Love of game enough to keep lucky few going on and on...

There were so many heart-stirring and heart-warming stories over the past GAA weekend, but one that really brought a smile to my face happened way off Broadway on a club pitch in County Down.

With the Mayobridge thirds locked in a tight local championship battle, Mickey Linden, at the age of 50, was unleashed from the dugout to score not just two or three but four points from play to seal a 2-11 to 1-8 win over a plucky bunch called Darragh Cross.

A couple of hours down the road in Mullingar, another wonder of the world was stripping off his tracksuit bottoms, there being no phone booths on the sidelines or just about anywhere else these days.