"Age is only a number on a birth cert", said the late Jimmy Magee.
And while the renowned broadcaster was referring to callowness making its mark on the big stage, the quote could also describe those in the 'veteran' grade still being a driving force.
Paul Finlay fits into the latter category.
At the age of 39, he was on the field of play as his club, Ballybay Pearse Brothers, won the Monaghan SFC title, when defeating Scotstown in the decider. And so ten years on from captaining the Ballybay to Farney glory, the attacker is still in the thick of it, kicking a point from a free as the club landed a ninth title.
Finlay didn't lick it off a stone. His late father Kieran 'Jap' Finlay was a key member of the Monaghan side through the 1970s and 1980s, winning two Ulster titles in 1979 and 1985. Kieran passed way in 2012, months before his son collected the Mick Duffy Cup. In 2013 and '15, Paul would emulate his dad in being on teams that would bring the Anglo Celt home. Fourteen years in the blue and white of Monaghan; 22 years and counting in the maroon and white of Ballybay.
On Saturday next, Finlay and his team-mates will take on Ulster's tried and trusted, Crossmaglen Rangers, in the preliminary round of the Ulster club.
Since 2012, Ballybay have come close to adding to their county haul and were beated finalists in 2018 and 2020. Finlay was not deterred.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport at an event to mark AIB's 32nd year sponsoring the GAA All-Ireland club championship, he said: "That's what we do in the GAA; we keep coming back.
"We're gluttons for punishment if you like. If you feel you're in good enough shape and everything is right for you - family wise, work wise and in terms of where you're at as a player, that's just what you do. You throw your lot in with the local club."
"For Ballybay to come again this year and deliver a performance on final day was hugely pleasing and a huge sense of relief"
The win over Scotstown was a result of the hard work put in by the "small club", as they stopped their opponents from completing a hat-trick of titles.
"It was brilliant for Ballybay to get over the line in the county final. We had a few tough defeats over the last ten years in semi-finals and finals. We kept coming back, knocking on the door and we found a way to come up with the goods. You would have to give credit to Scotstown over the last ten years and they were going for three-in-a-row this year.
"They were really good; some people will say they had something on Ballybay. They have real quality, even their lesser-known players were having an impact on how the team played. For Ballybay to come again this year and deliver a performance on final day was hugely pleasing and a huge sense of relief.
"We have a hugely committed group of players that want to do well and want to committ. That's what we do, year in, year out, and it's really pleasing that we were able to come good this year and get over the line. County finals aren't easily won. It was great for our club and great for our community to experience that winning feeling on 16 October. We certainly enjoyed the moments after the game and we certainly celebrated back at the club."
Every Senior Championship Winning Captain: Paddy McKearney (1953,54, 57 &59), Sean McKearney 1969, Jim O'Hanlon 1962, Eoin McKearney 2022, Paul Finlay 2012, John Joe McKearney 1987. #ballybaypearsebrothers pic.twitter.com/FC9ISqYCAF
— Ballybay PearseBro's (@PearseBrothers) October 17, 2022
An image from the day that also stood out, was one where every senior championship winning captain that the club has ever produced, was captured.
"It was a special moment to gather on the pitch with some of the great players from old," Finlay remarked.
"The two McKearney brothers, Paddy and Sean; Paddy's son John Joe and John Joe's son Eoin, who captained the team this year; and then there was myself and Jim O'Hanlon, who captained the team in '62. I'll be looking for a copy of that photo and I will hold it in high regard."
When asked how he's still able to play at the level required to win a county title that in his words is not "easily won", Finlay highlighted a career that has been, in the main, injury-free so far, and a life balance that works in his favour.
"There's a lot of factors at play to be honest with you, like I believe that home life and family life needs to be right, especially if you have kids, which I do at home.
"My wife is always supporting me all of the time, wanting me to keep playing, wanting me to do what keeps me happy, keeps me fit and healthy; that's a big part of it.
"Your work, wherever that is happening, that has to be right. If you have a massive commute, that gets tougher and tougher every year, so that's another thing.
"There's a lot to be said about sports science and looking after yourself. I don't delve too far into that personally. I know that down through the years that you have to keep yourself ticking over, keep yourself in as good a shape as possible, and not step away from the game for too long.
"There's always a fear in the back of my head that I wouldn't have the fitness levels to get back. If you can tick all the boxes it gives you an opportunity to keep going. In terms of injury, I haven't had anything too severe that has curtailed me and forced me to take a break from the game.
"We want to give a good account of ourselves; you never go out trying to do anything but that"
"You have to be mindful that you can't do everything that the group is doing, but you would want to do as much as you possibly can. I would dabble in a bit of S&C and do a lot of more yoga-like exercises. Never step away during the winter, keep a little bit of running up."
And so to the next engagement at the Athletic Grounds. A chance to make an impression beyond the county boundaries.
Finlay knows Crossmaglen are a step up, but he and his colleagues are determined to give it a right go.
"We want to give a good account of ourselves; you never go out trying to do anything but that. We all know what Crossmaglen have in their locker in terms of tradition and experience at this level. It's a huge task that awaits Ballybay this weekend.
"All we can do is prepare as best we can and deliver a performance. We know we're capable of that and we'll see where that gets us."
Watch Crossmaglen Rangers v Ballybay in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship preliminary round on Saturday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
