By Michael McMullan

IT’S impossible not be impressed by Donaghmoyne and Monaghan legend Amanda Finnegan.

As far as sports stars go, the 37-year-old mother of four is an inspiration. A walking example of excellence.

Despite having a collection of honours that would furnish a generous sized corner in the Croke Park’s GAA museum, she speaks with total modesty.

She played midfield on the club’s senior team at the age of 14 and went on to win 19 senior county championships, 12 Ulster titles and five All-Ireland titles. She also won an Ulster junior and intermediate success in the early years, and an All-Ireland Club Sevens title.

During her 10-year Monaghan career, she won six Ulster titles, a National League – defeating Cork in 2012 – and reached three All-Ireland Finals, losing all three to the all-conquering Rebels.

At inter-provincial level, she won three titles. She was an All-Star in 2008 and nominated five times in all.

“It is mad when you look at it,” Amanda replies to the suggestion of 19 senior titles in a row.

Emyvale took them to a replay and they needed extra-time to see off Emmet Óg in this year’s decider. After a commanding win over Donegal champions Glenfin, they face Carrickmore in the Ulster semi-final on Sunday.

“We were junior and we were getting hammered,” Amanda recalls of the early days.

With a crop of players, who are still playing, coming on board they moved up the grades and are one of Ireland’s greatest success stories.

Amanda has played a part in all 19 seasons. She missed three of the county finals due to pregnancy, but returned to contribute to their All-Ireland bids.

“For one of them, I played when I was 11 weeks pregnant, which I would never do again,” she reveals.

The Donaghmoyne longevity stems from the fusion of hunger and love.

“We just love it,” Amanda begins. Football is part of their DNA.

“It doesn’t happen too often, to have a group of players that all came through at the one time and the dedication and it has been unbelievable, year in and year out.”

Winning helps, but with a conveyor belt of talent coming every year, it drives up the standards.

“You never want to give up your spot on the field and it pushes you on too,” Amanda continues. “What has happened is that we’ve won an All-Ireland and lost a few. We want back there. The eyes are always on the bigger prize and it probably shouldn’t, but you want to win as much as you can when you are at the top, you want to keep winning.”

Another factor is the eyes watching over them. Francie Coleman started the club, taught them the basics and is still steering the ship.

“He is just a great man. He has put so much effort and dedication into it, to come back every year,” Amanda adds.

She went back for a ‘brief stint’ with Monaghan this year after seven years away from the inter-county scene.

“I forgot how tough it was,” she admits and ‘definitely’ won’t be back next season.

“It was nice to go back for those few months and to see all the girls. I ever said I was finished county.”

The birth of her and Pete’s three youngest children left county football as one spinning plate too many.

Amanda is a fitness instructor and before our interview, she was teaching a Pilates bootcamp. It’s something that has prolonged her career, fending off a sore back and the bumps and bruises of her all-action performances.

“Only for that I would be finished years ago,” she admits. “I could always keep playing, but I’d be sore.

“Then I began to teach Pilates and it made all the difference. It should be compulsory in GAA for every person. It keeps you so strong and I am glad I found that, it keeps me right.”

Emmet Óg and Castleblayney are among those gunning for their county title in a local championship that is beginning to get stronger.

“Obviously, everybody wants to see Donaghmoyne beaten after winning for so long, there are teams who are pushing us to the limit now,” Amanda adds.

With Glenfin out of the way in a more one-sided quarter-final than expected, Carrickmore stand in the way of a staggering 17th consecutive Ulster decider.

It was Amanda’s early goal that put Donaghmoyne on their way to a 1-14 to 2-3 win over Carmen in the 2006 final. The two teams last met in 2013 when Carrickmore won.

“We don’t know much about them so it is hard to prepare for a game when you don’t know much about them,” she said. “Tyrone are always strong every year. It doesn’t matter what team comes out of Tyrone; we know it is going to be tough. If they’ve beaten Macartan’s, they are up and coming again.”

An intriguing clash awaits.

SUPERMUM… Donaghmoyne’s Amanda Finnegan