The Cortoon Shamrocks star was resident centre half back on the Galway sides which lost to Offaly, Cork and Dublin in 1971 / 1973 and 1974 respectively.
Michael O'Hehir referred to the Galway centre half back in the high scoring All-Ireland SFC final of 1973 versus Cork.
From a personal point of view I was pleased with my performance in the final but you have to look at the ones you win", states Gilmore who rates Kevin Kilmurray and Tony Hanahoe as two of the best players he encountered.
"When I arrived on the county team the likes of Seamus Leydon, Jim Duggan and Liam Sammon were still there and it was a time during which Galway football was very strong.
Living in Galway city, Gilmore has little active involvement with the national code but had a stint helping out Willie Joyce, Jimmy Duggan, Tomas Heavy and Peter Lee as a selector on the county team between 1986 and 1988.