|
Has any player had a playing career at inter-county level longer than the great Stephen Cluxton: 2001-2025? No players spring to mind.
foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2377 - 12/09/2025 18:21:20
2635912
Link
1
|
|
Replying To foreveryoung: "Has any player had a playing career at inter-county level longer than the great Stephen Cluxton: 2001-2025? No players spring to mind." Christy Ring. 1939 - 61.
BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3708 - 12/09/2025 22:56:57
2635929
Link
0
|
|
Christy ring matches him 39 to 63 not sure if anyone surpasses that
Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1720 - 12/09/2025 23:07:53
2635932
Link
0
|
|
Christy Ring, 1939 to 1963, immediately springs to mind. And strictly speaking, he even outdoes Cluxton.
Ring played for Cork every single year from '39 to '62, before being an unused sub in the '63 championship. Cluxton sat out two years for Dublin. So Ring actually played inter-county in 24 different years, while Cluxon "only" played in 23 years.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3101 - 13/09/2025 01:24:35
2635943
Link
0
|
|
Replying To foreveryoung: "Has any player had a playing career at inter-county level longer than the great Stephen Cluxton: 2001-2025? No players spring to mind." Christy Ring was 1st picked at minor in 1937, Senior in 1939, and played Senior until 1963. I know it's only subjective but in my view the greatest player ever.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17060 - 13/09/2025 10:10:58
2635952
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Viking66: "Christy Ring was 1st picked at minor in 1937, Senior in 1939, and played Senior until 1963. I know it's only subjective but in my view the greatest player ever." Wasn't there even talk of bringing him back for 1966 final to beat Doyle and get a ninth!
He was still hurling with the Glen at time so not as mad as it sounds. Doubt he'd have accepted being a sub on that basis.
BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3708 - 13/09/2025 12:10:49
2635963
Link
0
|
|
Replying To BarneyGrant: "Wasn't there even talk of bringing him back for 1966 final to beat Doyle and get a ninth!
He was still hurling with the Glen at time so not as mad as it sounds. Doubt he'd have accepted being a sub on that basis." There was! Think he played for Glen til his mid 40s!
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17060 - 13/09/2025 12:35:06
2635965
Link
0
|
|
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!!)
leitrim4sam (Leitrim) - Posts: 704 - 13/09/2025 17:32:52
2636008
Link
2
|
|
Wicklow's Eamonn Murray, born 1933 played for and won maximum honors on the field of play with Kilmacoo, Avoca, Wicklow and London. He played in goals for Kilmacoo in a championship match aged 14, so his senior status started in 1947.
He retired in 1995 aged 62, however he was coaxed out of retirement the following year to line out for Avoca in a semifinal which her did, he scored 10 points 6 of which were from play.
His sporting legacy is likely not to be equalled, so I suggest read his profile.
supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3269 - 13/09/2025 22:12:30
2636039
Link
0
|
|
Longest actual playing career I've ever heard of was a guy called Mickey Foley who played in goal for Rathnure (hurling) here in Wexford.
According to the club history, he first played senior in 1957 at the age of 17, and then lined out in some grade every single year until 1997, when he finished up in Junior 'B' just before his 58th birthday. Won nine county senior hurling medals along the way between 1961 and 1980, and in three of those years, went on to win a Leinster Senior Club medal as well.
I've heard it said he stood back in goal for the Junior 'B' team again one day they were stuck a few years later, when he was 62 or 63 years old, but I don't know if that's true or not. Either way, it was some going.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3101 - 13/09/2025 22:20:38
2636040
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Pikeman96: "Longest actual playing career I've ever heard of was a guy called Mickey Foley who played in goal for Rathnure (hurling) here in Wexford.
According to the club history, he first played senior in 1957 at the age of 17, and then lined out in some grade every single year until 1997, when he finished up in Junior 'B' just before his 58th birthday. Won nine county senior hurling medals along the way between 1961 and 1980, and in three of those years, went on to win a Leinster Senior Club medal as well.
I've heard it said he stood back in goal for the Junior 'B' team again one day they were stuck a few years later, when he was 62 or 63 years old, but I don't know if that's true or not. Either way, it was some going." Archie scallan played for the harriers juniors possibly last year. I think he's 63
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3924 - 14/09/2025 09:31:45
2636055
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Doylerwex: "Archie scallan played for the harriers juniors possibly last year. I think he's 63" Definitely not 63, not sure his age but I guess 57
Lockerroomboy (Wexford) - Posts: 496 - 14/09/2025 19:57:09
2636142
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Doylerwex: "Archie scallan played for the harriers juniors possibly last year. I think he's 63" I think you're being unkind to Archie there as regards his age :)
Story here from 2017 tells how he played senior at the age of 46 that year:
https://wexfordweekly.com/2017/05/07/46-year-old-lines-out-in-wexford-senior-hurling-championship/sport/
link
That would make him 54 now, or 53 last year....a full decade younger than what you claim.
Either way, big difference would be that Mickey Foley played every single year. However, the Eamonn Murray from Wicklow that's mentioned in the post above mine outdoes even Foley. I hadn't heard of that Murray man before.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3101 - 14/09/2025 20:10:31
2636145
Link
0
|
|
I think from a county perspective Johnny Nevin of Carlow appearances would be hard matched. He played 331 times at senior level for the county (national league, championship, Kehoe cup, O'Byrne cup etc - no challenges!!) across both codes. I don't know if there's anyone with those sort of figures?
old yellar (None) - Posts: 2637 - 14/09/2025 20:58:24
2636152
Link
0
|
|
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.
foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2377 - 15/09/2025 17:39:23
2636329
Link
0
|
|
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." I saw Henry and Joe play numerous times, though you are right I didnt see Christy Ring play. You didn't specify whether it was someone Id actually have to have seen play, and you didnt ask that question in any case. I don't think either Joe or Henry is the greatest I ever saw and Ive never said they were either, though both would be among the best I've seen. Joe would be be the best I've seen from his county, Henry wouldn't.
If I was asked who was the greatest player I've ever seen play then I'd go with Tony Kelly.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17060 - 16/09/2025 09:13:42
2636376
Link
0
|
|
Replying To old yellar: "I think from a county perspective Johnny Nevin of Carlow appearances would be hard matched. He played 331 times at senior level for the county (national league, championship, Kehoe cup, O'Byrne cup etc - no challenges!!) across both codes. I don't know if there's anyone with those sort of figures?" Thats some record alright for an outfield player.Its easier for a keeper to play longer as less running.
brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 334 - 16/09/2025 11:04:12
2636393
Link
1
|
|
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." Jayus I dunno about easier going at lower levels! Like to rack up that appearance record given Carlows shorter campaigns is some going. At "lower" levels there's no resting a lad for the league (like say tj for the last few years) etc.
old yellar (None) - Posts: 2637 - 16/09/2025 12:32:24
2636413
Link
0
|
|
Replying To brayballer: "Thats some record alright for an outfield player.Its easier for a keeper to play longer as less running." There are all sorts of ifs and buts with stats, for example Ring was a youthful 33 when he won his last All Ireland while Cluxton was still collecting Celtic Crosses as a youthful 41 year old.
sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 1012 - 16/09/2025 13:21:21
2636421
Link
0
|