Kildare's long-serving half back Anthony Rainbow is looking forward to his 17th year of senior inter-county championship action. The evergreen Suncroft clubman has the distinction of being the GAA's longest-serving inter-county footballer, having made his senior championship debut for the Lilywhites in 1992. Rainbow arrived on the championship scene 12 months ahead of Meath's Graham Geraghty and Armagh's Paul McGrane, with Kerry's Darragh O Se and Eamonn O'Hara making their championship bows the following year. James Nallen (Mayo), Jason Sherlock (Dublin), Martin Flanagan (Westmeath) and the Cavan duo of Dermot McCabe and Anthony Forde were handed their championship debuts in 1995. Rainbow attributes his longevity to the fact that he has had very few injuries and isn't prone to putting on weight. "My father Christy wouldn't have put on a pound in 20 years. I'd be much the same. I look after my diet but I would be partial to the odd cream bun," he said. The 36-year-old added: "I'd train often. That side of football I have never grown tired of." Tweet

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