‘Basking in the evening sun, mingling with family, friends and supporters, I could have stayed forever’

Former Irish Examiner

Ulster champions 2013! I have to keep reminding myself of that during the past week so to counter an overpowering sense of disappointment I can’t shake following Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Tyrone. Obviously it will pass with time, as it has for all previous defeats but thankfully this year, unlike most of the 13 seasons playing senior, I can look back with an overwhelming sense of satisfaction on what Monaghan achieved.

Writing in this paper over the past few years, I have always been conscious of the reader, many of whom may have watched their county win numerous provincial and All-Ireland titles in both codes.