Love starting a wee bit of debate...so imho these are the best ever from each of the 32...I picked them from own opinion, in some cases from general opinion e.g. Jack Brattan and Seán Purcell and others were just pure guesses from a vague knowledge of your county's football history ....if anyone wants to suggest a player from London and NY feel free..
So away ye go lads...let me have it.....give good arguments if you disagree...and tell me why I'm talking shite if that is the case..I have a thick skin.
Antrim - Kevin Armstrong
Armagh - Jack Brattan
Carlow - Hugh Brennan
Cavan - Gunner Brady
Clare - Seamus Clancy
Cork - JBM
Derry - Jim McKeever
Donegal - Martin McHugh
Down - Seán O'Neill
Dublin - Heffo
Fermanagh - Peter McGennity
Galway - Seán Purcell
Kerry - Mick O'Connell
Kildare - John Doyle
Kilkenny - D J Carey ;)
Laois - Tommy Murphy
Leitrim - Mickey Quinn
Limerick - John Quane
Longford - Paul Barden
Louth - Stephen White
Mayo - Ciarán McDonald
Meath - Trevor Giles
Monaghan - Nudie
Offaly - Matt Connor
Roscommon - Dermot Earley Snr
Sligo - Mickey Kerins
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Frank McGuigan
Waterford - Liam Ó Lionáin
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - Sorry this one has me snookered :-\
Quote from: hardstation on February 21, 2014, 09:57:29 PM
Jimmy Barry Murphy for Cork??
I'll give you that one. Took my eye of the ball. Who's your pick then?
Kevin O'Brien -Wicklow
Quote from: 5 Sams on February 21, 2014, 09:54:02 PM
Love starting a wee bit of debate...so imho these are the best ever from each of the 32...I picked them from own opinion, in some cases from general opinion e.g. Jack Brattan and Seán Purcell and others were just pure guesses from a vague knowledge of your county's football history ....if anyone wants to suggest a player from London and NY feel free..
So away ye go lads...let me have it.....give good arguments if you disagree...and tell me why I'm talking shite if that is the case..I have a thick skin.
Antrim - Kevin Armstrong
Armagh - Jack Brattan
Carlow - Hugh Brennan
Cavan - Gunner Brady
Clare - Seamus Clancy
Cork - JBM
Derry - Jim McKeever
Donegal - Martin McHugh
Down - Seán O'Neill
Dublin - Heffo
Fermanagh - Peter McGennity
Galway - Seán Purcell
Kerry - Mick O'Connell
Kildare - John Doyle
Kilkenny - D J Carey ;)
Laois - Tommy Murphy
Leitrim - Mickey Quinn
Limerick - John Quane
Longford - Paul Barden
Louth - Stephen White
Mayo - Ciarán McDonald
Meath - Trevor Giles
Monaghan - Nudie
Offaly - Matt Connor
Roscommon - Dermot Earley Snr Gerry O'Malley or Bill Carlos
Sligo - Mickey Kerins
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Frank McGuigan
Waterford - Liam Ó Lionáin
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - Sorry this one has me snookered :-\
Seán Flanagan or Tommy Langan (Mayo) instead of Ciarán McDonald and J. J. O'Reilly Cavan?
Quote from: Rossfan on February 21, 2014, 10:13:48 PM
Quote from: 5 Sams on February 21, 2014, 09:54:02 PM
Love starting a wee bit of debate...so imho these are the best ever from each of the 32...I picked them from own opinion, in some cases from general opinion e.g. Jack Brattan and Seán Purcell and others were just pure guesses from a vague knowledge of your county's football history ....if anyone wants to suggest a player from London and NY feel free..
So away ye go lads...let me have it.....give good arguments if you disagree...and tell me why I'm talking shite if that is the case..I have a thick skin.
Antrim - Kevin Armstrong
Armagh - Jack Brattan
Carlow - Hugh Brennan
Cavan - Gunner Brady
Clare - Seamus Clancy
Cork - JBM
Derry - Jim McKeever
Donegal - Martin McHugh
Down - Seán O'Neill
Dublin - Heffo
Fermanagh - Peter McGennity
Galway - Seán Purcell
Kerry - Mick O'Connell
Kildare - John Doyle
Kilkenny - D J Carey ;)
Laois - Tommy Murphy
Leitrim - Mickey Quinn
Limerick - John Quane
Longford - Paul Barden
Louth - Stephen White
Mayo - Ciarán McDonald
Meath - Trevor Giles
Monaghan - Nudie
Offaly - Matt Connor
Roscommon - Dermot Earley Snr Gerry O'Malley or Bill Carlos
Sligo - Mickey Kerins
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Frank McGuigan
Waterford - Liam Ó Lionáin
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - Sorry this one has me snookered :-\
Ya fooleen. He had it in one.
Mick O'Connell might have been good for his day, but he wouldn't make my top 5.
1. Jacko
2. Spillane
3. Moynihan
4. Maurice Fitz
5. Cooper
That could change every hour of the day, but Jacko is the best I've seen.
Quote from: 5 Sams on February 21, 2014, 10:05:43 PM
Quote from: hardstation on February 21, 2014, 09:57:29 PM
Jimmy Barry Murphy for Cork??
I'll give you that one. Took my eye of the ball. Who's your pick then?
JBM not a bad shout from what I remember seeing. But his career was brief as well as brilliant.
Hard to look past Thompkins for Cork I suppose.
McDonald in Mayo probably most people's choice from recent times. But Carney, Langan, Flanagan, Morley and others would have to be considered.
Purcell probably stands alone in Galway and anywhere else for that matter.
Gerry O Malley in Roscommon would push Earley. Ditto Packie McGarty and Mickey Martin in Leitrim. Eamonn O Hara in Sligo was as influential as Mickey Kearins. Kearins was a great, no doubt about it though.
Quote from: Ciarrai_thuaidh on February 21, 2014, 10:21:39 PM
Mick O'Connell might have been good for his day, but he wouldn't make my top 5.
1. Jacko
2. Spillane
3. Moynihan
4. Maurice Fitz
5. Cooper
That could change every hour of the day, but Jacko is the best I've seen.
GRMA CT. Note to other contributors ...see above...just don't say you're talking shite 5 Sams give me your alternatives.
Hard to argue with Nudie alright.
Quote from: moysider on February 21, 2014, 10:23:37 PM
Quote from: 5 Sams on February 21, 2014, 10:05:43 PM
Quote from: hardstation on February 21, 2014, 09:57:29 PM
Jimmy Barry Murphy for Cork??
I'll give you that one. Took my eye of the ball. Who's your pick then?
JBM not a bad shout from what I remember seeing. But his career was brief as well as brilliant.
Hard to look past Thompkins for Cork I suppose.
McDonald in Mayo probably most people's choice from recent times. But Carney, Langan, Flanagan, Morley and others would have to be considered.
Purcell probably stands alone in Galway and anywhere else for that matter.
Gerry O Malley in Roscommon would push Earley. Ditto Packie McGarty and Mickey Martin in Leitrim. Eamonn O Hara in Sligo was as influential as Mickey Kearins. Kearins was a great, no doubt about it though.
Good stuff Moysider..now we're motoring. Wait till the Tyrone lads get back from the barn dances...then the crack will start ;)
Quote from: 5 Sams on February 21, 2014, 10:27:39 PM
Quote from: moysider on February 21, 2014, 10:23:37 PM
Quote from: 5 Sams on February 21, 2014, 10:05:43 PM
Quote from: hardstation on February 21, 2014, 09:57:29 PM
Jimmy Barry Murphy for Cork??
I'll give you that one. Took my eye of the ball. Who's your pick then?
JBM not a bad shout from what I remember seeing. But his career was brief as well as brilliant.
Hard to look past Thompkins for Cork I suppose.
McDonald in Mayo probably most people's choice from recent times. But Carney, Langan, Flanagan, Morley and others would have to be considered.
Purcell probably stands alone in Galway and anywhere else for that matter.
Gerry O Malley in Roscommon would push Earley. Ditto Packie McGarty and Mickey Martin in Leitrim. Eamonn O Hara in Sligo was as influential as Mickey Kearins. Kearins was a great, no doubt about it though.
Good stuff Moysider..now we're motoring. Wait till the Tyrone lads get back from the barn dances...then the crack will start ;)
Yeah, most will want Peter The Great and who could blame them.
McKenna was a savage player too. Won All Stars at midfield, half forward and full forward if memory serves me correctly. And then there was Iggy Jones! Christ, this could take some time ;D
Johnny Corvan for me in relation to Armagh, I never seen jack Bratten play but it was a great guess five Sam's.
Mo Fitz was the best Kerry player I ever saw and I thought it a disgrace the way they treated him at the end of his inter county career.
Quote from: stew on February 21, 2014, 10:47:50 PM
Johnny Corvan for me in relation to Armagh, I never seen jack Bratten play but it was a great guess five Sam's.
Mo Fitz was the best Kerry player I ever saw and I thought it a disgrace the way they treated him at the end of his inter county career.
+1 on all counts. Big statement about Mo Fitz. Cant disagree with you. BUT Moynihan and all the Ó Sés would feature in my best evers for Kerry...among many others.Corvan was a superb player. Peter Loughran?? Big Joe??
Limiting it to players I've seen.
