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Longest Playing Careers

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Replying To leitrim4sam:  "St Osnatts in Leitrim, who are now disbanded as a club, had a full forward line in a junior championship match with a combined age of 160 years.

In an effort to keep the club afloat, they lined out with a 52, a 53 and a 55 year old as their full forward line. That's take some beating, ( as a record for a champ match, not as in beating them on the field of play!!)"
That's mad, Ted, as Dougal would say. Would you be able to put names and dates to this amazing record?

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2392 - 01/10/2025 00:35:18    2638052

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "Cluxton to be fair had it going for him that he is a goalkeeper. However, I'd say that it easier overall to keep going longer in hurling than in football (dual or ex-dual players can comment on this if any are on here).

Also, the eras make a huge difference. I'd say the inter-county fitness levels when Christy Ring played would be akin to junior B hurling today. You just have to look at pre-1990 videos to realize that. Mind you, there were some great athletes also even back then. Men like Frank Cummins, Denis Coughlan, and Pat Hartigan. That is not to take from Ring's achievement. He was by many accounts a fair detail in his day, although I'd take Donal Og's assessment of him with a grain of salt, as first, they are in some way related and second, they're townies from Cloyne.

As for Viking, it could be Henry next week as the GOAT, or Joe Canning the week after. I doubt that he ever even saw Ring ever play a game. But he is entitled to his opinion and that's allowed.

That is some mileage by Johnny Nevin from Carlow. But I suppose it is easier to keep going for longer at the lower levels. That's just opinion now, not fact. I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Tony Browne of Waterford. Is Canuck on vacation? No, I wouldn't doubt that that man saw Ring play.

I meant the original post for inter-county players without specifying it but am glad now that I didn't as I have heard about some awesome club players as well. Thank you all."
Yes Tony Brown I believe played into his 40's. Funnily enough I think he was better from 30 on. I just seen Christy Ring at the end when he was taking no prisoners. Not that he ever did but I suppose he had to keeping looking over his shoulder in case John Doyle was coming.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3194 - 01/10/2025 02:00:53    2638057

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Nobody mentioned on this thread beats Gilbey Jennings…. Nobody has played a senior hurling county championship hurling and senior football championship on the same day. Nobody other than Gilbert Jennings has won an all-Ireland on the field at 43 years of age, nobody Ring - Glen Rovers/St Nicholas - the Cork dual players - Jimmy Barry Murphy, Ray Cummins, Denis Coughlan , or any of the great Cork dual players equals the Cappataggle player … this man was one of the best cricket players in Ireland, one of the best hockey players in Ireland between 1900 and 1910. He was suspended from the GAA in 1910 by narrow minded Dunmore McHales officials who, beaten on the field, objected to Ballinasloe St Grellans on the basis that Gilbey Jennings played a 'foreign' game - hockey. Dunmore were awarded the title and Gilbey was suspended from the GAA. He returned, won Connacht and all/ Ireland medals and played in goal for Galway against Leitrim in 1928 - at 47 years of age.
He turned out for Cappataggle hurlers - in goal - at 60 years of age in 1942.
… The great Gilbey Jennings …

Blackcoatsoffthefield (Galway) - Posts: 18 - 10/10/2025 00:56:18    2639160

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Talking just playing senior and not dropping down through the grade you'd have to mention the maestro Joe Cooney
- 16 years senior with Galway
- 18 years (maybe more) with the Club

Won everything!

The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 824 - 10/10/2025 11:04:19    2639194

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Mickey Linden made his Down debut in 1981 and played his last game for them in the Ulster final replay in 2003 v Tyrone. Was still knocking over points for Mayobridge reserves 5 or 6 years ago aged 56!!

HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 538 - 10/10/2025 13:23:29    2639224

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Replying To Blackcoatsoffthefield:  "Nobody mentioned on this thread beats Gilbey Jennings…. Nobody has played a senior hurling county championship hurling and senior football championship on the same day. Nobody other than Gilbert Jennings has won an all-Ireland on the field at 43 years of age, nobody Ring - Glen Rovers/St Nicholas - the Cork dual players - Jimmy Barry Murphy, Ray Cummins, Denis Coughlan , or any of the great Cork dual players equals the Cappataggle player … this man was one of the best cricket players in Ireland, one of the best hockey players in Ireland between 1900 and 1910. He was suspended from the GAA in 1910 by narrow minded Dunmore McHales officials who, beaten on the field, objected to Ballinasloe St Grellans on the basis that Gilbey Jennings played a 'foreign' game - hockey. Dunmore were awarded the title and Gilbey was suspended from the GAA. He returned, won Connacht and all/ Ireland medals and played in goal for Galway against Leitrim in 1928 - at 47 years of age.
He turned out for Cappataggle hurlers - in goal - at 60 years of age in 1942.
… The great Gilbey Jennings …"
Lee Chin played championship intercounty football and hurling on the same day.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3996 - 10/10/2025 13:47:09    2639231

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Replying To HandballRef:  "Mickey Linden made his Down debut in 1981 and played his last game for them in the Ulster final replay in 2003 v Tyrone. Was still knocking over points for Mayobridge reserves 5 or 6 years ago aged 56!!"
reserves?

The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 824 - 10/10/2025 15:41:21    2639250

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Replying To The_DOC:  "reserves?"
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/down/linden-proving-age-is-no-barrier-by-starring-for-mayobridge-at-56/38356253.html

And, to the surprise of no one, Linden was on hand to answer an SOS on Sunday night when he lined out in the 'Bridge side in a Reserve Championship tie against Drumaness.

HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 538 - 12/10/2025 12:28:15    2639436

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Mick butler(rathure,wexford)
Think he played senior in goal for rathure at 15,emigrated to London an I played 1 day with him he was 62 or 63 with fr.murphys in london
Was nominated for an all star 1 year hurling for london

edshamrocks (Wexford) - Posts: 401 - 12/10/2025 13:06:16    2639440

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Lee Chin played championship intercounty football and hurling on the same day."
The great Des Foley played in both Railway Cup finals one St. Patrick's Day. Can't remember how many, if any , medals he won that day.

19616609 (Louth) - Posts: 1736 - 16/10/2025 01:53:53    2640225

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