Denis Bastick's inter-county football career was a curious one. His time in a senior Dublin jersey began in 2005. Though, it would be four years later, at the age of 28, when he made his Championship debut.
Playing under three Dublin managers - Pillar Caffrey, Pat Gilroy and Jim Gavin - Bastick would win five All-Ireland medals. It was a remarkable feat considering the late start to his time as a Championship footballer. It seems unlikely that Bastick's achievements will be replicated any time in the near future.
Speaking to Dermot Crowe in the Sunday Independent, Bastick - who works as Head of Business Development for EBS - expressed some worries about the future of Gaelic games and the decisions which many players are making in hope of building an inter-county career.
I think it will be students and teachers. I can see people making decisions based on football and GAA rather than their life. It is a short period of time. It's dangerous, too. It has happened where people are going into courses that suit their playing careers. That's not sustainable. I am not sure where that ends. But you can't take away someone's desire to play for Dublin. What they're willing to go through is unbelievable.
During the week, Monaghan footballer Conor McManus said - while relating the requirement for an inter-county footballer to have a flexible employer - that he believes the inter-county system is just about sustainable as it stands. If any further time demands were required of players, he thinks the games would have to become professional.
