Leinster Rugby captain Jack Conan pictured at Croke Park.
Eighteen years ago, Jack Conan attended the Tommy Murphy Cup as Wicklow triumphed at Croke Park.
Nearly two decades later, Conan captains Leinster Rugby in Saturday's URC Final against Bulls at the same venue.
Conan appreciates the history at Croke Park and is hopeful Leinster can summon another dynamic display at GAA headquarters with silverware the prize for the victors. "We know how much of an iconic stadium this is, the history that goes behind it," Conan says.
"We want to make sure we're adding to the value as much as we can when we're here, enjoying the experience of playing in the country's biggest stadium."
The Mick O'Dwyer led Wicklow success in 2007 is still etched in Conan's mind. "I think my first ever memory of being at Croke Park was in 2007 for Wicklow's win in the Tommy Murphy Cup, with the late Mick O'Dwyer at the helm," Conan recalls.
"They'd the likes of Leighton Glynn playing, I was here with a few school friends, I'm probably older than I'd like to admit seeing some of the young lads coming into the Academy and stuff. "That was my first experience of Croke Park."
Former Dublin selector Declan Darcy is part of Leinster Rugby's backroom team as performance coach. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
A couple of years later Conan returned for another fondly remembered occasion. "I was back here in 2009 for the Leinster versus Munster semi-final," Conan says.
"I was up on The Hill, which was incredibly special. I remember watching (Brian) O'Driscoll run in the interception in the latter stages of the game.
"So, in more recent teams we've had some great performances and wins here in the last 18 months, whether in the URC against Munster or Northampton and Harlequins in the last year, too."
Former Leitrim and Dublin footballer Declan Darcy is part of Leo Cullen's Leinster Rugby set-up, operating as Performance Coach.
Click here to purchase tickets for Saturday's URC Final at Croke Park.