Antrim - JP O'Kane
Armagh - Martin McQuillan
Carlow - Johnny Nevin
Cavan - Jim Reilly
Clare - Seamus Clancy
Cork - Larry Tompkins
Derry - Anthony Tohill
Donegal - Tony Boyle
Down - Greg Blaney
Dublin - Stephen Cluxton
Fermanagh - Barry Owens
Galway - Ja Fallon
Kerry - Maurice Fitzgerald
Kildare - Larry Tompkins
Kilkenny - Ned Byrne
Laois - Leo Turley
Leitrim - Mickey Quinn
Limerick - Stephen Kelly
Longford - Paul Barden
Louth - JP O'Kane
Mayo - Ciarán McDonald
Meath - Graham Geraghty
Monaghan - Kieran Hughes
Offaly - Matt Connor
Roscommon - Dermot Earley
Sligo - Eamonn O'Hara
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Peter Canavan
Waterford - Brick Walsh
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - Kevin O'Brien
For our Lovley neighbours it's hard to look beyond Emlyn Mulligan. Most skilled player in Connacht with vision only equalled by Gooch. If I could nab any player in the country for my team he'd be very near the top of the list.
Antrim - Kevin Armstrong
Armagh - Steven McDonnell
Carlow - Barney Hennessy
Cavan - Larry Reilly
Clare - Seamus Clancy
Cork - Larry Tompkins
Derry - Anthony Tohill
Donegal - Michael Murphy
Down - Paddy Doherty
Dublin - Jimmy Keavney
Fermanagh - Barry Owens
Galway - Seán Purcell
Kerry - Jack O'Shea
Kildare - John Doyle
Kilkenny -
Laois - Tommy Murphy
Leitrim - Emelyn Mulligan
Limerick - John Quane
Longford - Paul Barden
Louth - Paddy Keenan
Mayo - Ciarán McDonald
Meath - Martin O'Connell
Monaghan - Paul Finlay
Offaly - Matt Connor
Roscommon - Dermot Earley
Sligo - Eamonn O'Hara
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Frank McGuigan
Waterford - John Mullane*
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - Leighton Glynn
Agree with quite a few of 5Sams picks, changed a few, had to resort to google for Carlow and left Kilkenny blank.
*Mullane played minor football for Waterford**
** I may have made that one up
Quote from: Champion The Wonder Horse on February 21, 2014, 10:59:22 PM
Limiting it to players I've seen.
Antrim - JP O'Kane
Armagh - Martin McQuillan
Carlow - Johnny Nevin
Cavan - Jim Reilly
Clare - Seamus Clancy
Cork - Larry Tompkins
Derry - Anthony Tohill
Donegal - Tony Boyle
Down - Greg Blaney
Dublin - Stephen Cluxton
Fermanagh - Barry Owens
Galway - Ja Fallon
Kerry - Maurice Fitzgerald
Kildare - Larry Tompkins
Kilkenny - Ned Byrne
Laois - Leo Turley
Leitrim - Mickey Quinn
Limerick - Stephen Kelly
Longford - Paul Barden
Louth - JP O'Kane
Mayo - Ciarán McDonald
Meath - Graham Geraghty
Monaghan - Kieran Hughes
Offaly - Matt Connor
Roscommon - Dermot Earley
Sligo - Eamonn O'Hara
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Peter Canavan
Waterford - Brick Walsh
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - Kevin O'Brien
Is that the prop?
I'd be very tempted to go for Peter Canavan too.
Can I make an accusation about your list there too, and it is strongly reflected in the wider Irish psyche, alot of them whilst hugely talented didn't match that with success. It's as if we reminisce more fondly on the lads who pissed it away on drink, through injury or just never had the lads round them to finish the job. I'm pretty sure that if Canavan had not have won an All-Ireland in 03 he'd be on that list instead of Frank.
Again the others there, Matt Connor - struck down in his prime,
Jim McKeever - didn't get his All-Ireland,
Peter McGinnity - didn't get the recognition or plaudits of later players (McGrath/Owens),
John Doyle,
Tommy Murphy - always referred to "the best player never to win an All-Ireland",
Declan Browne,
Just a point I thought I'd make.
I would nearly say Cavanagh is at McGuigan's level, especially seeing him drag Tyrone around last year. He has the size, fielding, can score off both feet, has a dummy figured very well to match McGuigan (probably not exceed him though) and he is probably faster than McGuigan. Now I'm not saying that Cavanagh is the best player around at the minute (he's up there but a clear level off the best) but I think we wax too lyrically about our flawed heroes.
Ps: Would John Joe Reilly not out pip Gunner Brady? And I'd fairly rate Steven McDonnell a clear distance ahead of any of those Armagh bunch I seen.
Larry Tompkins is a Kildare man.
I was born in Fermanagh so I'd say PETER MCGINNITY
I have Belfast parents (Antrim and Down) so I'd say PADDY O'HARA and JAMES McCARTAN
I spent my teenage years in Sligo and will always say EAMON O'HARA
I now live in Dublin so will say PAUL CURRAN
I work between Dublin and Tyrone so I'll also add PETER CANAVAN
Quote from: Dinny Breen on February 21, 2014, 11:57:03 PM
Larry Tompkins is a Kildare man.
That s right. And so is Shay Fahy. But Thompkins is stiill in many people's opinion Cork's best player in living memory. Cork unlikely to have won those AIs without them.
Quote from: 5 Sams on February 21, 2014, 09:54:02 PM
Love starting a wee bit of debate...so imho these are the best ever from each of the 32...I picked them from own opinion, in some cases from general opinion e.g. Jack Brattan and Seán Purcell and others were just pure guesses from a vague knowledge of your county's football history ....if anyone wants to suggest a player from London and NY feel free..
So away ye go lads...let me have it.....give good arguments if you disagree...and tell me why I'm talking shite if that is the case..I have a thick skin.
Antrim - Kevin Armstrong
Armagh - Jack Brattan
Carlow - Hugh Brennan
Cavan - Gunner Brady
Clare - Seamus Clancy
Cork - JBM
Derry - Jim McKeever
Donegal - Martin McHugh
Down - Seán O'Neill
Dublin - Heffo
Fermanagh - Peter McGennity
Galway - Seán Purcell
Kerry - Mick O'Connell
Kildare - John Doyle
Kilkenny - D J Carey ;)
Laois - Tommy Murphy
Leitrim - Mickey Quinn
Limerick - John Quane
Longford - Paul Barden
Louth - Stephen White
Mayo - Ciarán McDonald
Meath - Trevor Giles
Monaghan - Nudie
Offaly - Matt Connor
Roscommon - Dermot Earley Snr
Sligo - Mickey Kerins
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Frank McGuigan
Waterford - Liam Ó Lionáin
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - Sorry this one has me snookered :-\
Moses Coffey was about the best Wicklow ever had.
Limiting it to players I've seen.
Antrim - cant think of one
Armagh - Oisin
Carlow - Brendan Murphy
Cavan - Big Dermot
Clare - Seamus Clancy
Cork - Tompkins
Derry - Anthony Tohill
Donegal - Michael Murphy
Down - Mickey Linden
Dublin - Stephen Cluxton
Fermanagh - Marty McGrath
Galway - Joyce
Kerry - Tomás
Kildare - Dermot Earley
Kilkenny - ?
Laois - Beano as a minor
Leitrim - Mulligan
Limerick - The midfielder...... Can't think of his name
Longford - Paul Barden
Louth - Keenan
Mayo - McDonald
Meath - Giles
Monaghan - Tommy
Offaly - Niall McNamee
Roscommon - Frankie Dolan
Sligo - Eamonn O'Hara
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Peter Canavan
Waterford - Hurney
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - Kevin O'Brien
Quote from: trileacman on February 21, 2014, 11:38:32 PM
I'd be very tempted to go for Peter Canavan too.
Can I make an accusation about your list there too, and it is strongly reflected in the wider Irish psyche, alot of them whilst hugely talented didn't match that with success. It's as if we reminisce more fondly on the lads who pissed it away on drink, through injury or just never had the lads round them to finish the job. I'm pretty sure that if Canavan had not have won an All-Ireland in 03 he'd be on that list instead of Frank.
Again the others there, Matt Connor - struck down in his prime,
Jim McKeever - didn't get his All-Ireland,
Peter McGinnity - didn't get the recognition or plaudits of later players (McGrath/Owens),
John Doyle,
Tommy Murphy - always referred to "the best player never to win an All-Ireland",
Declan Browne,
Just a point I thought I'd make.
I would nearly say Cavanagh is at McGuigan's level, especially seeing him drag Tyrone around last year. He has the size, fielding, can score off both feet, has a dummy figured very well to match McGuigan (probably not exceed him though) and he is probably faster than McGuigan. Now I'm not saying that Cavanagh is the best player around at the minute (he's up there but a clear level off the best) but I think we wax too lyrically about our flawed heroes.
Ps: Would John Joe Reilly not out pip Gunner Brady? And I'd fairly rate Steven McDonnell a clear distance ahead of any of those Armagh bunch I seen.
Football is a team sport. If you restrict the criteria to all Ireland winners it means there are 150 players per decade who qualify.
And every all Ireland team has a passenger or two. Or even three.
In the hurling Michael O'Halloran was a back on the Clare team in 95. To say he was better than all the losers that played intercounty hurling in 95 would be insane.
