Starting shortly on TG4.
One of the true greats, hoping to see lots of replays of Gormley's block.
Super programme about one of the greats of the game. What a player! Joe Kernan was a class guy too.
Enjoyed that. Brilliant player and a great era for Gaelic Football.
The most unmarkable player the game has seen in the past 20 years I would say. He had it all, strong as an ox, superb in the air, great ball winner and could kick superbly off both feet with the deadliest of eyes for goal.
I'd love to be able to watch those three Tyrone-Armagh games in 2005 in their entirety. They were amazing battles. They were so closely matched but Tyrone just had that extra bit of quality in their depth where they could bring lads off the bench who could change games. Armagh generally were lacking in that department.
Quote from: Il Bomber Destro on March 20, 2016, 05:53:24 PM
The most unmarkable player the game has seen in the past 20 years I would say. He had it all, strong as an ox, superb in the air, great ball winner and could kick superbly off both feet with the deadliest of eyes for goal.
I'd love to be able to watch those three Tyrone-Armagh games in 2005 in their entirety. They were amazing battles. They were so closely matched but Tyrone just had that extra bit of quality in their depth where they could bring lads off the bench who could change games. Armagh generally were lacking in that department.
Be-f**king-have lad, Shane Sweeney had him well marked and was scoring points off McDonnell for Tyrone ffs, sure he wudnt houl a candle to Stevie O'Neill nevermind Canavan.
Great player yes, unmarkable no.
Quote from: tiempo on March 20, 2016, 06:22:27 PM
Quote from: Il Bomber Destro on March 20, 2016, 05:53:24 PM
The most unmarkable player the game has seen in the past 20 years I would say. He had it all, strong as an ox, superb in the air, great ball winner and could kick superbly off both feet with the deadliest of eyes for goal.
I'd love to be able to watch those three Tyrone-Armagh games in 2005 in their entirety. They were amazing battles. They were so closely matched but Tyrone just had that extra bit of quality in their depth where they could bring lads off the bench who could change games. Armagh generally were lacking in that department.
Be-f**king-have lad, Shane Sweeney had him well marked and was scoring points off McDonnell for Tyrone ffs, sure he wudnt houl a candle to Stevie O'Neill nevermind Canavan.
Great player yes, unmarkable no.
Well that's bullshit as McDonnell nearly always performed against us, even in those tight niggly affairs where the big names really struggled to impact, you could feel the air of panic around when the ball would go in his general direction.
Canavan was the greatest I have seen without doubt but Stevie McDonnell is as close to him as I've seen. The great thing about McDonnell was he could win any sort of ball, if it was put in the long and high he would win it as he had a great pair of hands and anticipation. If it was put in at his chest he could win it as he was so physically strong, he could hold his marker off. In on the ground he could win it as he also had pace and was quite agile, able to spin and kick off either foot. He was such a complete player that he must have been an enduring nightmare to mark, to physically strong to get into a tussle with, too deadly to stand off and give him a bit of space, too much of danger on the high ball to play in front of.
I loved Stephen O'Neill, one of the greatest we've had but I would have McDonnell over him every single day of the week.
I nearly choked on my tea reading that last comment. O'Donnell was undoubtedly a great player and seems like a real gentleman too. Caused Tyrone alot of problems in his day but seriously ahead of O'Neill. I don't think so
Quote from: tiempo on March 20, 2016, 06:22:27 PM
Quote from: Il Bomber Destro on March 20, 2016, 05:53:24 PM
The most unmarkable player the game has seen in the past 20 years I would say. He had it all, strong as an ox, superb in the air, great ball winner and could kick superbly off both feet with the deadliest of eyes for goal.
I'd love to be able to watch those three Tyrone-Armagh games in 2005 in their entirety. They were amazing battles. They were so closely matched but Tyrone just had that extra bit of quality in their depth where they could bring lads off the bench who could change games. Armagh generally were lacking in that department.
Be-f**king-have lad, Shane Sweeney had him well marked and was scoring points off McDonnell for Tyrone ffs, sure he wudnt houl a candle to Stevie O'Neill nevermind Canavan.
Great player yes, unmarkable no.
Enda McNulty kept Canavan scoreless from play in most encounters he had with him. Does that make him a poor player?
Il Bomber should know better. Tyrone have the greatest players in every position in every era. No one can touch them. The only question is who was the best Iggy Jones, Frank McGuigan or Peter Canavan.
