Another June in Clones and Donegal forward Manus Boyle finds himself polishing the boots once more. Next Sunday's Ulster championship match against Cavan will be the Killybegs man's first full start for the county since this time last year, when a tipped Donegal side fell to . . . Cavan.
After that match, after shaking hands with Martin McHugh, his old team-mate swathed in ecstatic Cavan men, he didn't know if he'd be back at all.
"To be honest, its unlikely that I would have come back had it not been for Declan (Bonner) being manager. Declan and I obviously go back a long way, we are tremendous friends and I agreed to give it another year when he took over".
Boyle formally returned to the panel after Christmas, along with club mate Barry McGowan, but his re-integration was far from seamless.
"Few people seem to realise this but I was struck with a viral illness of the stomach just after I came back which effectively sidelined me for three months. I went training the odd night to be part of the squad but never was I under consideration for a place. I was visiting hospital the whole time".
"Then, in March I got suspended for two bookables," he continues, laughing at the timing, "so the first game I could have played was against Offaly."
He did make an appearance in the second half of that league semi-final but was constrained to a brief cameo at the end of the Antrim championship match.
"Well, I was disappointed that I didn't get called for the Antrim game but it's understandable that Declan kept faith with the lads who were there throughout the National League. Its just fair. That said, we didn't play well against Antrim and Declan let it be known that there were places there. I'm in reasonable shape and I showed alright form at training and in a recent challenge and I suppose they took that into account'.
Six quick summers have passed since 1992. Boyle's star peaked with an irresistible All-Ireland final virtuoso, when he nailed nine points against Dublin. But since then, Donegal's championship years have mostly been let downs, save a stunning win against Down in 1995 and a noble loss to the same side a year later.
Last year, he was one of seven Donegal players with All-Ireland medals who lined out in a doomed attempt at one last run. A young, spirited Cavan side crushed them and an era, they said, had closed.
"Maybe some lads who played in 1992 finished up prematurely. But Declan has done really well to bring in the new lads, people like in Shane Carr and Brian Roper, who will be a major force in a few years. That I am, at 31, the oldest player on this team, says something."
For Donegal people, it's as though Manus has been around for ever. He made his debut in 1987 against Armagh and became required material there after. There is something inevitable, about the re-appearance of his name on the teamsheet now that the fare in Ulster has grown solemn.
"I've been around for a while all right but the buzz is still there. This is a great panel of lads. Declan was one of the real characters back in his playing days, along with the likes of Reid and Joyce McMullan. He has a good way of communicating with people. It's the main reason I'm back. It probably won't be too long before I pack it in, to be honest. I Just hope it goes well on Sunday now."
