Conor Gormley has lost none of the competitive spirit that set him apart as one of the game’s greatest defenders.
He’s the motivator on a Tyrone Over-40s side chasing a third All-Ireland Masters title in a row.
The treble Sam Maguire Cup winner will line out at centre back in Saturday’s final against Kerry at Kiltoom, Co Roscommon.
And while the pace is slower and the pressure has eased, that winning mentality continues to burn furiously in his heart.
“I think there’s a perception out there that Masters football is just a bit of craic and a bit of a kickaround, but it’s serious stuff, when you see the quality that’s on view,” said Gormley.
This is his third year with the Over-40s, but he’s still playing club football at senior level, and later this month will be part of a Carrickmore squad that embarks on a fresh Tyrone SFC campaign, having reached the final last year.
It’s a hectic schedule, but the masters offers a release, an opportunity to take a convivial, light-hearted approach to Gaelic football while keeping the eye on the prize.
“The panel is brilliant and training is going excellent.
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“I’m enjoying the fun, enjoying the craic every night we go to training. It’s brilliant to be in another final, and we’ll look forward to it as much as we can.
“Everybody enjoys it, it’s great craic, and the standard of football is brilliant.”
The craic may be mighty, but training sessions at Garvaghey are no laughing mater when Damien Leonard’s whistle signals the start of a demanding drills routine, and fitness levels are evidence of the response from the players.
“That’s credit to Damien, who takes the training. he puts us through our paces, with the likes of the 150s and the shuttle runs being done.
“It has paid off, and we’re thankful to him for all the work he has put in on the training side of it.
“We enjoy it, we love going, and hopefully the winning feeling keeps going for another game.”
Gormley is hoping high fitness levels will give the Mick Loftus Cup holders the edge in this weekend’s title decider against the Kingdom.
“You get nothing handy in any final, and Kerry will be a tight battle.
“We’ll concentrate on what we’re doing bell, which is moving the ball quick and playing fast.
“We enjoy doing that, so we’ll hopefully continue that in the final.”
In the semi-final, Dublin were unable to match the style, class and stamina of a Red Hand side on a mission, and 11 points separated the sides at the end of a one-sided Breffni Kingspan Breffni Park encounter.
“We worked hard and it’s great to be in another All-Ireland final, our third final in a row.
“It was a great performance, the boys played exceptionally well, worked very, very hard, and we’ll just look forward to the final, great to be there.
“We got off to a good start, but I think our teamwork and our workrate was exceptional.
“Every man worked their socks off, the men who came in worked their socks off very well.”