Quote from: An Watcher on March 20, 2016, 08:04:24 PM
I nearly choked on my tea reading that last comment. O'Donnell was undoubtedly a great player and seems like a real gentleman too. Caused Tyrone alot of problems in his day but seriously ahead of O'Neill. I don't think so
Yes. I would have Stevie McDonnell over any forward to play in the last 20 years with the exception of Canavan and probably Mickey Linden (Linden's prime was before then though).
I would say the 02 - 08 period was as good a period of football in terms of depth of quality teams as we've had in a long time. Armagh won one All Ireland in that period and were unlucky not to add another, they did so by being one dimensional and entirely predictable. They sent early direct ball into McDonnell and Clarke all day long and yet as predictable as they were, teams just found McDonnell (and Clarke to a lesser degree) extremely hard to stop.
O'Neill played in a team who had other top class players there to take the strain and weight off him and while I do take on board Armagh had some other top class players, Tyrone had a much more varied approach to the game and could afford to leave O'Neill on the bench for some big games. McDonnell was a guy who was the focal point for that Armagh team, everyone knew they were going to hit him all game long, they did and very few were able to curtail him.
That's no slant of O'Neill, it's how good McDonnell was.
Quote from: haveaharp on March 20, 2016, 08:14:21 PM
Quote from: tiempo on March 20, 2016, 06:22:27 PM
Quote from: Il Bomber Destro on March 20, 2016, 05:53:24 PM
The most unmarkable player the game has seen in the past 20 years I would say. He had it all, strong as an ox, superb in the air, great ball winner and could kick superbly off both feet with the deadliest of eyes for goal.
I'd love to be able to watch those three Tyrone-Armagh games in 2005 in their entirety. They were amazing battles. They were so closely matched but Tyrone just had that extra bit of quality in their depth where they could bring lads off the bench who could change games. Armagh generally were lacking in that department.
Be-f**king-have lad, Shane Sweeney had him well marked and was scoring points off McDonnell for Tyrone ffs, sure he wudnt houl a candle to Stevie O'Neill nevermind Canavan.
Great player yes, unmarkable no.
Enda McNulty kept Canavan scoreless from play in most encounters he had with him. Does that make him a poor player?
Who said Canavan was unmarkable? There was men in Carrickmore that could handle him in the 90s nevermind noughties.
Now Shane Sweeney, he was unmarkable.
Look forward to watching the Stevie McD episode though, he was a great and a legend.
Great to see Stevie getting an airing on this show. We were blessed to have him. Wonderful player.
No disrespect on O'Neill (who was dogged with injury from to many long seasons with Minor and Under 21 before he ever played senior). But would rather Stevie Mac.
Okay settle this now...A full forward line on McDonnell, S O'Neill and God himself (Peter)
Agree totally. Too little margin between two greats. O Neill, Mc Donnell both top drawer marquee forwards.
Would be hard to pick a combined 15 between those Tyrone Kerry and Armagh teams from 02 to 09. The football and rivalry at the time didn't get the credit it deserved with far too much talk of puke football and northern tactics.
I could pick my defence ok from the period:
Mark ose
Moynihan
Gormley
Tomas ose
Mcgeeney
Jordan
Half back line easy but Ricey very unlucky not to make full back line and if Cormac had got longer would have been a shoe in.
Midfield would probably be dara ose and cavanagh but very hard to leave out McGrane.
Up front hard to fit in:
Dooher
Mcguigan
Oneill
Canavan
McDonnell
Declan o'sullivan
Gooch
Not sure who'd make way there. Likes of Clarke McConville mugsy mcginley and galvin would just miss out.
Quote from: Redhand Santa on March 20, 2016, 10:50:54 PM
Would be hard to pick a combined 15 between those Tyrone Kerry and Armagh teams from 02 to 09. The football and rivalry at the time didn't get the credit it deserved with far too much talk of puke football and northern tactics.
I could pick my defence ok from the period:
Mark ose
Moynihan
Gormley
Tomas ose
Mcgeeney
Jordan
Half back line easy but Ricey very unlucky not to make full back line and if Cormac had got longer would have been a shoe in.
Midfield would probably be dara ose and cavanagh but very hard to leave out McGrane.
Up front hard to fit in:
Dooher
Mcguigan
Oneill
Canavan
McDonnell
Declan o'sullivan
Gooch
Not sure who'd make way there. Likes of Clarke McConville mugsy mcginley and galvin would just miss out.
McDonnell better than McConville??
Give me a break.
