The club championship is back in full flow, with many people looking for the next bright spark to break onto the senior team or the intercounty team in the decent future. But what about the old lads still doing it for their clubs? We at Balls look at the lads who still have the mojo.
If this list was made last year, we could have included the legend Tommy Walsh; however, he decided to hang up the hurl and boots ahead of this season.
Eoin Kelly (42 years old)
The son of God is still going strong for Mullinahone. Playing between the posts for his in the senior championship, the former All-Ireland winning captain put in a man-of-the-match performance with laser-eye puck outs and even came up the field to score a penalty as they secured their first win against Roscrea last weekend.
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"Lads saying last night watching Clubber, Tipperary have got it right! It's a very exciting Championship!"
We caught up with Eoin Kelly yesterday after a massive performance by himself and a massive win for Mullinahone.
Full game available on https://t.co/8RTIDVIpju pic.twitter.com/GmZgTiY4J2— Clubber (@clubber) August 28, 2023
Dan Shanahan (47)
Recently reappointed as a selector of the Waterford senior hurling team under former teammate Peter Queally, the 2007 Hurler of the Year is still going strong at the club level, helping the Lismore Junior B team to a Western Final this weekend, lining out at full-forward for the second team.
However a more impressive feat happened when Dan came on for his 32nd consecutive season for the Lismore first team on Fridat evening, class is permanent.
Séamus Prendergast (44)
The former winger forward for Waterford is still playing for local side Ardmore as they play Ballinameela in a West Waterford intermediate relegation final next weekend.
22 February 2004; Waterford's Seamus Prendergast uses his hurl to shade his eyes during the game. Allianz Hurling League 2004, Kilkenny v Waterford, Nowlan Park, Kilkenny. Picture credit; Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE *EDI*
Brendan Cummins (49)
The five-time All-Star and current U20 hurling manager of Tipperary, Brendan Cummins, is still togging out for his native Ballybacon Grange as he scored a penalty in their opening-round championship game a few weeks ago. With his son Paul only a few years away from playing at the adult level, will the two-time All-Ireland winner still hang around to play with him? Don’t rule it out.
Johnny Doyle (46)
Johnny Doyle and his Allenwood teammates made a winning return to the Kildare SFC after a seven-year absence at the weekend. The 46-year-old former county star converted a first-half penalty as last year’s intermediate champions edged out Kilcock by 1-10 to 0-12 in a thrilling preliminary round tie.
Bago bags Allenwood winner in returning Senior Championship victory over Kilcock https://t.co/SGQ0HFQHn1
— Leinster Leader / Kildare Live (@leinsleadernews) August 11, 2024
Paul Curran (42)
The Mullinahone man joins Kelly, but another man still does it at the club level. The 2010 All-Ireland full-back still lines out at number 3 for his senior-level club.
Anthony Nash (39)
The two-time All-Star is still in between the posts for his adopted club in Limerick, South Liberties, for which he has played since 2021 despite announcing his retirement a few years ago.
Still got it.
Former Cork goalkeeper Anthony Nash finds the net with a penalty for South Liberties in Limerick SHC #hurling #Limerick
Video credit: @StreamsportI pic.twitter.com/PRqgzPJ6f0— David Byrne (@byrne_david) September 21, 2023
10. James Stafford (41)
This was a reader's suggestion: Rathnew's James Stafford made his senior club debut in 2005, the same year he made his debut with the Wicklow seniors. 19 years later, Stafford is still soldiering with Rathnew, and was key in their drive to the Wicklow senior final last year, which they lost to Blessington.
22 October 2023; James Stafford of Rathnew during the Wicklow County Senior Club Football Championship final between Blessington and Rathnew at Echelon Park in Aughrim, Wicklow. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
