Anthony Rainbow - Ireland's Longest Serving Inter-County Footballer Retires

[Donnellys Hollow]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/end-of-the-rainbow-2317931.html

END OF THE RAINBOW

Tuesday August 31 2010

Anthony Rainbow has called time on the longest existing career in inter-county Gaelic games. The Kildare football stalwart has let it be known to colleagues that he is bringing to an end a 20-year association with the county team.

Rainbow made his debut in the league in the autumn of 1990 and made his championship debut in 1992. He remained an integral part of Kieran McGeeney's panel over the last three seasons despite a dearth of game time.

Rainbow played in Kildare's last All-Ireland final appearance in 1998 and on his day was one of the game's most dashing wing-backs. He will be 39 in October, the oldest inter-county player this season. He may also be joined by his Suncroft club-mate Killian Brennan, who is also understood to be considering his future.

The focus will also be on Dermot Earley, who had his troubles with a serious knee injury for much of the summer and didn't feature on Sunday. Earley has been a member of the Kildare squad since 1997 and will be 34 next summer.

- Colm Keys

Irish Independent

[AZOffaly]

Best of luck to him, a great servant. I played against him a couple times and he was a flyer.

[bcarrier]

20 years is unreal in this era. Good luck to him.

[blanketattack]

Is he still 9 stone like he was when he first made the Kildare senior panel?

[Dinny Breen]

At least now he can actually have a beer for once...

[JMohan]

Who is next longest now?

[DuffleKing]

How long is Sean McGreevy at it?

[Rossfan]

Farewell to the bould Anthony. A great servant who stuck with it and wasnt too proud to sit on the bench the last few years.
First came across him when Ros played Kildare in a pitch opener in Straffan in 1993 and couldnt but be amused by the strange surname.

[SambaSaffron]

How long is Sean McGreevy at it?

Not sure, but he has had a fair few seasons off the panel.

[Jinxy]

Farewell to the bould Anthony. A great servant who stuck with it and wasnt too proud to sit on the bench the last few years.
First came across him when Ros played Kildare in a pitch opener in Straffan in 1993 and couldnt but be amused by the strange surname.

Bill Sex was playing that day too.

[paddypastit]

How long is Sean McGreevy at it?

Not sure, but he has had a fair few seasons off the panel.

McGreevy, Rainbow and Eamonn O'Hara were generally bracketed together as the longest serving still active this year.  O'Hara's first championship was '94 and think he played league / FBD / B championship from Autumn '93 but couldn't pin when exactly - might have to hit the programmes!

[T O Hare]

Who has been the longest serving intercounty player Mickey the legend played for 23 or so years for Down !! He came off the bench last week and scored two points for the Bridge v Burren in senior reserve championship  I reckon he will be still playing at 50 !!!

[Declan]

Great servant to the game - good luck to him

[JMohan]

Dermot McArdle?

Brian Dooher?

[AZOffaly]

Ciaran McManus has 13 years done at least, he played in the Leinster final of 1997. I think he may even have been earler. With his work committments abroad for a significant portion of that time, his dedication to Offaly should not be underestimated either.