3 OLDIES WHO HAD A GOLDEN MOMENT

NIALL GILLIGAN sets out tomorrow — 22 years after winning an All-Ireland club medal with Sixmilebridge — at the age of 41, but he can take hope from the fact that the club game has rewarded its golden oldies in the past. Here are three stalwarts who reminded us that age should never be a barrier to ambition.

TONY DORAN (Buffers Alley, 1989)

The All-Ireland inter-county medal his talent so richly deserved in two full decades of service with Wexford never materialised, but his club got him there in the end. He togged in the 1989 final against O’Donovan Rossa and they somehow managed to claw back a five-point deficit to ensure their 42-year-old full-forward got the medal he was long overdue.

NOEL O’DWYER (BORRIS-ILEIGH, 1987)

16 years after he won his AllIreland medal with Tipperary, O’Dwyer was a champion again. He operated out of centreforward, defying his 39year-old legs to help his team to a twogoal win over Wexford champions Rathnure.

OLLIE CANNING (PORTUMNA, 2014)

He was still hurling up a storm this year as a 41-year – old but then his club rewarded his talent in a way that the intercounty game never did. He won his fourth AllIreland medal when he was a few months shy of his 38th birthday, as Portumna cruised to an eight-point win over Mount Leinster Rangers.