Tyrone had some fabulous players in 03-05-08 but do they automatically trump every single player who ever put on the jersey going back 100 years.?
Those boys brought recognition and kudos to Tyrone but the excellence was there in individual cases long before.
You need 3 or 4 stars to win an all Ireland . If you only have 2 it doesn't mean the 2 fellas are less good than those that won.
I like that thing the Follower said - "they will be remembered by their people"
I think the point was that quite often players get more credit and built up for not playing and messing about during their career and a dedicated successful footballer. Canaan delivered time and time again for Tyrone over a long period of time. He helped inspire a log of young footballers in Tyrone in 95 and went on to help them win the all Ireland. Mcguigan was a brilliant footballer but didn't deliver often of wasn't available for long enough to make him the best in my opinion.
Quote from: Redhand Santa on February 22, 2014, 08:02:19 AM
I think the point was that quite often players get more credit and built up for not playing and messing about during their career and a dedicated successful footballer. Canaan delivered time and time again for Tyrone over a long period of time. He helped inspire a log of young footballers in Tyrone in 95 and went on to help them win the all Ireland. Mcguigan was a brilliant footballer but didn't deliver often of wasn't available for long enough to make him the best in my opinion.
Exactly - if we are discussing Tyrone's best footballer, it has to be Canavan. He delivered nearly every time over a period spanning almost 15 years. McGuigan was a massive talent but didn't necessarily fulfill that talent in a Tyrone jersey over a consistent period of time to warrant being in the same bracket as Canavan. If we were discussing the greatest talent to come out of each county then that might be a different argument.
Quote from: moysider on February 22, 2014, 12:13:06 AM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on February 21, 2014, 11:57:03 PM
Larry Tompkins is a Kildare man.
That s right. And so is Shay Fahy. But Thompkins is stiill in many people's opinion Cork's best player in living memory. Cork unlikely to have won those AIs without them.
True but it states from your County Tompkins played for Cork he is from Kildare.
Have swapped a dozen times between Tomás Ó Sé, Maurice Fitz, Jack O'Shea, Mick O'Connell and Paddy Kennedy and from prioritizing greatest talent, most influential or most consistent. In the end going for Jack O'Shea as he was consistently brilliant in virtually every game for about 10 years winning player of the year an incredible 4 years. He had an advantage over Tomas Ó Sé in that a midfielder will have huge involvement in a game while Tomas would regularly have completely dominated his man, had a good few bursts upfield and it would be put down as a quiet or normal performance.
Hell, Matt Connor the best player on this thread
Francie
Tyrone - Canavan.
The Bear.
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on February 22, 2014, 02:02:53 PM
Hell, Matt Connor the best player on this thread
Did they ever make a Laochra Gael programme on Matt Connor?
Yep about 10 years ago. No sign of it though online :( :(
Galway - PJ
Quote from: Syferus on February 21, 2014, 11:02:58 PM
For our Lovley neighbours it's hard to look beyond Emlyn Mulligan. Most skilled player in Connacht with vision only equalled by Gooch. If I could nab any player in the country for my team he'd be very near the top of the list.
Packy McGarty, Cathal Flynn or Mickey Martin would give him a run for his money any day.
Canavan would be in my top 3 all time players, from an armagh man thats saying something. As a youngster i used to watch videos of him playing his movement both on and and off the ball was sublime his vision was as good as any and his finishing was the best. We hear stories about the Frank Mcguigans and the Johnny Corvans but a definition of a true great in my eyes also includes length at the top and the ability to play with several generations/teams. a class act.
Armagh is a tough one, Mcgrane has a shout.
Quote from: Asal Mor on February 22, 2014, 04:45:54 PM
Galway - PJ
PJ in my lifetime certainly. I never saw Sean Purcell play but I know the older generation would say Purcell was the greatest. Full stop.
Surprised by two things.One that the greatest natural footballer ever produced, Paddy Moriarty hasn't been mentioned.and two,John Corvan has.Corvan was a player of outstanding ability who unfortunately never displayed it in a County Jersey, and was a major disappointment on the big occasions, ie All Ireland semi final in 82, NFL Final in 83 and the Ulster Final in 84 which was billed as a shoot out between him and Mc Guigan,and we know who won that one.I am struggling to recall even one outstanding game from John in a County Jersey. I wouldn't even have him near. Armagh's best ever team never mind best player.
Quote from: Lar Naparka on February 22, 2014, 05:59:41 PM
Quote from: Syferus on February 21, 2014, 11:02:58 PM
For our Lovley neighbours it's hard to look beyond Emlyn Mulligan. Most skilled player in Connacht with vision only equalled by Gooch. If I could nab any player in the country for my team he'd be very near the top of the list.
Packy McGarty, Cathal Flynn or Mickey Martin would give him a run for his money any day.
Ah now Lar - poor oul Syfín is only 13. He wouldn't be aware of the existence of them lads.
Quote from: Rossfan on February 22, 2014, 07:54:23 PM
Quote from: Lar Naparka on February 22, 2014, 05:59:41 PM
Quote from: Syferus on February 21, 2014, 11:02:58 PM
For our Lovley neighbours it's hard to look beyond Emlyn Mulligan. Most skilled player in Connacht with vision only equalled by Gooch. If I could nab any player in the country for my team he'd be very near the top of the list.
Packy McGarty, Cathal Flynn or Mickey Martin would give him a run for his money any day.
Ah now Lar - poor oul Syfín is only 13. He wouldn't be aware of the existence of them lads.
Didn't know ye were twins! ;D
While I'm at it, Gerry O'Malley was the best Rossie I ever saw.
Brian Mullins
Matt Connor
Quote from: Lar Naparka on February 22, 2014, 08:15:58 PM
While I'm at it, Gerry O'Malley was the best Rossie I ever saw.
A lot of the old timers swore by Bill Carlos but I think Gerry shades it as he played for 17 years and often with very poor teams.
Carlos went of to America while young so only played for a few years and was surrounded by excellent players.
Carney or Langan best of yours? McDonald or Joe Corcoran in the running?
Quote from: Rossfan on February 22, 2014, 08:56:03 PM
Quote from: Lar Naparka on February 22, 2014, 08:15:58 PM
While I'm at it, Gerry O'Malley was the best Rossie I ever saw.
A lot of the old timers swore by Bill Carlos but I think Gerry shades it as he played for 17 years and often with very poor teams.
Carlos went of to America while young so only played for a few years and was surrounded by excellent players.
Carney or Langan best of yours? McDonald or Joe Corcoran in the running?
I suppose it'll blow you mind to learn 20 years is longer than 17 years :-*
Just because the answer to this question is obvious doesn't make it any less true. O'Malley may come close but Dermot was a leader without equal not just in Roscommon GAA history. It sets him apart from the other greats when you need to choose a number one.
Taking my cue from the title of the thread - O'Malley was a much better footballer than Dermot. FULL STOP Gasúinín.
Now have your batheen and go to bed.
Quote from: Rossfan on February 22, 2014, 09:31:24 PM
Taking my cue from the title of the thread - O'Malley was a much better footballer than Dermot. FULL STOP Gasúinín.
Now have your batheen and go to bed.
So you're saying to make O'Malley number one you have to divorce other elements that make a great footballer, their leadership, attitude in training, how much team-mates responded to them. Makes zero sense.
You only need to ask any of Dermot's team-mates how much he meant to them to know he was the central cog in the whole machine, in play and emotionally. O'Malley by all accounts was a great leader too but it's hard to argue Dermot wasn't the most inspirational player Roscommon football has ever seen. There was an eloquence to Dermot's leadership that few men in any field possess.
You might heard, but he could play a bit of ball too. I know which player I'd fancy if they were running at a defence in their pomp.
In my time:
1. Canavan
2. Cavanagh
3. Jordan
I didn't see enough of Frank. McKenna was pivotal to his side but Sean won an All-Ireland final by grabbing it by the knackers.
Ach Shane,didn't you go to school with Iggy Jones?
Moriarity was the only Armagh player in 1977 that wouldn't have looked out of place on the Dublin or Kerry team of that era,a truly great player,who was consistently good in a county jersey for 12 long years 72 to 84),plus wasn't out of place at either half back or full forward.By a mile the best player ever to wear an Armagh jersey
The old people would tell us The Gallant John Joe was the greatest ever Cavan player. Of course I never saw him play. Probably Dermot McCabe or Stephen King was the best Cavan player in my time.
Quote from: Itchy on February 22, 2014, 11:10:44 PM
The old people would tell us The Gallant John Joe was the greatest ever Cavan player. Of course I never saw him play. Probably Dermot McCabe or Stephen King was the best Cavan player in my time.
Many old folk would contend that his brother Tom was the better footballer.
Leitrim - Aughavas' finest surely
(http://cdn2.independent.ie/migration_catalog/article28827912.ece/ALTERNATES/h342/4c54c0ab-0ec2-446b-aba1-4ce9f30aabcd.jpg)
Quote from: Rossfan on February 22, 2014, 08:56:03 PM
Quote from: Lar Naparka on February 22, 2014, 08:15:58 PM
While I'm at it, Gerry O'Malley was the best Rossie I ever saw.
A lot of the old timers swore by Bill Carlos but I think Gerry shades it as he played for 17 years and often with very poor teams.
Carlos went of to America while young so only played for a few years and was surrounded by excellent players.