MConville did it for club and county for many many years
Quote from: Taylor on March 21, 2016, 08:41:59 AM
Quote from: Redhand Santa on March 20, 2016, 10:50:54 PM
Would be hard to pick a combined 15 between those Tyrone Kerry and Armagh teams from 02 to 09. The football and rivalry at the time didn't get the credit it deserved with far too much talk of puke football and northern tactics.
I could pick my defence ok from the period:
Mark ose
Moynihan
Gormley
Tomas ose
Mcgeeney
Jordan
Half back line easy but Ricey very unlucky not to make full back line and if Cormac had got longer would have been a shoe in.
Midfield would probably be dara ose and cavanagh but very hard to leave out McGrane.
Up front hard to fit in:
Dooher
Mcguigan
Oneill
Canavan
McDonnell
Declan o'sullivan
Gooch
Not sure who'd make way there. Likes of Clarke McConville mugsy mcginley and galvin would just miss out.
McDonnell better than McConville??
Give me a break.
MConville did it for club and county for many many years
I didn't think you would find many arguing that McConville was better than McDonnell. McDonnell was a different class.
Best performance I ever saw McDonnell give was a qualifier match against Dublin. Think Cluxton was sent off that day? He virtually beat the Dubs single handed. Great player. Talks some dung on twitter though. Liverpool fan which explains a lot :D
McDonnell was probably Armagh's most gifted forward ever. I've often heard it said that his biggest regret was that he wasn't born in Tyrone.
Why armagh only won the one is one of the great mysteries, second only to why Mayo won none
Missed the show and like a lot on here thought Stevie McD was Armagh's best forward for years.
Always was surprised how so many Armagh ones thought Oisin was better than him. Yes he was excellent from frees and was a good forward but no where near SmD level.
I remember him scoring an amazing point in the 2003 final when both Cormac and I think Ricey were double teaming him yet he still collected a high ball in near the end line and scored an amazing point.
He seemed quite quiet and humble lad or at least you never heard him chat much.
Unbelievable at times. Definitely better than McConville - though that's not a slight on Oisin
Quote from: Fuzzman on March 21, 2016, 10:45:43 AM
Missed the show and like a lot on here thought Stevie McD was Armagh's best forward for years.
Always was surprised how so many Armagh ones thought Oisin was better than him. Yes he was excellent from frees and was a good forward but no where near SmD level.
Oisin provided tremendous leadership and was important to the team for that reason in addition to taking frees.
QuoteI remember him scoring an amazing point in the 2003 final when both Cormac and I think Ricey were double teaming him yet he still collected a high ball in near the end line and scored an amazing point.
He seemed quite quiet and humble lad or at least you never heard him chat much.
I recall this point, from a ridiculous angle, and commented to the person beside me that there was hope while such a man was on the team and indeed only the famous "block" prevented Stevie from having a critical impact in that game.
McConville's roll of honour & match winning scores throughout his career would say different about who was best.
Neither lace the boots of PTG mind you - a true genius
Quote from: Taylor on March 21, 2016, 11:17:57 AM
McConville's roll of honour & match winning scores throughout his career would say different about who was best.
Neither lace the boots of PTG mind you - a true genius
So if stevie was from Cross and took the frees? Who'd be better?
Stevie was from Killeavy!
Quote from: Walter Cronc on March 21, 2016, 09:10:15 AM
Best performance I ever saw McDonnell give was a qualifier match against Dublin. Think Cluxton was sent off that day? He virtually beat the Dubs single handed. Great player. Talks some dung on twitter though. Liverpool fan which explains a lot :D
Yes, i remember that day. Armagh were well down at half time and then came out and completely bossed the 2nd half.
The greatest performance i ever saw him give was against Wexford in the national league final. He was untouchable that day, kicking from either feet from every possible angle.
What about the qualifier in Roscommon against Limerick in 03 (i think) McDonnell scored 3-04 i think...
Having marked both men they both had their own qualities. Believe it or not McDonnell wasn't the quickest (Wasn't slow either) but his turn was 2nd to none, the man could turn on a sixpence. Like an eel he was, Oisin had a bit more craft than Stevie and was very accurate (i could even call him sneaky without insulting the man) but to compare one against the other is not right and at their peak i couldn't pick between the two. Was just glad they played on the same team.
Quote from: general_lee on March 21, 2016, 11:21:54 AM
So if stevie was from Cross and took the frees? Who'd be better?
If Cross was in Dublin they would have "signed" him and won all before them.
