Not the retiring type: Shorter season could convince GAA's elder statesmen to return

John Fogarty breaks down the age profile of the thirtysomethings across hurling and football's top teams and says those on the brink of retirement may choose to give it one more go in 2021

Stephen Cluxton preparing to deliver his seventh All-Ireland victory speech as Dublin captain with media manager Seamus McCormack. Cluxton turned 39 two days before the final but could set a new record for All-Ireland medals next year. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Waterford goalkeeper Stephen O'Keeffe is set to take a year out, but the flow of inter-county retirements has been untypically slow these past few weeks. There were high-profile announcements by Kanturk pair Anthony Nash (36) and Aidan Walsh (31 next month), as well as Paul Kerrigan (34) and Seán O’Brien (30) in Tipperary. But otherwise they have been few and far between.

Perhaps it has something to do with the late finish to the season and players still weighing up going again but the news earlier this month that there will be no club championship action until July will give many who had been on the brink of calling it quits food for thought.