Carney or Langan best of yours? McDonald or Joe Corcoran in the running?
It's Gerry for me alright. Like you say, he played for 17 years and most of the Ross and Connacht sides he played on were piss poor. Dermot was an exceptional player and sound skin to boot but he was a member of a very good side and I often wondered how he'd make out if he play with some of the duds O'Malley was stuck with.
I never saw Carlos play or heard much about him so I'm not qualified to judge his ability.
Same as Gerry, Ciaran Mac played on some awful bleddy teams whereas Carney and Langan were on the team that won two All Irelands so I'd have to give him the nod.
Quote from: Lar Naparka on February 23, 2014, 12:07:30 AM
Quote from: Rossfan on February 22, 2014, 08:56:03 PM
Quote from: Lar Naparka on February 22, 2014, 08:15:58 PM
While I'm at it, Gerry O'Malley was the best Rossie I ever saw.
A lot of the old timers swore by Bill Carlos but I think Gerry shades it as he played for 17 years and often with very poor teams.
Carlos went of to America while young so only played for a few years and was surrounded by excellent players.
Carney or Langan best of yours? McDonald or Joe Corcoran in the running?
It's Gerry for me alright. Like you say, he played for 17 years and most of the Ross and Connacht sides he played on were piss poor. Dermot was an exceptional player and sound skin to boot but he was a member of a very good side and I often wondered how he'd make out if he play with some of the duds O'Malley was stuck with.
I never saw Carlos play or heard much about him so I'm not qualified to judge his ability.
Same as Gerry, Ciaran Mac played on some awful bleddy teams whereas Carney and Langan were on the team that won two All Irelands so I'd have to give him the nod.
O'Malley played from 1947 to 1964, in other words he played with many of the greats of the 40's, made the 1962 AI final and won a total of five Connacht senior titles. Let's not over-egg it - O'Malley wasn't the lone diamond in those teams and he could have had the misfortune to have been born in a far worse era for Roscommon football.
I'm being put in the unenviable position of questioning the status of one of my footballing heroes but I really do feel on this topic alot people try to be cute and avoid the obvious choice because it's too simple and doesn't stand out. Dermot was the sort of player who could be great in an era without much of any change - could anyone say the same about O'Malley? Physically alone he wouldn't be able to match up with Dermot's power and exceptional fitness.
For all of O'Malley's mazy runs from HB if you ask his fellow backs he always had that great HB tendency; running up the field with the ball, losing it and having his fellow backs scrambling backwards with a free man running at them.
1.
(http://www.sportsfile.com/winshare/w540/Library/SF604/436832.jpg)
(Dermot aged 37 feckin' years old, no less)
2.
(http://historical.glynnsphotography.com/img/s3/v39/p232830321-4.jpg)
Antrim - Dunno
Armagh - Joe Keanan - he was like a battering ram in the forward line
Carlow - Dunno
Cavan - Don't care (but Cian Makey is good)
Clare - Seamus Clancy
Cork - Not O'Halpin
Derry - Bradley (the less obnoxious one)
Donegal - Daniel
Down - Mickey Linden
Dublin - Barney Rock
Fermanagh - Peter McGennity
Galway - Padraig Joyce
Kerry - Jack O'Shea
Kildare - John Doyle
Kilkenny - D J Dunno
Laois - Dunno
Leitrim - Dunno
Limerick - Dunno
Longford - Dunno but your man Paul Barden sounds familiar
Louth - Paddy Keenan
Mayo - Dunno
Meath - Trevor Giles
Monaghan - Hughes - a Maradonna when we didn't have much else, but we've certainly come on. Understand why some are suggesting Finlay and Hughes.
Offaly - Matt Connor
Roscommon - Dermot Earley
Sligo - Dunno
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Peter Canavan
Waterford - Dunno
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - this one has me snookered too
Quote from: babarino on February 23, 2014, 01:26:36 AM
Antrim - Dunno
Armagh - Joe Keanan - he was like a battering ram in the forward line
Carlow - Dunno
Cavan - Don't care (but Cian Makey is good)
Clare - Seamus Clancy
Cork - Not O'Halpin
Derry - Bradley (the less obnoxious one)
Donegal - Daniel
Down - Mickey Linden
Dublin - Barney Rock
Fermanagh - Peter McGennity
Galway - Padraig Joyce
Kerry - Jack O'Shea
Kildare - John Doyle
Kilkenny - D J Dunno
Laois - Dunno
Leitrim - Dunno
Limerick - Dunno
Longford - Dunno but your man Paul Barden sounds familiar
Louth - Paddy Keenan
Mayo - Dunno
Meath - Trevor Giles
Monaghan - Hughes - a Maradonna when we didn't have much else, but we've certainly come on. Understand why some are suggesting Finlay and Hughes.
Offaly - Matt Connor
Roscommon - Dermot Earley
Sligo - Dunno
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Peter Canavan
Waterford - Dunno
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - this one has me snookered too
You Dunno much.
Laochra Gael is another way of looking at it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laochra_Gael
Louth - Dermot O'Brien
Cavan - John Wilson
Kerry - Paidi, Pat Spillane, the Bomber, Jack O Shea, Mikey Sheehy, Seamus Moynihan
Donegal - wee Martin
Down - Paddy Doherty , Mickey Linden
Armagh - Oisin
Kildare- Glen Ryan
Roscommon- Dermot Earley
Galway - Enda Colleran, Ja, Purcell, PJ , Mattie McDonagh, De Paor
Dublin- Jimmy Keaveney , Charlie Redmond , Tony Hanahoe
Leitrim- Colm O'Rourke
Offaly- Matt Connor , Tony McTague
Cork- Billy Morgan, Dinny Allen , Ray Cummins, Teddy McCarthy
Meath - Peter McDermott , Mick Lyons, Liam Hayes
Tyrone- Frank McGuigan , Cormac McAnallen , Canavan
Sligo - Mickey Kearns
Monaghan - Nudie
Derry - Brolly , Anthony Tohill
Mayo - Willie Joe Padden
Tipp - Declan Browne
Bets footballer from my county and Ill include Derry, Armagh and most others was Peter the Great Canavan.
Surprised Nudie rules the roost over Eamon Mc Aneneny in Monaghan, thought he'd at least get a mention.
Threads like this our most famous son Dermot Earley will nearly always get our only mention, fair fcuks to Lar,Rosfan for giving O'Malley a mention but its a shame the likes of Aidan Brady,Harry Keegan,Pat Lindsay,Danny Murray,Gerry Connellan,Eamonn Boland,Jimmy Murray,Tony McManus,Bill Carlos,Phelim Murray etc get ignored even though all were outstanding footballers.
Quote from: ross4life on February 23, 2014, 07:02:04 PM
Threads like this our most famous son Dermot Earley will nearly always get our only mention, fair fcuks to Lar,Rosfan for giving O'Malley a mention but its a shame the likes of Aidan Brady,Harry Keegan,Pat Lindsay,Danny Murray,Gerry Connellan,Eamonn Boland,Jimmy Murray,Tony McManus,Bill Carlos,Phelim Murray etc get ignored even though all were outstanding footballers.
Keegan was mentioned only days ago in a similar thread and O'Malley is hardly an obscure figure in GAA lore, Ross.
See no mention of Francie in the above either..
Nudie with 3 all stars over ten years from 79 to 88, one as a corner back and 2 as corner forward is going to get the farney nod every time. The 80s team had some other great players like mceneney mccarville David Byrne the Murrays ray mccarron and big Eamonn murphy. But I think nudie will always get the nod as the best of that era
Quote from: trileacman on February 23, 2014, 05:25:00 PM
Surprised Nudie rules the roost over Eamon Mc Aneneny in Monaghan, thought he'd at least get a mention.
This topic may cause some debate in other counties, but Nudie will always be a clear winner when it comes to discussing Monaghans greatest player.
Had a good laugh at the post saying Kieran Hughes was the best Monaghan player they'd seen. Is last year's Ulster final the only Monaghan game they've seen? Even at that I thought Dessie was better.
Quote from: Syferus on February 23, 2014, 07:36:52 PM
Quote from: ross4life on February 23, 2014, 07:02:04 PM
Threads like this our most famous son Dermot Earley will nearly always get our only mention, fair fcuks to Lar,Rosfan for giving O'Malley a mention but its a shame the likes of Aidan Brady,Harry Keegan,Pat Lindsay,Danny Murray,Gerry Connellan,Eamonn Boland,Jimmy Murray,Tony McManus,Bill Carlos,Phelim Murray etc get ignored even though all were outstanding footballers.
Keegan was mentioned only days ago in a similar thread and O'Malley is hardly an obscure figure in GAA lore, Ross.
See no mention of Francie in the above either..
Never said he was & not the point i was making. Francie as in Grehan? he would make it onto our best team of the last 20 years however i doubt he would be in the bracket as those named above.
Quote from: ross4life on February 23, 2014, 09:00:25 PM
Quote from: Syferus on February 23, 2014, 07:36:52 PM
Quote from: ross4life on February 23, 2014, 07:02:04 PM
Threads like this our most famous son Dermot Earley will nearly always get our only mention, fair fcuks to Lar,Rosfan for giving O'Malley a mention but its a shame the likes of Aidan Brady,Harry Keegan,Pat Lindsay,Danny Murray,Gerry Connellan,Eamonn Boland,Jimmy Murray,Tony McManus,Bill Carlos,Phelim Murray etc get ignored even though all were outstanding footballers.