Stevie McDonnell was a far superior footballer to Oisin McConville
Quote from: clarshack on March 21, 2016, 12:22:31 PM
Stevie McDonnell was a far superior footballer to Oisin McConville
Ciuin FFS
Quote from: Taylor on March 21, 2016, 12:42:31 PM
Quote from: clarshack on March 21, 2016, 12:22:31 PM
Stevie McDonnell was a far superior footballer to Oisin McConville
Ciuin FFS
Neither were unmarkable though lets get that right.
Shane Sweeney, now there's a lad that was unmarkable.
QuoteSo if stevie was from Cross and took the frees? Who'd be better?
If Cross was in Dublin they would have "signed" him and won all before them.
Report
Don't get Indiana started about winning all before them! ::)
Oisin was lethal. Without him Armagh would not have won anything. Having a forward like him is what wins all Irelands
Quote from: seafoid on March 22, 2016, 08:21:17 AM
Oisin was lethal. Without him Armagh would not have won anything. Having a forward like him is what wins all Irelands
What he said.
Oisin was as valuable to Armagh as PTG was to Tyrone during the glory years
You can't really compare Oisin and Stevie Mac, both superb players who brought something different to the table. Throw in Marsden and John Mac and you go some way to seeing why the current armagh squad are so poor.
McConville seemed to lose a bit of pace maybe round 2005ish and wasn't as effective at county level but never lost that effectiveness at club level. Before then he was deadly at county too but maybe not just as much afterwards.
Quote from: seafoid on March 21, 2016, 09:58:43 AM
Why armagh only won the one is one of the great mysteries, second only to why Mayo won none
Hardly a mystery! Kerry and Tyrone just had that little bit extra than them.
Still don't know how he managed to score that goal in the 2008 semi final.
Different types of footballers, Stevie a better 'impulse' player, Oisin a metronome, both deadly!
Quote from: BennyHarp on March 22, 2016, 02:51:10 PM
Quote from: seafoid on March 21, 2016, 09:58:43 AM
Why armagh only won the one is one of the great mysteries, second only to why Mayo won none
Hardly a mystery! Kerry and Tyrone just had that little bit extra than them.
Well Tyrone had Brian (f**king Red &) White for a start!!!
The Gooch on last night, what a player!!
Quote from: seafoid on March 21, 2016, 09:58:43 AM
Why armagh only won the one is one of the great mysteries, second only to why Mayo won none
The back door killed Armagh. If it had not been invented until 2006, Armagh would have seen a few more titles.
Quote from: From the Bunker on March 31, 2019, 04:00:17 PM
Quote from: seafoid on March 21, 2016, 09:58:43 AM
Why armagh only won the one is one of the great mysteries, second only to why Mayo won none
The back door killed Armagh. If it had not been invented until 2006, Armagh would have seen a few more titles.
Quite possibly true. The extra games tested the squad and when it came to it the depth if the Armagh squad was not quite as deep as some others. Armagh is a small county with the most populated area - Craigavon / Lurgan/ Portadown providing very few county GAA players.
Not sure who was better but Stevie was the more dangerous and the one you didnt want to be on the end of the passes
Quote from: Throw ball on March 31, 2019, 08:01:16 PM
Quote from: From the Bunker on March 31, 2019, 04:00:17 PM
Quote from: seafoid on March 21, 2016, 09:58:43 AM
Why armagh only won the one is one of the great mysteries, second only to why Mayo won none
The back door killed Armagh. If it had not been invented until 2006, Armagh would have seen a few more titles.
Quite possibly true. The extra games tested the squad and when it came to it the depth if the Armagh squad was not quite as deep as some others. Armagh is a small county with the most populated area - Craigavon / Lurgan/ Portadown providing very few county GAA players.
Hmm, I read somewhere there were 29 clubs represented in 02. Quite a big North Armagh representation in fact Craigavon Portadown and Lurgan were all represented. Also depending on whether you class Ballyhegan and Annaghmore as Portadown there's 7 men from the proddy end of the county.
Quote from: general_lee on April 10, 2019, 04:02:04 PM
Quote from: Throw ball on March 31, 2019, 08:01:16 PM
Quote from: From the Bunker on March 31, 2019, 04:00:17 PM
Quote from: seafoid on March 21, 2016, 09:58:43 AM
Why armagh only won the one is one of the great mysteries, second only to why Mayo won none
The back door killed Armagh. If it had not been invented until 2006, Armagh would have seen a few more titles.
