Carlow legend Jacko close to deciding on future
The 38-year-old Old Leighlin player has been lining out for Carlow's senior footballers and hurlers since the late 1980s and has played over 300 games for the county.
Father Time would finally appear to have caught up with his man however. His involvement with Liam Hayes' football squad last year was restricted to two substitutes appearances in the championship, although he did feature more prominently with Eoin Garvey's hurlers.
"I haven't made up my mind at the moment," said Nevin, who was chosen for a President's Award by the GAA last year in recognition of his services to both codes.
"I'll do it in maybe a week to ten days one way or another.
"In a way, there's not a big rush at this stage of the year. It's only January and managers will be trying out new players. Younger lads will be dying to get a chance to prove themselves.
"At the same time, managers have their plans and they need to know who is in and who is out.
"As a player, you can't be making decisions in mid-March either, it wouldn't be fair so I'll make up my mind within the next two weeks."
Nevin passed the magical 300-mark of appearances made for his county back in February of 2004 by which time he had played 165 times for the footballers and 135 times in hurling.
Known in the county as 'Jacko', he first donned Carlow's multicoloured shirt for a league match against Limerick on February 7 1988 and his championship bow came that summer against neighbours Laois.
His first brush with the senior hurlers followed a year later when he trotted on as a substitute against Wicklow in an All-Ireland SHC 'B' replay at Dr Cullen Park, and his first start followed later in the year against Leinster champions Offaly in the league.
In that time Nevin won All-Ireland 'B' honours in hurling (1992) and football (1994) as well as Kehoe Cup medals in 1992 and 1999, an NHL Division 2 title in 1992 and an O'Byrne Cup medal in 2002.
Meanwhile, Liam Hayes will have to kick off the footballer's NFL campaign without the assistance of key full-forward Mark Carpenter.
The O'Hanrahan's player underwent successful surgery on a cartilage operation last week but is to spend the next five weeks in Australia along with county colleague Barry English. That would certainly rule him out of his county's opening league fixture away to Clare and may also prevent him from featuring in the second round game against Donegal at Dr Cullen Park.