Keegan was mentioned only days ago in a similar thread and O'Malley is hardly an obscure figure in GAA lore, Ross.
See no mention of Francie in the above either..
Never said he was & not the point i was making. Francie as in Grehan? he would make it onto our best team of the last 20 years however i doubt he would be in the bracket as those named above.
Francie was very versatile. If you were making a real team he'd easily make the first 15 because he could be a quality player in six or eight positions and you'd need to be switching players if something is going wrong.
Always thought Derek Dougan was a very good roscommon player, or was the long range point against mayo in the 91 final the reason i remember so much when thinking of roscommon players, still have that game on tape, might point
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on February 23, 2014, 09:27:39 PM
Always thought Derek Dougan was a very good roscommon player, or was the long range point against mayo in the 91 final the reason i remember so much when thinking of roscommon players, still have that game on tape, might point
Derek suffered a lot of injuries after '91, never got to showcase his talents properly. Was still lining out for Castlerea up until around ten years ago.
Surely Kevin O'Brien or Leighton Glynn for Wicklow, in my tiem anyway.
JD a fair call for Kildare though couldn't argue if someone went with Glenn Ryan. Nuckser probably more talented than both.
Quote from: Schkite on February 23, 2014, 08:27:59 PM
Quote from: trileacman on February 23, 2014, 05:25:00 PM
Surprised Nudie rules the roost over Eamon Mc Aneneny in Monaghan, thought he'd at least get a mention.
This topic may cause some debate in other counties, but Nudie will always be a clear winner when it comes to discussing Monaghans greatest player.
Had a good laugh at the post saying Kieran Hughes was the best Monaghan player they'd seen. Is last year's Ulster final the only Monaghan game they've seen? Even at that I thought Dessie was better.
Yeah even with the excuse of "in my time" anyone over the ages of 15 would have to give the nod to Tommy Freeman who achieved alot.
Quote from: Ohtoohtobe on February 23, 2014, 11:59:34 PM
JD a fair call for Kildare though couldn't argue if someone went with Glenn Ryan. Nuckser probably more talented than both.
I think Glenn and Johnny were the only two of our most talented players of the last 30 years or so who reached their true potential in a Kildare jersey.
Nuxer was injured after the Leinster Final in 98 and was then lost to emigration when he should have been at his peak. He was the most naturally talented Kildare footballer I have seen apart from Martin Lynch who was almost unplayable as a midfielder when he was in the right mood. He won an All Star at midfield as a 20 year old. I don't think he ever scaled those heights again afterwards because we had to make a forward out of him where he was never as influential.
Cork saw Larry's best years rather than Kildare. He never got a chance to shine on a poor Kildare team in the eighties but could have made a big difference on the team during Micko's first stint in the early nineties. Fahy likewise.
Dermot Earley probably only had two injury free years in his entire career and won an All Star in both of those years.
As consistently excellent as Johnny has been for 14 years I would have to go with Glenn as the best Kildare footballer I have seen. I think Glenn was one of the best players in his position of his generation but I'm not sure I could say the same about Johnny. Micko said that Glenn's display against Laois in 97 was the greatest performance from a centre half back that he had ever seen in Croke Park. That's good enough for me.
QuoteLongford - Paul Barden
Or Dessie Barry? Or Sean Donnelly?
You can make a very strong case for both McGuigan and Canavan.Peter contributed more to Tyrone's cause over the years.Frank spent a good few years in the States but for sheer footballing ability I would say Frank.
I met Micheal O'Muireheartaigh a few years ago and asked him if there was one place left in the full forward line who would he pick at no.15,Frank or Peter.He replied"Thats an easy one to answer.It would be Peter as Frank would be wearing 14"
He covered himself well with that answer lol.
My take on this. I think we did something similar a while ago, but I can't remember what I said then :) Only lads I can remember seeing, so no Mick O'Connell, Sean O'Neill or Sean Purcell etc.
Fermanagh - Peter McGinnity
Antrim - Kevin Brady
Tyrone - Peter Canavan
Derry - Anthony Tohill
Armagh - Oisin McConville
Down - Mickey Linden
Cavan - Stephen King
Donegal - Karl Lacey
Monaghan - Nudie Hughes
Louth - Paddy Keenan
Meath - Mick Lyons
Dublin - Bernard Brogan
Wicklow - Kevin O'Brien
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Carlow - Brendan Murphy
Kilkenny -
Laois - Joe Higgins
Offaly - Matt Connor
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Longford - Dessie Barry
Cork - Anthony Lynch
Kerry - Maurice Fitzgerald
Tipperary - Declan Brown
Waterford - Gary Hurney
Clare - Odhran O'Dwyer
Limerick - John Galvin
Sligo - Eamon O'Hara
Mayo - Ciaran McDonald
Roscommon - Dermot Earley
Leitrim - Emlyn Mulligan
Galway - Pauric Joyce
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on February 23, 2014, 09:27:39 PM
Always thought Derek Dougan was a very good roscommon player, or was the long range point against mayo in the 91 final the reason i remember so much when thinking of roscommon players, still have that game on tape, might point
Derek Dougan was a soccer player.
Derek
Duggan was a Ros player who was magic at 19 but injuries and playing on poor teams meant he faded away.
As for Francheen Grehan being in the running for best ever Ros player - even for Syfín that's some sh1te.
( don't take it personally Freddie- I always admired your spirit -but let's have realism)
Quote from: Rossfan on February 24, 2014, 04:34:48 PM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on February 23, 2014, 09:27:39 PM
Always thought Derek Dougan was a very good roscommon player, or was the long range point against mayo in the 91 final the reason i remember so much when thinking of roscommon players, still have that game on tape, might point
Derek Dougan was a soccer player.
Derek Duggan was a Ros player who was magic at 19 but injuries and playing on poor teams meant he faded away.
As for Francheen Grehan being in the running for best ever Ros player - even for Syfín that's some sh1te.
( don't take it personally Freddie- I always admired your spirit -but let's have realism)
You seem to have mistake 'best Roscommon player' with the 'best Roscommon team'. Back to school, or are you out on the rag?
Quote from: Syferus on February 23, 2014, 07:36:52 PM
Quote from: ross4life on February 23, 2014, 07:02:04 PM
Threads like this our most famous son Dermot Earley will nearly always get our only mention, fair fcuks to Lar,Rosfan for giving O'Malley a mention but its a shame the likes of Aidan Brady,Harry Keegan,Pat Lindsay,Danny Murray,Gerry Connellan,Eamonn Boland,Jimmy Murray,Tony McManus,Bill Carlos,Phelim Murray etc get ignored even though all were outstanding footballers.
Keegan was mentioned only days ago in a similar thread and O'Malley is hardly an obscure figure in GAA lore, Ross.
See no mention of Francie in the above either..
Where does it say team in that y'eejitín
Quote from: AZOffaly on February 24, 2014, 09:51:45 AM
My take on this. I think we did something similar a while ago, but I can't remember what I said then :) Only lads I can remember seeing, so no Mick O'Connell, Sean O'Neill or Sean Purcell etc.
Fermanagh - Peter McGinnity
Antrim - Kevin Brady
Tyrone - Peter Canavan
Derry - Anthony Tohill
Armagh - Oisin McConville
Down - Mickey Linden
Cavan - Stephen King
Donegal - Karl Lacey
Monaghan - Nudie Hughes
Louth - Paddy Keenan
Meath - Mick Lyons
Dublin - Bernard Brogan
Wicklow - Kevin O'Brien
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Carlow - Brendan Murphy
Kilkenny -
Laois - Joe Higgins
Offaly - Matt Connor
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Longford - Dessie Barry
Cork - Anthony Lynch
Kerry - Maurice Fitzgerald
Tipperary - Declan Brown
Waterford - Gary Hurney
Clare - Odhran O'Dwyer
Limerick - John Galvin
Sligo - Eamon O'Hara
Mayo - Ciaran McDonald
Roscommon - Dermot Earley
Leitrim - Emlyn Mulligan
Galway - Pauric Joyce
If you're old enough to remember Tohill, Linden etc, I assume you saw Tompkins, Steven O'Brien, Niall Cahalane play? Not jumping on you or anything, but can't see how you would pick Lynch over those 3 at least?
Although they never won all Ireland's the two naturally gifted players I have ever seen playing in Down were Shorty and Benny.
Quote from: Ciarrai_thuaidh on February 24, 2014, 11:40:24 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on February 24, 2014, 09:51:45 AM
My take on this. I think we did something similar a while ago, but I can't remember what I said then :) Only lads I can remember seeing, so no Mick O'Connell, Sean O'Neill or Sean Purcell etc.
