Paul Rouse: Ageing gracefully - Masters football proving to be best in class 

At the core of this matter is how a sports organisation should cater for all of it members who wish to play games. The challenge is always to provide games for players at an appropriate level

Former Mayo footballer Brian Moloney gets his shot in despite the attention of Dublin cornerback Mick Coyne in the All-Ireland Masters semi-final played in St Brigid’s Club, Kiltoom, Co Roscommon, on Saturday, October 16. Picture courtesy of Martin McIntyre, Kilmeena GAA Club

Most people stop playing football too soon in their lives.

The worst examples of this are when children stop; more than half of the players playing Gaelic games at the age of 12 will have stopped by the time they reach 21. This ‘retirement’ is the greatest sadness in sport; much worse than any defeat.