Down captain Pierce Laverty and his team-mates with the Tailteann Cup after their final win over Laois at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Like a lot of club footballers, I first played Gaelic at under-six level, and now, at the ripe old age of 31, I like to think I’m in my athletic prime. To be fair, I have set the bar pretty low so it could be possible.
Throughout the majority of that time, I was always a part of a team that competed at the lower levels. Even at Minor and Under-16s we competed in what was then called the B or C League — once I was old enough for adult football, the highest grade I ever played at was Intermediate.