Kildare's evergreen half back Anthony Rainbow has announced his inter-county retirement in the wake of Sunday's heartbreaking All-Ireland semi-final loss to Down.

The Suncroft clubman informed team-mates after Sunday's defeat of his plans to bring the curtain down on the longest existing career in inter-county football. Rainbow made his NFL debut for the Lilywhites in 1990, but had to wait a further two years for Mick O'Dwyer to hand him his first championship start. And despite a lack of game-time in recent seasons, he remained an important member of Kieran McGeeney's panel.

Rainbow, who will turn 39 in October, played in Kildare's last All-Ireland final appearance in 1998 and was one of the finest half backs of his generation.

Rainbow's club colleague Killian Brennan is also expected to quit inter-county football, while supporters will be keeping their fingers crossed that Kildare's other elder statesmen, Dermot Earley (33) and Johnny Doyle (32), don't follow them into retirement. Tweet

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