Down's greatest ever player?

Started by downboy2011, December 08, 2011, 10:05:24 AM

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downboy2011

Who do you think has been Down's greatest ever player?

I know there will be the responses of Sean O'Neill and the likes but many people has forgot about the brilliance of Austin in the centre of the field. He was a complete unsong hero and imo never got the praise he fully deserved. He was a fantastic fielder of the ball and had a sweet right boot on him too. Just my opinion though.

umpire


5 Sams

Quote from: downboy2011 on December 08, 2011, 10:05:24 AM
Who do you think has been Down's greatest ever player?

I know there will be the responses of Sean O'Neill and the likes but many people has forgot about the brilliance of Austin in the centre of the field. He was a complete unsong hero and imo never got the praise he fully deserved. He was a fantastic fielder of the ball and had a sweet right boot on him too. Just my opinion though.

Sorry Downboy...he wouldnt make the top 10...O'Neill, Blaney, Linden, Doherty, Wee James, Oul James, Tom O'Hare were all streets ahead...good enough player but spent too much time on his arse to be honest.
60,61,68,91,94
The Aristocrat Years

amallon

I'd have Benny in the top 10.  He carried a poor down team for the guts of a decade.  Imagine he had been full forward during the early 90's.
Disclaimer: I am responsible for MY comments only.  I don't own this site.

downboy2011

imo people completely underrated austin. Saw his son play for point minors in chship final too. Class act also.

RGU08

Quote from: amallon on December 08, 2011, 10:43:33 AM
I'd have Benny in the top 10.  He carried a poor down team for the guts of a decade.  Imagine he had been full forward during the early 90's.

We might not have beaten Kerry in the semi-final if that was the case!!! :o

one day


pointman129

Mickey Linden class act for club and county

umpire

I have sent this message below last year on gaaboard,  i have changed to included last year's players.

In my experience following the Down teams from 1960 era , these are my selection of fine players who play for Down Senior Football team.

1. Neil Collins, Carryduff
2. Tommy McGovern, Burren
3. Leo Murphy, Lisnarcree
4. Tom O'Hare, Mayobridge
5. Cathal Digney, Saval
6. Dan McCartan, Glenn
7. Joe Lennon, Aghaderg
8. Colm McAlarney, Liatroim
9. Jarlath Carey, Dundrum
10. Ambrose Rodgers, (Sen) Longstone
11. Greg Blaney, Carryduff
12. Paddy Doherty, Ballykinlar
13. Mickey Linden, Mayobridge
14. Sean O'Neill, Newry Mitchels
15. Benny Coulter, Mayobridge

My second selection

1.Micheal McVeigh
2.Brendan Sloan, Atticall
3.Conor Deegan, Downpatrick
4. Barry Breen, Downpatrick
5. Pasty O'Hagan, Clonduff
6. Paddy O'Rourke, Burren
7. DJ Kane, Newry Shamrocks
8. Liam Austin, Rostrevor
9. Brendan Toner, Castlewellan
10. Ross Carr, Clonduff
11. James McCartan, (Sen) Glenn
12. James McCartan (jun), Tullylish
13. Peter Rooney, Warrenpoint,
14. John McCartan, Glenn
15. Martin Clarke An Riocht.

Others players who have also played well.
Geogre Lavery, Kilwarlin
Pat Rice, Castlewellan,
Kevin Mussen, Clonduff
Tony Hadden, Newry Shamrocks
Breen Morgan, Annaclone
Willie Doyle, Liatroim
James Milligan, Ardglass
Micheal Cole, Rostrevor
Micheal Cunningham, Bryansford
Cecil Ward, Bryansford
Adrain McAuilfield, St Michael
Mark Turley, Glenn
Paddy Kennedy, Glenn
Brendan McGovern, Burren
Jim McCartan, Glenn
Donal Bell, Tecounnagh
Brendan Mason, Loughinisland
Paul Higgins, Ballymartin
Gregory McCartan, Ballymartin
Eamon Burns Bryansford.
Gary Mason. Loughinisland
Brendan McVeigh, An Riocht
Dan Gordon, Loughinisland.
Daniel Hughes, Saval
Best match
1994 in Celtic Park Derry, Down v Derry in Ulster Championship

Best individual performance
Tom O'Hare, Mayobridge in 1968 All Ireland Semi-final against great Galway side who have won three in row 64,65 and 66.

Top Ten players
1.   Sean O'Neill
2.   Tom O'Hare
3.   Colm McAlarnery
4.   Paddy Doherty
5.   Mickey Linden
6.   Greg Blaney
7.   Benny Coulter
8.   Leo Murphy
9.   Tommy McGovern
10. Joe Lennon

Best Down Club Player
Shorty Treanor Burren,
never made any impact on Down Senior team., should have been good enough for Down on 91 and 94 teams.
Best Manager, Peter McGrath, Rostrevor.

Dalsey Mooney Clonduff and  Brian Conlon, Newry Mitchels were brilliant young players and they could have been really outstanding players of all time for Down but they had to retired early due to serious injuries.

downtothecore


Leo

Quote from: downtothecore on December 10, 2011, 06:55:57 PM
Greg Blaney...3 all stars....

No arguement
No Blaney? - no All-Irelands since 1968
Real stuff
Fierce tame altogether

5 Sams

Quote from: Leo on December 13, 2011, 12:24:53 AM
Quote from: downtothecore on December 10, 2011, 06:55:57 PM
Greg Blaney...3 all stars....

No arguement
No Blaney? - no All-Irelands since 1968
Real stuff
V Hard to disagree with that!
60,61,68,91,94
The Aristocrat Years

turkey+ham

In my time watching Down, it has to be:

1. Greg Blaney
2. Mickey Linden
3. James McCartan
4. Benny Coulter
5. Gregory McCartan

Leo

An absolute  joy to see McAlarney featuring here - a swashbucling elegant athlete who adorned GAA.
But you can't discuss the best ever Down player without mentioning a McCartan  - and the best McCartan ever was Greg Blaney (which is why he never played for Armagh).
Fierce tame altogether

Aristo 60

#14
1) Linden
2) Blaney
3) Coulter
4) Clarke
5) Wee James

(in my time)