The 38-year-old is still driven, determined and hungry just like he was back in 2005 when he made his debut for Derrygonnelly at senior level.

Married to Colleen, with 3 kids together, Tadhg, Fiadh and Sadhbh – the modest Jones knows days like this coming Sunday won’t be around forever.

“Its great being in another final but look we are in the same boat as Erne Gaels, they too are coming in hungry for more titles and come Sunday its on the pitch and what you can do for the team.”

The vastly experienced defender turns 39 on Tuesday October 27 just two days after the final, and will know what quality Erne Gaels will bring to Brewster Park.

He said: They have shown us this season alone how good they are, they were all over us in the Group game and look last season they got the better of us so they are the form team and its up to us to try to figure out how to stop them.”

Jones is relishing playing football, working as a plasterer with his own business also brings plenty of workload but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Football has probably changed a good bit since 2005 when I started out at senior level, the game has gone very similar to county standard with things like lifestyle, nutrition, recovery and types of training at times.

It's just not pitch sessions now but it’s not a complicated process but some simple disciplined habits completed over a long period.”

The Derrygonnelly ace also had a fine county career with Fermanagh and played under five different Erne managers in John O’Neill, Peter Canavan, Malachy O’Rourke, Rory Gallagher and Pete McGrath.

He also has a Railway Cup medal with Ulster from 2016 and along with those eight Fermanagh SFC medals he can also throw into the mix seven Division 1 League medals.

So for Derrygonnelly making a tenth County Final in just 12 years what does Jones put it down to:

“Its just a will to win every single game we go out to play in, work hard, train hard, listen to what is expected of you and try to give everything in the match, either that be keep tight to a man, carry the ball at the right time and try to do as much as you can to help the team win.”

Erne Gaels will come into Sunday’s game as favourites and Jones feels Derrygonnelly will have to massively improve form the Semi Final victory over Belnaleck,

“We probably have been slow to get going, we had three-point wins over Lisnaskea and Irvinestown, while we were never at the races in the final group game against Erne Gaels.”

He continued:

“Against Enniskillen we were nearly gone but the younger lads really stood up in that game and that’s exactly what you want to see, younger lads coming on and pushing you on and they have made training brilliant as they are always giving you new tests in training.”

So, when he turns 39 this coming Tuesday has Jones any thoughts on hanging up his boots yet?

“It was pointed out to me that you only appreciate your playing days when you stop playing.

" You take them for granted quite a bit. I was lucky enough to play competitively since I was 17 for Derrygonnelly and to be honest I am still enjoying it, so I am very much happy to keep pushing on and trying to improve the team.”

He continued: “I think the big thing you take for granted is the social side of it.

"The banter when you meet the boys before the game, travelling to matches, you get used to that. It is only when you stop playing, you are losing what has been a big part of your life for many years."

Michael Jones is determined to add another Senior medal to his haul and who would bet against him.