It was always like that this afternoon's All-Ireland final between Dublin and Kerry was going to be decided by the narrowest of margins.
The game was in the balance right up until the end, with the outcome ultimately being decided by a couple of key moments. The Dublin goal was one of them, with Kerry cheaply conceding possession in their own half before Paddy Small tucked it away.
That was an obvious one, but there were a few other lesser incidents that ultimately had a big say in Dublin winning the GAA game.
GAA: RTÉ pundits point out decisive moment involving David Clifford
One such moment in the second half involved David Clifford.
The superstar Kerry forward had a very quiet game by his own sky high standards, being well marshalled by Michael Fitzsimons throughout. That included during one tangle late in the game.
Referee David Gough initially awarded a simple free to Kerry in front of the Dublin posts after it looked as though Fitzsimons has impeded Clifford as he went to collect a long ball into the forward line.
However, after consulting with his umpires, he revered that decision. Instead he would give a throw-ball and book both players. Dublin would claim that throw-in, going straight up the other end to score a point.
30 July 2023; David Clifford of Kerry in action against Michael Fitzsimons of Dublin during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
While a small moment at the time, it ultimately proved to be a decisive one.
Speaking on RTÉ after the game, the panelists of Joanne Cantwell, Ciaran Whelan, Tomás Ó Sé, and Peter Canavan pointed why this was such a crucial decision in the course of the GAA match.
Whelan: Clifford was still creating chances, he was still dangerous, still getting on the ball. He kicked a few wides, that's the small margins about it. They still created the same amount of chances as Dublin...
The other crucial score was the double yellow for Clifford and Michael Fitzsimons, that free. Dublin got down the field and got a score.
Cantwell: What happened there, and some of us had access to the ref mic, was that David Gough called a free for Kerry and then his umpires said 'no, there was two of them at it'. That's why he gave the throw-in.
Ó Sé: We saw it from the back and I looked at it from behind, and both of them were at it. I hate to actually admit it, both of them were at it. It was the one time you wish umpires would make a contribution like that in most game, which they don't.
They did today and I think the right decision was possibly made. It could have went either way.
Whelan: It was a potential two-point swing.
Canavan: You like to hear the conversation the referee had with his umpires. You're right, the umpires did say the two of them were at it and were holding each other. But it was a massive call for them to turn it around.
In the end, the teams were separated by two points, the margin that could have been reversed has this decision went the other way.
This was a brilliant occasion for GAA fans, even if the main attraction in David Clifford did not produce his best performance. There is no doubt that he will be back firing on the big stage sooner rather than later.
SEE ALSO: Peter Canavan Calls Out GAA After Galway Legends Treated Poorly At Croke Park