Fermanagh - Peter McGinnity
Antrim - Kevin Brady
Tyrone - Peter Canavan
Derry - Anthony Tohill
Armagh - Oisin McConville
Down - Mickey Linden
Cavan - Stephen King
Donegal - Karl Lacey
Monaghan - Nudie Hughes
Louth - Paddy Keenan
Meath - Mick Lyons
Dublin - Bernard Brogan
Wicklow - Kevin O'Brien
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Carlow - Brendan Murphy
Kilkenny -
Laois - Joe Higgins
Offaly - Matt Connor
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Longford - Dessie Barry
Cork - Anthony Lynch
Kerry - Maurice Fitzgerald
Tipperary - Declan Brown
Waterford - Gary Hurney
Clare - Odhran O'Dwyer
Limerick - John Galvin
Sligo - Eamon O'Hara
Mayo - Ciaran McDonald
Roscommon - Dermot Earley
Leitrim - Emlyn Mulligan
Galway - Pauric Joyce
If you're old enough to remember Tohill, Linden etc, I assume you saw Tompkins, Steven O'Brien, Niall Cahalane play? Not jumping on you or anything, but can't see how you would pick Lynch over those 3 at least?
I never got the Larry Tompkins thing. A good player, but I never really enjoyed him as much as other people. Steven O'Brien is a good shout alright, but I just thought Anthony Lynch was a great player for Cork teams that probably never won as much as they should have. It's all subjective I suppose, but if I was picking a team I'd have Anthony Lynch on it before I'd have Tompkins. I might review on the Stephen O'Brien one alright. Niall Cahalane I wouldn't have put in with the others at all.
Can't understand this talk of McGuigan better than Canavan? Canavan IMHO is the best that has ever played the game never mind Tyrone. This is no insult to McGuigan as he was quality but not better than PTG.
I think Peter Canavan was a great player, no doubt, but I don't think I'd call him the best to ever play the game. It's hard to compare backs and forwards, midfielders and backs etc etc, I think it's really only fair to compare in the same position. Even in the forwards though I can think of a couple that I would put just ahead of Canavan, great and all as he was.
Quote from: AZOffaly on February 25, 2014, 10:19:57 AM
I think Peter Canavan was a great player, no doubt, but I don't think I'd call him the best to ever play the game. It's hard to compare backs and forwards, midfielders and backs etc etc, I think it's really only fair to compare in the same position. Even in the forwards though I can think of a couple that I would put just ahead of Canavan, great and all as he was.
what forwards would you put ahead of canavan?
Maurice Fitzgerald, Gooch, Matt Connor, John Egan, maybe even the likes of Kevin O'Brien and Dessie Barry. if they were from a different county, would have gotten more notice and more big games. Talent wise those two were lethal as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Peter Canavan, and in his prime it was basically himself and Gooch that were the marquee forwards, before Brogan came good, and slightly ahead of Declan O'Sullivan at his best (a different type of player).
Quote from: EC Unique on February 25, 2014, 10:16:47 AM
Can't understand this talk of McGuigan better than Canavan? Canavan IMHO is the best that has ever played the game never mind Tyrone. This is no insult to McGuigan as he was quality but not better than PTG.
All a matter of opinion and debate.
Mc Guigan didn't even work at his game and look how good he was.
Had Frank been around today and had the benefit of modern day training regime, nutrition, diet, strength and conditioning etc etc, it's scary to think of the type of player he'd have been such was the natural raw talent that he possessed.
The same would apply to a good few others of that era it is fair to say as well.
Peter was an incredible player as well. He worked hard at it and trained and practiced at length.
So it's hard to say who was best given the different eras.
I know who had the most natural raw talent.
O'Muireachartaigh put Canavan in the corner and Frank in the middle.
Imagine had Mc Guigan been in the middle feeding Canavan instead of Canavan having to win his own ball before finishing ?.
Frank McGuigan taught me the dummy solo, I saw it on the Sunday Game that day he scored 0-11 (I think) against Armagh (I think). I just remember thinking it was class. I used it a lot over the years and I have to say it got me a fair few scores. Thanks Frank.
Quote from: AZOffaly on February 25, 2014, 10:51:59 AM
Frank McGuigan taught me the dummy solo, I saw it on the Sunday Game that day he scored 0-11 (I think) against Armagh (I think). I just remember thinking it was class. I used it a lot over the years and I have to say it got me a fair few scores. Thanks Frank.
You're welcome. ;)
Quote from: orangeman on February 25, 2014, 10:50:16 AM
Quote from: EC Unique on February 25, 2014, 10:16:47 AM
Can't understand this talk of McGuigan better than Canavan? Canavan IMHO is the best that has ever played the game never mind Tyrone. This is no insult to McGuigan as he was quality but not better than PTG.
All a matter of opinion and debate.
Mc Guigan didn't even work at his game and look how good he was.
Had Frank been around today and had the benefit of modern day training regime, nutrition, diet, strength and conditioning etc etc, it's scary to think of the type of player he'd have been such was the natural raw talent that he possessed.
The same would apply to a good few others of that era it is fair to say as well.
Peter was an incredible player as well. He worked hard at it and trained and practiced at length.
So it's hard to say who was best given the different eras.
I know who had the most natural raw talent.
O'Muireachartaigh put Canavan in the corner and Frank in the middle.
Imagine had Mc Guigan been in the middle feeding Canavan instead of Canavan having to win his own ball before finishing ?.
i take your point about mcguigans natural ability, but for me Canavan delivered for tyrone pretty much every time he set foot on the pitch and over a sustained period of time.
As well as his ability he was a leader and set the standard for those young lads of that 97-98 minor time coming into the senior ranks.
For me , he is hands down Tyrones greatest player, although mcguigan was certainly special
All that is ever really said about McGuigan is the 11 points against Armagh. How good were Armagh then anyway? How many more games did Canavan contribute as much if not more? I'd say he did it alot.
I think we all forget how good Canavan was. You always tend to remember the player as he was near the end, and while Canavan was still brilliant in the noughties he was untouchable in the mid 90s. There are a few videos of him on youtube that simply amaze me when I watch them again. Countless examples of him fetching a ball, going on Messi-esque runs around defender after defender and scoring points galore. The Gooch is one of the all time greats, but neither him or McGuigan were as good as Canavan was at his best.
Quote from: nrico2006 on February 25, 2014, 11:19:44 AM
All that is ever really said about McGuigan is the 11 points against Armagh. How good were Armagh then anyway? How many more games did Canavan contribute as much if not more? I'd say he did it alot.
I think we all forget how good Canavan was. You always tend to remember the player as he was near the end, and while Canavan was still brilliant in the noughties he was untouchable in the mid 90s. There are a few videos of him on youtube that simply amaze me when I watch them again. Countless examples of him fetching a ball, going on Messi-esque runs around defender after defender and scoring points galore. The Gooch is one of the all time greats, but neither him or McGuigan were as good as Canavan was at his best.
I'm not taking away from how good Canavan was, he caused Derry all sorts of bother until Sean Marty came on the scene :) What you fail to point out is that there were no blanket defences in the early/mid 90's. The Gooch would have ran riot had he been around in that period. However it should be also noted that Kerry werent as strong then.
A testimony as to how good Canavan was is that men used to drive up regularly from Cork and Kerry to watch Errigal Ciaran league matches just to witness the little maestro in action!
Quote from: Ciarrai_thuaidh on February 21, 2014, 10:21:39 PM
Mick O'Connell might have been good for his day, but he wouldn't make my top 5.
1. Jacko
2. Spillane
3. Moynihan
4. Maurice Fitz
5. Cooper
That could change every hour of the day, but Jacko is the best I've seen.
I realise you are spoilt for choice down there, but is Micko excluded because he was before your time or you rate Jacko above him, having seen Micko in the 1960's?
Quote from: nrico2006 on February 25, 2014, 11:19:44 AM
All that is ever really said about McGuigan is the 11 points against Armagh. How good were Armagh then anyway? How many more games did Canavan contribute as much if not more? I'd say he did it alot.
I think we all forget how good Canavan was. You always tend to remember the player as he was near the end, and while Canavan was still brilliant in the noughties he was untouchable in the mid 90s. There are a few videos of him on youtube that simply amaze me when I watch them again. Countless examples of him fetching a ball, going on Messi-esque runs around defender after defender and scoring points galore. The Gooch is one of the all time greats, but neither him or McGuigan were as good as Canavan was at his best.
Canavan scored 11 points for Tyrone in a senior Championship game as well! Happened to be an All-Ireland final.
Quote from: EC Unique on February 25, 2014, 02:20:01 PM
Quote from: nrico2006 on February 25, 2014, 11:19:44 AM
All that is ever really said about McGuigan is the 11 points against Armagh. How good were Armagh then anyway? How many more games did Canavan contribute as much if not more? I'd say he did it alot.
I think we all forget how good Canavan was. You always tend to remember the player as he was near the end, and while Canavan was still brilliant in the noughties he was untouchable in the mid 90s. There are a few videos of him on youtube that simply amaze me when I watch them again. Countless examples of him fetching a ball, going on Messi-esque runs around defender after defender and scoring points galore. The Gooch is one of the all time greats, but neither him or McGuigan were as good as Canavan was at his best.
Canavan scored 11 points for Tyrone in a senior Championship game as well! Happened to be an All-Ireland final.
That jumps out but how many were from play. In saying that, a lot of Canavans frees in those days were ones he won himself and were chances he was likely to score from prior to being fouled.
What were his biggest tallies for Tyrone? What did he get in the U-21 Final v Kerry?
Quote from: orangeman on February 25, 2014, 10:50:16 AM
Quote from: EC Unique on February 25, 2014, 10:16:47 AM
Can't understand this talk of McGuigan better than Canavan? Canavan IMHO is the best that has ever played the game never mind Tyrone. This is no insult to McGuigan as he was quality but not better than PTG.
