GRANTED, MORRISON NEVER played GAA for an actual team, but he was one of the more bemused members of the Irish football team when they once played the sport for fun in training.
9. Ciaran Fitzgerald
INPHO
INPHO
The former Irish rugby player and coach also played minor hurling for Galway and helped them get as far as the final against Cork in 1970.
8. Simon Zebo
PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
The Ireland and Munster winger at one point played underage hurling for Blackrock in Cork.
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7. Shane Long
INPHO
INPHO
The Southampton striker was also an accomplished minor hurler, appearing in two All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship semi-finals with Tipperary at Croke Park.
“I won a minor county championship, and represented Dublin Schools at Croke Park, so I had a pretty decent Gaelic career,” the WWE star told The42 back in January.
5. Kevin Moran
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Undoubtedly the most successful GAA player on this list, Moran won two All-Ireland Senior Football Championships with Dublin before going on to make over 200 appearances for Manchester United among other sides.
4. Niall Quinn
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
The Irish legend played underage football and hurling for Dublin, featuring in the 1983 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Final and also getting offered a contract to play professional Aussie rules football, before ultimately joining Arsenal.
3. Seamus Coleman
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Coleman began his sporting life as a Gaelic footballer with his local GAA team Na Cealla Beaga, before committing to soccer amid interest from Sligo Rovers.
2. Rob Kearney
PA Archive / Press Association Images
PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Before becoming one of the best fullbacks in world rugby, Kearney played GAA for both Naomh Mhuire and Cooley in the Louth Senior Football Championship.
1. Denis Irwin
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Grew up playing both Gaelic football and hurling, as well as soccer, in his native Cork with St Finbarr’s GAA club, and once came up against future international teammate Niall Quinn during a minor match at Croke Park.
Who would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments section below.
Power ranking the 10 best one-time-GAA-playing athletes
10. Clinton Morrison
GRANTED, MORRISON NEVER played GAA for an actual team, but he was one of the more bemused members of the Irish football team when they once played the sport for fun in training.
9. Ciaran Fitzgerald
The former Irish rugby player and coach also played minor hurling for Galway and helped them get as far as the final against Cork in 1970.
8. Simon Zebo
The Ireland and Munster winger at one point played underage hurling for Blackrock in Cork.
7. Shane Long
The Southampton striker was also an accomplished minor hurler, appearing in two All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship semi-finals with Tipperary at Croke Park.
6. Finn Balor
“I won a minor county championship, and represented Dublin Schools at Croke Park, so I had a pretty decent Gaelic career,” the WWE star told The42 back in January.
5. Kevin Moran
Undoubtedly the most successful GAA player on this list, Moran won two All-Ireland Senior Football Championships with Dublin before going on to make over 200 appearances for Manchester United among other sides.
4. Niall Quinn
The Irish legend played underage football and hurling for Dublin, featuring in the 1983 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Final and also getting offered a contract to play professional Aussie rules football, before ultimately joining Arsenal.
3. Seamus Coleman
Coleman began his sporting life as a Gaelic footballer with his local GAA team Na Cealla Beaga, before committing to soccer amid interest from Sligo Rovers.
2. Rob Kearney
Before becoming one of the best fullbacks in world rugby, Kearney played GAA for both Naomh Mhuire and Cooley in the Louth Senior Football Championship.
1. Denis Irwin
Grew up playing both Gaelic football and hurling, as well as soccer, in his native Cork with St Finbarr’s GAA club, and once came up against future international teammate Niall Quinn during a minor match at Croke Park.
Who would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments section below.
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GAA Kevin Moran Niall Quinn past life Power Ranking Shane Long Simon Zebo