In the last decade, few inter-county footballers have defined 'incorrigible' as well as Sean Cavanagh. He has had one of the great careers in Gaelic Football, one of the few old guard of 2003 and 2005 to stick around to win this year's Ulster Championship.
Yet nobody can evade the wanton ignorance of time, and at 33, Cavanagh admitted earlier this year that this might be his final in Tyrone colours. On the eve of the Division 2 final, he told Balls.ie that he is considering calling time on his Tyrone career this year:
Oh yeah, for sure. I'd say there's a fair chance. There's no point in me saying any different.
I'm 33 now and like anything in life the injuries start niggle at you a wee bit. I'm lucky enough at the moment that I'm in pretty good shape. It just gets tougher every year with the time commitment and injuries too.
I always had made the promise to myself and to my wife that I wouldn't want to see myself limping to the end either. It's not fair to do that on the team either that it would be come to the stage where you are living on a reputation.
I don't want to be that sort of a person - it's not fair to anyone. I just said to myself as long as I'm fit and healthy and enjoying myself I would do it.
If that proves to be the case, then it proved to be a cruel end in Croke Park, as he was sent off for a second yellow card in Tyrone's agonising one-point defeat to Mayo in today's All-Ireland quarter-final.
The red card decision was mired in controversy.
Cavanagh picked up his first yellow card having become embrolied in a fracas with Lee Keegan before the ball was thrown in for the second-half:
The second came 15 minutes from time, for a high tackle on Aidan O'Shea:
Talk of Cavanagh cut ice online:
Hope that's not the way it ends for Sean Cavanagh. Would be cruel on one of the greatest we've seen
— Cahair O'Kane (@CahairOKane1) August 6, 2016
I'd love to know what Sean cavanagh first yellow was for? Being targeted?
— Eamonn McGovern (@EamonnMcGovern) August 6, 2016
Well done Maigh Eó! Aidan O Shea my man of the match. Seán Cavanagh a great athelete, Gael & mighty futballer.
— Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) August 6, 2016
Touch of class from Andy Moran. After he was taken off Moran went over to shake hands with Sean Cavanagh, who is sitting on the sideline.
— Gordon Manning (@Gordon_Manning) August 6, 2016
If this is Sean Cavanagh's last game in a Tyrone shirt it's a sad way to end such a sterling career. One of very best players of the era!
— Peter McNamara (@PeterMcNamara_) August 6, 2016
Feel sorry for Sean Cavanagh.. Ref got it right by the book but tough all the same!. #CaptainCav #MAYvTYR
— Liam Gaffney (@gaffneylg) August 6, 2016
We can only hope this is not the end.