All a matter of opinion and debate.
Mc Guigan didn't even work at his game and look how good he was.
Had Frank been around today and had the benefit of modern day training regime, nutrition, diet, strength and conditioning etc etc, it's scary to think of the type of player he'd have been such was the natural raw talent that he possessed.
The same would apply to a good few others of that era it is fair to say as well.
Peter was an incredible player as well. He worked hard at it and trained and practiced at length.
So it's hard to say who was best given the different eras.
I know who had the most natural raw talent.
O'Muireachartaigh put Canavan in the corner and Frank in the middle.
Imagine had Mc Guigan been in the middle feeding Canavan instead of Canavan having to win his own ball before finishing ?.
He would also come against much better defending!
Have to say I disagree strongly on a few things...
1. Tompkins - In the AI final of 1988 (if you can find it somewhere.) In the drawn game Tompkins gives a performance that only Maurice Fitz in 1997 and Joyce in 2001 come close to equalling in my time watching finals. He was majestic. Absolutely dominated the game against a very good Meath team. Came into midfield fielding ball, got forward and kicked some massive scores aswell. He was absolutely brilliant for those 4 years 87-90, winning 3 Allstars and should have got the 4th probably aswell. His profile will have suffered a bit because after 1990 Cork slipped massively, caught on the hop by us in 1991, well beaten in 1992 and average thereafter for a few years. I hated the man as a young fella but he was absolute class.
2. Canavan - I would put him on a pedestal with Maurice Fitz and Gooch as the 3 best forwards I've seen. Stevie O'Neill was as talented as them in spurts, but not on same level due to inconsistency and unfortunate injuries. You could have arguments (and I have had many!) over who was better, but I'd rather just agree that they were 3 marvellous players to watch..slightly different the 3 of them, but brilliant in their own ways.
Fitz would just glide past people (sometimes forgotten he was a big man and played midfield a fair bit) and then with a languid flash of the boot would swing scores over from any angle.
Canavan would throw 4 dummy solos, ship 3 kicks in the ankles and still kick a score with either foot.
Gooch, would throw 3 defenders off course with one movement of his hands, swing over scores with either foot or throw cross field passes to team mates with ease.
All different styles, but all great to watch.
Matt Connor, I've only seen footage of, but was obviously an excellent player before his career ending accident. Pity we didn't get to see more of him.
Egan just beat fellas with raw power, the man was a tank! He could finish with both feet of course and threw a lovely dummy aswell. Amazing to think what the likes of him COULD have done with modern training, but we'll never know. Like some other sportsmen, John was also unfortunately never playing at his full potential as he had a serious drinking problem which contributed to his sad passing at a young age. Indeed 3 of the great Kerry team have left us all in their mid to early 50's.
Sorry, rambled a bit, but basically just think Fitz/Gooch/Canavan in no order are on a different plain to any forwards I've seen play the game.
Quote from: Main Street on February 25, 2014, 01:45:31 PM
Quote from: Ciarrai_thuaidh on February 21, 2014, 10:21:39 PM
Mick O'Connell might have been good for his day, but he wouldn't make my top 5.
1. Jacko
2. Spillane
3. Moynihan
4. Maurice Fitz
5. Cooper
That could change every hour of the day, but Jacko is the best I've seen.
I realise you are spoilt for choice down there, but is Micko excluded because he was before your time or you rate Jacko above him, having seen Micko in the 1960's?
Mick O'Connell? Way before my time. To me though, you can't compare football back in those days with the modern game as its not fair or equal...BUT, in my mind, Mick O'Connell was a great fielder, great free taker, yes..but couldn't compare to Jack O'Shea or Darragh in terms of overall skill. I mean I know it was rare at that time to be two footed, but when kicking with the left foot Micko just threw the ball up with his right hand and hoofed it..in the modern game he would be blocked/dispossessed multiple times trying that.
It isn't fair comparing anyone from that era like I said, different game altogether, but won't hear of any argument that O'Connell was better than Jacko personally. Have war with the grandfather over this all the time..and thats before we get into talking about Paddy Kennedy!
Every one has their own favourite player. From my own County Paul Barden is up there with the best. But Dessie Barry and Frank McNamee form the 80s. Going further back to the 60s Jim Hannify, Sean Murray, Jimmy Flynn and Bobby Burns can not be ingored
This thread should be closed page 7 and no mention of Larry Reilly.
Stephen O'Neill is the player that could have been up there if his career hadn't been decimated with injury. He rose to prominence at an early age but University committments etc curtailed his involvement in 2003, although he came on to kick 2 points that took Tyrone home. In 2005 he had a summer no player has matched since. He was untouchable that year and in my time watching football there has been no player better at scoring off either foot. Unfortunately, the beginning of 2006 saw the start of the saerious knee and hamstring injuries that were to affect him for the rest of his career. He still had a lot of good moments, but to be honest was never the same player again due to training restrictions and long term impact that the injuries had on his speed and agility.
Quote from: nrico2006 on February 25, 2014, 11:19:44 AM
All that is ever really said about McGuigan is the 11 points against Armagh. How good were Armagh then anyway? How many more games did Canavan contribute as much if not more? I'd say he did it alot.
I think we all forget how good Canavan was. You always tend to remember the player as he was near the end, and while Canavan was still brilliant in the noughties he was untouchable in the mid 90s. There are a few videos of him on youtube that simply amaze me when I watch them again. Countless examples of him fetching a ball, going on Messi-esque runs around defender after defender and scoring points galore. The Gooch is one of the all time greats, but neither him or McGuigan were as good as Canavan was at his best.
Frank McGuigan was away in the States before 84 and he had a car crash that ended his career shortly afterwards
This song was written about people like him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsNTmjlf1vI
Canavan was sensible but Frank showed him the way
Kieran Shannon's article on Frank McGuigan, printed in the Sunday Tribune on 21 September 2003 and reproduced here, has won this year's McNamee award for the best GAA article in a national newspaper.
The rise, fall and rise again of Tyrone's greatest player Brian McGuigan's father Frank is a true legend of the game, despite a career overshadowed by alcoholism A boy goes to a match with his father. It's in Clones, the 1984 Ulster final, his own Tyrone playing Armagh. It leaves him mesmerised. At full-forward for Tyrone is Frank McGuigan, the man just back from America. It's as if he's never been away. Armagh put three men on him and it makes no difference. Eleven times the ball is played into him, 11 times he scores. Five with his right, five with his left, one with his fist. The 13 year-old goes home to Glencull that night. He makes a decision. He wants to be a two-footed player. He wants to be Frank McGuigan. So he hits the local pitch and starts kicking ball after ball over thea posts. A few weeks later, a video of the match is floating around Tyrone. His father gets it for him. The boy studies it "three to 70 times". He keeps going to that pitch in Glencull, working on his left, his right, his dummy solo. Nineteen years later, that same boy kicks 11 points in an Ulster final. He's captain of his team the same day. When he collects the cup, he thanks his father who has just passed away for bringing him to Clones all those years ago. Peter Canavan never played underage club football. He didn't have to. A vision of Frank McGuigan was enough.
"'84, yeah. Ach, I did rightly but I was past my best at that stage. It was a thing I never got too excited about, to be honest, football. I always took it as something that you had or you hadn't. I wasn't prepared to work with it like. I could drink on a Saturday night and go out and play on the Sunday and it wouldn't seem to bother me. I wish I had been about today when I'd have known the importance of winning an All Ireland; I could have made a fortune out of it. In our time winning Ulster was the big thing. Like, f**k it after that. Because we drank and we drank and we drank. Especially me. I try to preach to the young boys now, OEFuck the drink.' I'm five years not drinking now and I'm the happiest I've ever been. I wouldn't have what I have with Brian and the kids if I hadn't done something. But see me there when I was drinking? I wouldn't have cared if the house was on fire. "Looking back, I'll never understand why I drank after the accident. I sometimes wonder if I hadn't got hurtS That's my one regret, that I let myself crash. When Brian and the boys were starting out in that school field back there, I couldn't go down with them. I'm not talking about coaching them like, I mean just kicking around with them. But then I probably would have been too busy drinking anyway. I might go without it for six months, then drink for three weeks. And I mean three weeks of pure f**king drink. Christ, you talk about George Best!S"
In Ulster football, Frank McGuigan is George Best; either the best player you've seen or the best you've never seen. Damien Barton says possibly the greatest privilege in his career was to come on for Derry in a McKenna Cup game in Cookstown and be on the same pitch as Frank McGuigan; Barton has won an All Ireland. Barton's old coach, Eamon Coleman, would cross the county bounds just to see McGuigan play. Only Mick O'Connell and Jim McKeever, Coleman reckons, could catch a ball as well as McGuigan. It was as if he was floating in the air, a skill McGuigan himself puts down to his parents' house in Ardboe; it mightn't have had any electricity, but it had a roof which he'd throw a tennis ball onto time and time again. Noel McGinn, who played with McGuigan in that famous Ulster final in 1984, swears that in one under-21 game against Cavan in Dungannon, a pile of players were around the square waiting for this high ball to come in when McGuigan just hung in the air, took it down with one hand and waltzed out with it. Mickey Harte played with the Tyrone minor team which McGuigan captained to an Ulster title in 1972. McGuigan, he says, was the most versatile and gifted player he has ever seen. He could catch a ball as if he had never left the ground. He could point with either foot. And he had that dummy solo. Harte maintains it should be called the McGuigan dummy. He's seen plenty of players, from Tony McManus to Canavan, perfect it since McGuigan. No one had even tried it before McGuigan. Martin McHugh can appreciate that. He played with McGuigan in the 1984 Railway Cup final. That day McGuigan had his back to goal and made this swivel with his hips which Connacht's Stephen Kinneavy bought completely. That goal won Ulster the Railway Cup. "I'd never seen a move like it before," says McHugh, "and I've never seen anything like it since." In Tyrone, they hadn't seen anything like him either. By the time he was 16, he already had legions of grown men who'd go anywhere in the county just to see him play. One day they went to see Ardboe against Carrickmore in the championship. There was a strong breeze that day. In the first half, Ardboe were playing with it, so they put McGuigan centre-forward where he ran up a big score to give Ardboe a considerable lead. In the second half they moved him to centre-back to defend it. He did. Sixteen year-olds weren't meant to do that against Carrickmore. Seventeen year-olds weren't meant to destroy Bellaghy either. That's what McGuigan did though in one Ulster club championship game. Coleman reckons that it was as good a display from midfield as the one McGuigan gave from full-forward against Armagh in '84. McGuigan himself thinks it was even better.
