In the end, the decision was simple for John Heslin. Something had to give, and so the curtain came down on a 14-year career as a Westmeath senior footballer.
Since making his debut for the Lake men in 2011, Heslin's prowess in front of the posts has seen him usurp Dessie Dolan as the county's top scorer in championship history. His total over that period reached 5-162, edging him just ahead of Dolan's 4-163.
Heslin, 32, announced his inter-county retirement over the weekend, with a statement from Westmeath GAA saying that "he has been an exemplary ambassador for Gaelic football, engaging with supporters and promoting the game across the county. His professionalism and sportsmanship have earned him the respect of team-mates, opponents, and fans alike."
He outlined: "I've been playing quite a while now and life moves on. With my job I have a global role; I do a lot of travelling. For the last two years I've had to combine the job, the travelling and playing inter-county football.
"For the next six months, I'm going to be in Brazil, New Zealand and the US. I also went back to college, back to UCD, undertaking a part-time Master's with Smurfit. I'm also fitting a bit of farming in and I'm getting married this year," said Hesline, who works as global strategic marketing manager for an agricultural technology company.
Heslin was a great exponent of foot-passing and his accuracy in front of the posts certainly caught the eye, none more so than in the 2015 Leinster semi-final when his tally of 1-09 helped Westmeath to a first-ever victory over Meath in the championship. Silverware came via a couple of Division 3 league titles and a Tailteann Cup medal in 2022.
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His natural ability as a footballer was honed early on.
"I grew up on a farm and I had telephone poles and a net behind the goals on the farm. I had my own pitch and a spotlight for kicking the ball. Kicking was always something I did from a young age."
So, was he tempted then to give it another year and see how his penchant for kicking scores from distance would play out within the new footballing rules?
"It's an easy thing to say that the rules will suit me but it's the right time for me to go," he replied.
"There is a good group of young lads there now with Westmeath and I'm really looking forward to watching them in 2025.
"Of course it was tempting to stay on but I wouldn't be able to give what is required now at inter-county level. Let's not forget I will give them [the new rules] a try with the club, St Lomans'. We're back training soon and I'm looking forward to that.
"I would be putting unrealistic expectations on myself to reach the professional level that is now required. The preparation involved in getting the body right is so different from when I started. It's a lifestyle now. You're an inter-county player every day of the week.
"Last year, I flew into Dublin Airport at 5am on the day that Westmeath played in a league final against Down. The game was fixed for 7pm.
"That is not professional or elite. I might have got away with ten years ago, not really now."
