Enda Smith had no idea that Conor Cox would make such an instant impact with Roscommon.
Kerry import Cox has been one of the outstanding footballers of the summer so far, his performances in the full-forward line playing such an influential role in the Rossies' Connacht title success and qualification for the Super 8s.
The Rossies skipper had played Sigerson football against him on plenty of occasions, when Smith was at DCU and Cox at UCC.
But he wasn't sure what Roscommon were getting when the Listowel man, a three-time Munster and All-Ireland junior title winner - was introduced to the panel by Anthony Cunningham.
"To be honest, no," said Smith. "I knew he was a quality player.
"But him coming into the panel, when you hear he wasn’t playing with Kerry, you wonder will he be a squad player - and will he play at all.
"But he fitted seamlessly into the group. Outside of football he’s a top fellah, and that made a huge difference.
"He came in, was very, very relaxed, and I think his football skills speak for themselves.
"He’s one of the sweetest strikers of the ball, and the frees he’s hit too, he’s done that in the league, so it was no surprise that he’s been doing that in the championship.
"But he’s been a real, real boost for us, and we probably wouldn’t be where we are without him."
Cox showcased his attacking repertoire in the Connacht final comeback against Galway, when the Rossies turned around a hopeless looking situation at half-time in Salthill to claim an important win.
He scored five points to bring his tally in the league and championship since making his debut in February to 1-40 and, in that provincial decider, he hit two points off his left and three off his right side.
"Yeah, ridiculous," smiled Smith.
"He was getting a lot of stick for the one he took from the left alright, because he thought I was on the back post! But he swore to me that he meant it.
"And he kept saying, 'No matter what they say, tell them I meant it'. I’ll hold him to that.
"But he has it in his locker alright. I don’t know if he meant it that time, but he can do it."
Smith is just happy that there was a family connection that brought Cox - whose father is a Roscommon man - to the county, and that Kiltoom-based Anthony Cunningham was brought on board as Kevin McStay's replacement.
With the pair on board, the Rossies are hoping for a better outcome than managed in the inaugural Super 8s but, with Tyrone up first and with Dublin and Cork to come, it will be difficult.
"It’s crazy with Conor, the same with Anthony Cunningham," he said. "It was only after the Connacht final last year that I met Anthony, at that event, and a year later he’s my manager, and we win a Connacht title.
"Same with Conor. I knew there was some Roscommon connection there, I just didn’t know how strong it was.
"He was in with Kerry at the time, and I thought ‘Nah, he’ll never come up with us’.
"Even geography wise, it just seemed a bit mad. But it’s funny to be playing with him now, and it's almost like we know him for years”.
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