Indeed last year Hanrahan started 11 league games to the elder statesman's 13 as the duo battled it out for the fly-half berth.
However, Keatley - who made his Ireland debut back in 2009 - has taken control of the jersey this season, starting 18 GUINNESS PRO12 games and heading to this weekend's final with 176 points to his name.
With one point at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday Keatley, whose form earned him a first international start in almost five years back in February, will confirm himself as the league's most prolific point-scorer this season.
And at the age of 28, the stand-off is only just hitting his peak - with his sights now surely turned to Leinster-bound Jonathan Sexton's Ireland shirt.
Follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to our YouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on the GUINNESS PRO12