Enjoyable thread over on my county page. Posters and their playing days. One poster dumptruck1 played in five different counties!

I was never much good.

wex (Wexford) - Posts: 10 - 15/01/2020 21:07:56    2260086

I played up the minor, was fairly successful too, we dominated the Duhallow Championship, but we're never good enough to win county, made the final once

DuhallowRed (Cork) - Posts: 267 - 16/01/2020 17:23:18    2260268

I played up til U-21, left the country then for work/life reasons. Was lucky to be an average player in a very good side that won county/Connacht championship medals almost all the way through the grades.

Have been playing football, hurling and handball in continental Europe for the past decade. Never in my life did I expect to be hitting a ball in Brussels or Berlin! Or indeed playing with or against fellas from Germany, France, Italy or Spain. It's amazing how others perceive our sports.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 17/01/2020 10:22:12    2260400

My dad formed a team in Northampton when he emigrated in 1959. He told me that 90% of lads coming over from Ireland all played county minor! Why? Because you couldn't trace county minor in those days.

FootblockREF (Monaghan) - Posts: 563 - 17/01/2020 11:12:21    2260415

Played for my club at adult level since 1999 until last year. In latter years I've only made cameo appearances when the club needed players due to injuries, suspensions, emigration etc. I might even get roped in at some point this year too, who knows! Be nice to say I've played in 4 different decades!

Lucky enough to win junior and intermediate Donegal championships. Closest I got to county was a few u21 challenge matches before being cut from the final panel!

My advice to anyone still playing - play as long as you can. The commitment is bigger nowadays for sure but you'll be a long time with more pressing responsibilities between work and kids. Enjoy it while you can!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9116 - 17/01/2020 11:14:47    2260416

I started playing senior in or around 2002 I think and played senior this year too but haven't been consistently senior all throughout due to injury, family commitments, lack of interest, lack of form, a couple of seasons playing soccer etc.

We had great success early on but not so much after the first 4 seasons!

I'm giving senior hurling another year this year and plan to play for as long as I can at whatever level. We'll all miss it when it is gone.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13705 - 17/01/2020 12:13:58    2260431

Agreed.

Went back training recently after a heavy enough Christmas and am finding the going tough, but most of us will have 30-40 years in the stands after we finish playing, best to make the most of it.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 17/01/2020 13:58:47    2260454

Won a county minor and u-21 title before life took over...colleg/work/drink/women....etc etc....like most. Still Involved with club and play junior sometimes ;)

I believe the drop off rate after minor is huge.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 17/01/2020 14:52:47    2260466

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13705 - 17/01/2020 15:13:37    2260471

FootblockREF (Monaghan) - Posts: 563 - 17/01/2020 15:17:38    2260473

A little bit in secondary and for a little football for Salthill/Knocknacarra right when that team started and the only place we had to train was a boggy field at Knocknacarra Cross. Then a long hiatus before I found myself picking up a hurl again here in Portland, in the US where both codes have found fertile soil, particularly the hurling. The club has one of the better hurling teams in the Pacific Northwest, and is made up almost entirely of Yanks. Some craic.

festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3097 - 18/01/2020 23:05:13    2260688

Yep.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 19/01/2020 11:46:00    2260722

I played with the better half last night. Does that count?

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 19/01/2020 15:13:08    2260764

catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 19/01/2020 17:50:45    2260821

catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 19/01/2020 17:50:45    2260822

Lucky enough to have played club and county since mid 90s - club success at minor- u21-junior- intermediate and senior championships , not so lucky at county level but memories I'll never forget- still pull a helmet on if needed with the juniors - long time looking over the wire .

Jab.Lift (Down) - Posts: 143 - 20/01/2020 18:43:08    2261169

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4317 - 20/01/2020 21:14:42    2261212