Meet the 52-year-old GAA legend still chasing his All-Ireland dream 

Former Antrim and Irish League goalkeeper Sean McGreevy has no plans to hang up his boots as he prepares to line out for the Saffrons in Saturday’s All-Ireland Masters Shield final against Cavan

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

The famous quote by George Bernard Shaw doesn’t apply to Sean McGreevy. Not yet anyway.

On Saturday morning, he’ll make the near 200-mile round trip to Kingspan Breffni in Cavan to play in an All-Ireland final, aged 52.

Some of his younger teammates are still playing for their club teams. Michael McCann’s availability against Cavan in the All-Ireland Masters Shield final (1pm) hinges on the outcome of Friday night’s Antrim SFC quarter-final meeting between Cargin and Aghagallon.

Yet, the addition of McCann, Paddy Cunningham and Mick Herron to the Antrim Masters has given the team a huge boost and the Saffrons are determined to follow the blueprint of Ulster neighbours Tyrone, who’ll bid for a fifth successive title in the Cup decider against Donegal later on Saturday (3pm).

“We are doing our own bits and pieces and some boys are still involved with their clubs. The boys are in good shape going into the final,” stated McGreevy.

“The squad is so competitive now, if you aren’t in good shape, you are quickly found out.

“I’ve played along with the likes of Paddy Cunningham and Mick McCann. It is great to see a mix of boys I played with in my early days with Antrim and some I played with in my latter years.

“It is a great blend of players – most are 40 to 45. . . with the odd exception!

“We’ve had a good platform built over the last few years and it is only right to give Brian White and Stephen Mulvenna a mention for the work they’ve done building it up. Sean Kelly (former Antrim PRO) has been great as well in getting publicity for the Masters.

“Looking back 10 year ago, sometimes we were going to matches with the bare minimum. People, I think, underestimate the intensity of the masters too – you could have boys injured within 10 or 15 minutes.

“Tyrone have been the benchmark in that regard. They have the numbers and the quality and that’s the level we aspire to.

“Frank Delargy (manager), Paddy Kelly and Carl O’Neill have been great in trying to push people and get the numbers up.”

The former Antrim stalwart regularly played soccer on a Saturday and Gaelic football on a Sunday. He had spells with Donegal Celtic, Cliftonville and Ballyclare.

A native of St Paul’s GAC in west Belfast, he played for Antrim across three decades having made his county Championship debut back in 1993 against the-then All-Ireland champions Donegal in Ballybofey.

He made a brief cameo in the Ulster SFC final loss to Tyrone in 2009 and played in the famous draw against Kieran McGeeney’s Kildare in 2010, but Antrim were well beaten in the replay in what would be his final appearance for Antrim seniors.

He was recalled to the squad in 2013 under Frank Dawson, but didn’t feature during the Championship. He hasn’t hung up the boots just yet.

The Masters has afforded McGreevy the opportunity to extend his playing days into his 50s and he has no plans to stop playing, regardless of how Saturday’s decider in Cavan goes.

“I suppose it is only really when you get to my stage that you appreciate it. The desire to play for your county is still there and it always will be until the point when I physically can’t do it,” said McGreevy.

“It was pointed out to me many years ago that you only appreciate your playing days when you stop playing. You take them for granted quite a bit. I was lucky enough to play competitively since I was 17 – county football and bits and pieces of Irish League football.

“I went between the Gaelic season and the soccer season for 35 years. I rarely would have had a proper holiday or down time – I’d have taken a week here and there.

“I think the big thing you take for granted is the social side of it. The banter when you meet the boys before the game, travelling to matches, a pint in the bar afterwards. . . you get used to that. It is only when you stop playing. . . you are losing what has been a big part of your life for many years. The masters has given us an outlet again.

“There’s always that fear if you step away that next year is the year when everything clicks and you miss it!

“It is difficult for a goalkeeper too – there’s only one position. While I’m still fit and hungry, I’ll keep going. I’ll give it my best for as long as I can. It is a long road when you are totally finished.”

For now, McGreevy is determined to kick that decision on down the road for as long as he can.