put an All Ireland win into perspective, this is it. As much as we may be engrossed in the world of sport, there's so many more important things in life and our thoughts are with Larkin and all the Irish peacekeepers ahead of what is sure to be an arduous few months.