Quite possibly true. The extra games tested the squad and when it came to it the depth if the Armagh squad was not quite as deep as some others. Armagh is a small county with the most populated area - Craigavon / Lurgan/ Portadown providing very few county GAA players.
Hmm, I read somewhere there were 29 clubs represented in 02. Quite a big North Armagh representation in fact Craigavon Portadown and Lurgan were all represented. Also depending on whether you class Ballyhegan and Annaghmore as Portadown there's 7 men from the proddy end of the county.
Of the regular participators in 02 I would only class McCann , Marsden and Ohagan as being from the area I suggest. When you consider Mullabawn had McNultys, Tierney and McGeeney it is hardly a fair representation. Fast forward to 2019 when there has been a resurgence in schools football in Lurgan I can only think of Murnin and Campbell pushing to start against Down in championship. Forkhill could have Burns, Sheridan and Hall.
Quote from: Throw ball on April 12, 2019, 12:45:54 AM
Quote from: general_lee on April 10, 2019, 04:02:04 PM
Quote from: Throw ball on March 31, 2019, 08:01:16 PM
Quote from: From the Bunker on March 31, 2019, 04:00:17 PM
Quote from: seafoid on March 21, 2016, 09:58:43 AM
Why armagh only won the one is one of the great mysteries, second only to why Mayo won none
The back door killed Armagh. If it had not been invented until 2006, Armagh would have seen a few more titles.
Quite possibly true. The extra games tested the squad and when it came to it the depth if the Armagh squad was not quite as deep as some others. Armagh is a small county with the most populated area - Craigavon / Lurgan/ Portadown providing very few county GAA players.
Hmm, I read somewhere there were 29 clubs represented in 02. Quite a big North Armagh representation in fact Craigavon Portadown and Lurgan were all represented. Also depending on whether you class Ballyhegan and Annaghmore as Portadown there's 7 men from the proddy end of the county.
Of the regular participators in 02 I would only class McCann , Marsden and Ohagan as being from the area I suggest. When you consider Mullabawn had McNultys, Tierney and McGeeney it is hardly a fair representation. Fast forward to 2019 when there has been a resurgence in schools football in Lurgan I can only think of Murnin and Campbell pushing to start against Down in championship. Forkhill could have Burns, Sheridan and Hall.
Is there anyone else from the area good enough to push for a start? For me it doesn't matter where in the county the players are form, the best players start
I agree Tonto. My argument is that the number of county players from the most densely populated area of the county is a very poor return and has been for a considerable time.
Quote from: Throw ball on April 12, 2019, 10:33:44 PM
I agree Tonto. My argument is that the number of county players from the most densely populated area of the county is a very poor return and has been for a considerable time.
How does it stack up against other counties? Tyrone for example; would most of their players be from dungannon /omagh or more rural places?
Quote from: tonto1888 on April 14, 2019, 08:10:06 PM
Quote from: Throw ball on April 12, 2019, 10:33:44 PM
I agree Tonto. My argument is that the number of county players from the most densely populated area of the county is a very poor return and has been for a considerable time.
How does it stack up against other counties? Tyrone for example; would most of their players be from dungannon /omagh or more rural places?
Tyrone have always seemed to have had a good spread across the county generally but the larger towns like Cookstown, Omagh, Dungannon and Strabane have not yielded a huge pile. Omagh to be fair in recent years have had a quite a few but I can't think of the tope of my head if we have any involved in 2003 and Joe McMahon would have been the only player in 2005. The players generally tend to come from the more rural areas, we currently have no player from the Cookstown, Dungannon and Strabane clubs on the county senior panel, Meyler, McLaughlin and Grugan would be the Omagh representatives currently and we've had the McMahons, Ronan O'Neill, Tierney and Clarke play for Tyrone in recent years so they are more than carrying more than their own at the minute.
It goes in cycles generally, if you look at the sides which won All Irelands we had the likes of Clann, Carrickmore, Rock, Eglish, Netownstewart, Killeeshil, Moortown etc having representation on the senior panel in the past where we have no players from those clubs now while we have quite a few important players from clubs like Trillick and Pomeroy etc in the current side that would have little to no representation back in the All Ireland winning sides.
The North of Tyrone generally hasn't bred too many county players for Tyrone in the recent past, we currently have McShane and you could say McNamee there and would have had McConnell, O'Neill and Dooher back in the AI winning sides but that's been about the height of it. The general makeup of that side of Tyrone would be slightly blacker than the other regions if you catch my drift.