Championship football came late for Denis Bastick.
The Templeogue Synge Street player was 28 when he made his All-Ireland Championship debut against Meath in 2009.
On that June day, Pat Gilroy named Bastick at fullback. It has since become more usual for him to play at midfield for the Dubs.
Despite the delayed introduction, Bastick has since won three All-Ireland medals - 2011, 2013 and 2015 - and he's still hungry for more.
Before this year's Championship gets underway for Dublin, Bastick's age will have turned another year. He's 35 in just three weeks' time.
Bastick was at Croke Park on Monday ahead of Dublin's Division One final clash with Kerry on Sunday. Quoted by the Irish Sun, he explained his rationale for continuing his inter-county career.
Greed! Like, why does any sportsperson, why do Kilkenny stay coming back and winning?
It doesn’t get any less appealing to win an All-Ireland, that hunger, that’s always there. That stays there.
Maybe it was the right time, starting an All-Ireland final last year and winning, to step away. Maybe that was the right time to go but for me at the moment, I’m enjoying playing football, I’m enjoying playing on the team, being involved in that group, it’s a special place. It’s a great place to be.
In the pursuit of that fourth All-Ireland in six years for Dublin, Bastick also believes he can be a contributor, not just a bystander.
Alan Brogan was playing minor and Under-21 football whereas my Championship debut was at 28 and I won my first All-Ireland at 30.
It’s different for me, my career was later on.
But there was no convincing from anybody. It was my own decision. I had to weigh up what was right for me. It was a case of do I have something to contribute to the team? That was the biggest question for me.
Can I add something? Can I add value to the team and the group? I felt I could and that’s why I’m still here.
Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
