One may be tempted to quote Othello and Charlie Haughey for that matter when a stalwart, a legendary figure, call them what you want, brings the curtain down on their inter-county career.
"I have done the State some service; they know't. No more of that".
I'm sure Derry fans can relate to the above when reflecting on Chrissy McKaigue's tenure that spanned 15 seasons in the county colours. Last November, the Slaughtneil clubman signalled 'no more of that' as he announced his days wearing the red and white were over. Two Ulster titles, a Division 1 medal and All-Star recognition were the tangible rewards for his efforts.
It's a few days after Derry's draw with Galway in the All-Ireland series and McKaigue is present for the launch of this year's Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championships. He was not short of opinions as to where his county can now navigate to in his absence.
First and foremost, he remains very much involved in the GAA, stressing that he "cares deeply about Derry GAA", perhaps more so now that he's no longer on that inter-county whirl.
"I don't have the time demands that playing for your county places on you now and that I suppose frees me up mentally," he said.
"It was fairly demanding. If I was playing against Dublin (Saturday week in Newry), I'd be starting to think about Dublin the minute the Galway game ended. You don't have that anymore and that is a welcome addition.
"It wasn't a kneejerk reaction for me to retire. I'm happy to admit the transition has been relatively smooth. I know in my gut that I'm happy enough because I can imagine for a lot of people it is more difficult. But for me I'm content and was ready to move on to the next chapter."
McKaigue works as a GAA co-ordinator in St Patrick's College, Maghera, and was a selector when Hogan Cup honours were delivered on St Patrick's Day.
"My life is so deeply embedded in GAA," the 35-year-old remarked.
"I can understand anybody looking on from outside and saying that you are too immersed in one area. I suppose for me it's just who I am and what I am. GAA has always been a huge part of my life."
The Derry senior squad have yet to register a competitive win in 2025. And how close they came to ending that unwanted sequence on Sunday last against the Tribe at Celtic Park, when leading by eight points at one stage in the second half.
Galway would eventually stir themselves. Matthew Tierney's 69th-minute goal - Galway's fourth of an absorbing game - looked to have completed a magnificent comeback. Derry would have the final say, however, with Conor Doherty's point at the death ensuring parity in the Maiden City.
Paddy Tally's men remain in the All-Ireland stakes. A win against the Dubs would absolutely guarantee progression. All of sudden their year could turn, this after a downward spiral that set in after that Division 1 success.
For McKaigue, Derry's GAA house, he believes, is in order. That normally is the foundation where stability and then growth should follow.
"Derry has always had a spread of good underage teams across minor, Under-21s, U20s as it is now, and schools," he commented.
"That's not a guarantee, don't get me wrong, but I've never seen as many clubs in Derry have their house in order. That rivalry and wanting to compete with each other has made each other better, a rising tide and all that. Schools are doing phenomenal work and that should give Derry county teams a really good chance, you would imagine."
It's the next step that can prove the most challenging, with the 2022 All-Star adding: "The most difficult thing is to get senior footballers to transition to elite level and hopefully deliver provincial titles and national titles, be it Division 1 or Sam Maguire.
"Derry are working hard in the background to put structures in place for that because they've had a consistent spread of teams and players coming all at the one time.
"It's exciting for Derry but be under no illusion the hardest thing is to try and get them players from being really good juvenile players to being really good servants at senior level for Derry."
"Derry have to claim that they want to be in contention for Sam Maguire in the next ten years"
Maybe in time we'll see McKaigue the coach, the one voice that players must listen to. Think big is his mantra on where he would like to see Derry reside amongst football's pecking order.
A passion in his voice as he uttered the following: "I say to all the young players at school, don't be afraid of ambition. Bigger counties like Kerry and Dublin are not scared of ambition. Stick your chest out and want to be the best. Don't be arrogant or anything like that, or feel self-entitled. Be ambitious. Derry have to claim that they want to be in contention for Sam Maguire in the next ten years.
"They have to be. What's the point then in doing all the work they've done? There's no guarantee, I know that, but the bottom line is you've got to have your ambitions, you have to dream big.
"Them claims and ambitions can't be based on delusion; I would like to think they are based on logic. Derry should have, theoretically, a chance in the next number of years to do big things. You have a very good senior side at the minute, albeit this year has not been great.
"You look at the age profile of a lot of those Derry players. Conor McCluskey has been out, still a relatively young man; Ethan Doherty is a relatively young man, you have Lachlann Murray and Paul Cassidy. A lot of players there with a lot more to give, and a lot more on the conveyor belt of talent coming through."
Derry's performance against Galway has given supporters hope that better days are coming. There was much on view that delighted one of their loyal servants.
Summing up the contest, McKaigue said: "People walked away from Celtic Park from a Derry perspective disappointed but not as heartbroken as you normally would have been given the nature of the result.
"Even the most ardent, passionate Galway supporter, would say that Galway robbed that draw. It was the manner of Derry's performance, it was the fight, the intensity, the physicality and the togetherness that they brought. Celtic Park was rocking.
"It been a while since Derry supporters had that level of voice behind their team. This Derry team on their day are more than capable of beating anybody but they need to bring that level of performance again. A welcome addition because it has been a difficult number of months in Derry, compounded by a difficult National League and difficult championship to date.
"The opposition that play Derry know they are more than capable."
Highlights of all the weekend's football and hurling championship action on The Sunday Game, 9.30pm RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
