Cavan's long-serving dynamo not only espouses the kind of enthusiasm that would do justice to someone half his age but has never lost the yearning to add a second Ulster Championship medal to the one he collected in 1997 - the last time Cavan won the provincial title.

A manager with Quinn Direct Insurance, Forde has toiled at the coal face for the Breffni county for well over a decade and sees Sunday's clash with Armagh as a defining match for the current side.

"It's a big one in many respects, no doubt about that," asserts Forde, "This game will show us where we are. We need a win, it's as simple as that."

Jason O'Reilly (33) and Dermot McCabe (32) join Forde in the Cavan version of Dad's Army but when they go on manoeuvres on Sunday, Armagh will require to erect the barricades.

The trio are more than familiar with the orchard county psyche having engaged in trench warfare more than once since they first donned the famous blue jersey.

"The fact that we have home advantage is a help but really in championship terms it sometimes does not matter where you are playing. The performance is everything," maintains Forde who will be at centre-half-back on Sunday having featured in a variety of positions for his club Cavan Gaels and his county.

While McCabe has provided physical strength and ball-winning capacity and Reilly has long enjoyed a reputation as a goal-scorer supreme, Forde brings an earthy industry and impetus to the Cavan line-up.

His economical, no-nonsense approach has marked him down as one of the most consistent performers on the Ulster stage for more years than he might care to remember.

But another Ulster championship medal is still very much a prime goal for a player who is renowned for his physical fitness, sportsmanship and general demeanour.

"While it's about enjoyment, it's also about trying to win things. Everyone likes to be viewed as a winner and I'm no different. We got it tough against Antrim in the first-half and then we finished the match strongly. But against Armagh we will need to get into our stride early and try and keep on top if we can.

"You cannot afford to let any team off the leash in the championship or you could find yourself chasing the game from an early stage," says Forde.