The draw for next year's Connacht Championship convinced Sligo’s Eamonn O'Hara to continue on at inter-county level for another season.
Sligo were defeated by Galway at the semi-final stage of this year's Connacht SFC before going out to eventual All-Ireland winners Kerry and it was after that loss that O'Hara began to contemplate his future.
The midfielder admits he was close to announcing his retirement from the senior panel, but the prospect of facing Mayo proved too great for the midfielder.
"Playing at the top level has not got any easier for me as I have got older and it was very tough for me at times last season," O'Hara told the Irish News Of The World.
"Kevin Walsh took over as manager before it began and the training became more intense, which I found difficult.
"But towards the end of the National League, I started to enjoy myself more and I was quite happy with how things were going for me.
"But after the Championship I took time to weigh up my situation and whether I would be prepared to continue with Sligo. The draw for next year's Championship whet my appetite and I made up my mind to give it a go again. We will have it all to do against Mayo, who are the holders, but we will have home advantage and will hope the cause a shock."