After playing 13 seasons with Longford, Mickey Quinn is enjoying the first few weeks of his inter-county retirement.
The 34-year-old played 139 times for the Longford seniors and also represented Ireland against Australia in the International Rules Series.
He joined the AFL and played for Essendon for three years, from 2008 to 2011, and when he returned home he played for the county seniors for the first time in 2012.
"Reflecting back, they were great days," he said. "We had a cohort around that time and we won Division 3, got to win that final in Croke Park and got to play in Division 2 the next year.
"You are thinking: ‘this is great – it will be like this all the time' – but it wasn't."
2012 also saw him receive an All-Star nomination that year, but despite the subsequent seasons not offering the same rewards, Quinn proceeded to give his all to the cause until retiring a few weeks ago.
At the moment the GAA world is alive with discussions about Mickey Harte linking up with Offaly. Stalwart Nigel Dunne has already stated that there will be 100% buy-in from every player in the county because of the news.
That is one of the biggest challenges facing teams in Division 3 and 4 face, Quinn suggests. And there are several more.
"The highlights for me came in the first year I was involved, we did well and you feel that’s the norm now, every year will be like that.
"But the reality with sport is that it doesn’t work like that. We went back to Division 3 and then Division 4.
"I was lucky that with the club side of things, we (Killoe Emmet Og) were consistent through all of it.
"But with the county we never got to lift a trophy in Croke Park, we never got to do that again. You were not in it expecting to win an All-Ireland, but we had our moments, like beating Monaghan in the qualifiers one season (2016).
"But I suppose with the Tailteann Cup we didn’t have the progress we would have wanted and that has to be the focus for a county like Longford going forward - where does the like of a Longford benefit from the Tailteann Cup?"
Quinn highlights the challenges involved.
"There was excitement with the Tailteann Cup but you have to place a heavy focus on the league too and it is hard trying to peak and go again.
"You are dealing with a gap there and maybe counties need to look at sectioning off their seasons better.
"Another challenge for Division 3 and 4 counties is that if you are going for success in that competition everyone has to be heading in the one direction.
"We have a poor record in the Tailteann, winning one game out of maybe six or seven.
"Progress-wise, player retention is key. The turnover of players in some counties is too high and how do you stop that?
"Players have to look at this too and understand that to get the max reward it probably means buying into something on a two- to four-year basis. It’s not duck in and duck out. It takes time to improve.
"The age profile of inter-county players is dropping so we have to make it appealing for younger players who are hitting prime to stay and make sure everyone can push on and that they are around to be leaders on the team."
Quinn also keeps an eye on the Irish players heading to Australia to make their way in the AFL and AFLW.
AFL clubs have established steady scouting of young Irish male footballers who could make the transition and last year a record 33 Irish female players signed up for the AFLW season.
Quinn is no stranger to looking out for players who have come back and helping them with how that transition works.
He recently opened his own coaching operation.
"That transition could be made better for everyone," he says.
"I would like to see more of a focus on the transition back if and when Irish players do come home.
"That focus hasn’t really been that predominant with some players coming back with injuries and not thriving with their own county when they return.
"Conor Glass is probably the highlight of the whole lot with what he did when he came home.
"But players need someone who has their best interest at heart. Clubs do look out for players but at the end of day it is a business and if you are not delivering then you are of no use to a club then.
"It’s an area I am really interested in."
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