And so it continued. By the time he was 18 he had captained the Tyrone minors to the Ulster title and come on for the seniors the same day. By the time he was 19 he had once again been up the steps in Clones, this time to claim the title for the seniors. By the time he was 23 he had already been a four-time All Star replacement. He was a legend. He was also an alcoholic. The two went hand in hand. Frank McGuigan didn't have to buy a drink. Everyone loved his affable manner and everyone loved to say they bought Frank McGuigan a drink. After a match he'd be having a whiskey, when he'd look around and there would be another 10 glasses around him. Some were concerned. Jody O'Neill, McGuigan's old friend and county coach, says that in 1973, the same year McGuigan inspired Tyrone to the senior and under-21 Ulster titles, the county board told O'Neill to cut McGuigan. O'Neill, the county manager, said that if McGuigan went, so would he. Drink didn't seem to affect McGuigan on the pitch. The Saturday night before an All-Ireland under-21 semi-final in Galway, supporters found McGuigan lying drunk on a pavement; he was Tyrone's best player the next day. He had a habit of that. Johnny Hughes of Galway tells a story about the man he reckons was the greatest player and character he ever came across. One year on an All Star trip, Hughes knocked on McGuigan's door, wondering if he'd be able to play after an hour-and-a-half of sleep. "Frank got up and destroyed Brian Mullins. He was head and shoulders above everyone else that day." Some days he wasn't. McGuigan recalls one Ulster championship against Derry in '76. He had come home loaded at five in the morning. A few hours later the taxi appeared to bring him to the game in Clones. "My father never told me what to do or not to do about football in his life. But that morning he said, OESon, do the team a favour. Don't go to that game.' I was still drunk in the dressing room. I got a point but I can't remember anything about it. Derry won and ended up winning Ulster. We'd have won it if I hadn't been drunk. But again, I never put a pile of thought into it." Then he went to America and became the king of Gaelic Park. "Went." He laughs at that. Makes it sound like a decision. He tells how he "went" to America. In 1977, he was an All Star replacement. They arrived in Kennedy Airport on the Friday night and basically drank until the game that Sunday. After the game they drank some more until the bus came to bring them back to JFK. "Go on to f**k, I'm staying," McGuigan laughed to Sean Doherty. And he did. The next thing he was waking up in an apartment in the Bronx and the lads from Cookstown were away to work. That's how he "went" to America. For six years. He enjoyed it there. Met a girl, Geraldine, got married, had kids. Got a job in construction ("Didn't do a lot, I can assure you. The best job any man could have!"). No one bothered him there. He liked that, the neighbours not knowing who he was. At home, everyone did. Everyone does. Earlier this year Brian went out with his girlfriend and a few clubmates in Cookstown. Some of the clubmates got drunk. The next day Mickey Harte was asking Brian had he drank. Brian hadn't. Why had someone told Mickey he had?
Tyrone flew Frank McGuigan home to help them out in '82 and '83. Then they asked him to move home for good. He did; the kids would soon be starting school. The following July he kicked those 11 points. He hadn't lost it. Other habits hadn't faded either. One Saturday that November, he took a few hours from building his house to play a club league game for Ardboe. It was in the Moy against the Moy; Sean Cavanagh's father, Teddy, marked him. After the game he jumped into his Hiace van and was on the way home when he looked to his right and spotted a few Ardboe cars outside a pub. He turned round and had a few there. When he finally left for Ardboe, it wasn't for the house but for Forbes' bar, the place where he works now. They tell him that they actually had the keys off him but that somehow he got them back. By the time he came round he was in an ambulance on the M2 to Belfast. He couldn't understand why he couldn't walk. Then they told him that he crashed into the local church wall, that his right leg was completely shattered and that he could never play football again. He was just glad to be alive. "I was a very, very lucky boy. I'm able to get around the place, even if one leg is shorter than the other. Like, Matt Connor was in a crash the month after and it left him paralysed. I'd be grateful for things like that. And that I didn't hurt anyone else." He thinks of all the other things he could have been doing. Ireland were having trials for the Compromise Rules series that day but McGuigan had turned down the invite, telling the selectors that he was too busy building his house. "Normally," he laughs, "I wouldn't put work ahead of anything!" As that day turned out, he still put the drink ahead of it. The drink would continue to be put ahead of everything. When the little boy Canavan played in the 1995 All Ireland final, McGuigan didn't even see it; instead he lay in his car in Dublin, drunk. Once he managed to give it up for about a year when he went off to Clare for a golfing weekend. "We were in the clubhouse after our first round when I said, OEOkay, I'll have one of those nice pints of Guinness, no more and go back to the hotel.' I didn't play golf for the rest of the trip. I actually slept on the bus, all the way from Clare to here, and it's a long, long way from Clare to here." A fall-out was inevitable. One day when he finished a lengthy binge, he found Geraldine was gone and had taken the kids with her. He immediately turned to the drink again but realised there were no solutions in it. It was the problem. So he went for help in a clinic in Derry. For six weeks. Not to get Geraldine back, but to get Frank McGuigan back. He hated Frank McGuigan when he drank. All those years, they weren't fun. At times he thought they were, but they weren't. "How can you be having fun if you can't remember?" He's a new man now, this past five years.
A happy man, bursting with his life. Brian, Tommy and the youngest lad, 11 year-old Shay, are all back with him. It's a different life; when they come home at five o'clock, he's there. Gerry and himself are still friends. So are all the kids. When he sees fellas who he knows are drinking too much, he tells them they won't believe the benefits of coming off it. He's been to America twice, Portugal three times, golfing. He plans to go to Australia sometime. Things he'd never have been interested in if he were drinking. That's why he's not afraid to tell his story. People must know how lethal drink can be. He's concerned with the culture that goes with the GAA. Ardboe have a match two weeks after the All Ireland. Last week they had a team meeting where they agreed that if Tyrone won the All Ireland, they'd be off the drink by the Thursday. "It's very bad saying you're going to drink from Sunday to Wednesday. Why not just say, OEWe'll quit on Wednesday if we drink that length of time at all?'" McGuigan is coaching that Ardboe team. It's his first year involved and it's going well; that's a county semi-final they're playing in a fortnight's time. He says it's not him helping out Ardboe; it's Ardboe helping him. His sons Brian, Tommy and Frank all play for the club. It's another way of making up for lost time. "When I was drinking, I hurt people. Especially the kids. I had no patience when I drank. I wouldn't have gone to parent-teacher meetings, things like that. It's the least I owe them." The young lads are generating some folklore themselves. Last year Ardboe scored a goal that featured seven passes. Only the McGuigans were involved in it; no one else was on their wavelength. Twenty-five year-old Frank is on the senior panel. Nineteen year-old Tommy won a minor All Ireland two years ago and is on the county under-21 team; he'll be something else, maintains Frank Senior, if they can come up with a way to pay for the operation needed to sort out his knee once and for all. And then there's 23 year-old Brian. Frank says he doesn't give him any advice, that's what Mickey Harte is for. Harte maintains he has to say very little either; only Peter Canavan, the Tyrone manager reckons, has the same footballing brain. Art McRory once said it was impossible to give Frank McGuigan a bad pass; the current Tyrone team say it's impossible for Brian McGuigan to give one. "I've never seen him have a bad game this year," says his own father. "One pass and he can turn a game. He turned the Ulster final on it's head. For people to even say that the man-of-the-match that day was anyone else angers me. He should be recognised for the player he is. He's not and it's not fair. Like, the last day in Croke Park they announced him as OEBrian McGuigan, son of Frank McGuigan.'"
Neither of them should take any offence that he was described as Frank's son. As Canavan would agree, in a way, every Tyrone footballer is.
Quote from: nrico2006 on February 25, 2014, 03:39:00 PM
Stephen O'Neill is the player that could have been up there if his career hadn't been decimated with injury. He rose to prominence at an early age but University committments etc curtailed his involvement in 2003, although he came on to kick 2 points that took Tyrone home. In 2005 he had a summer no player has matched since. He was untouchable that year and in my time watching football there has been no player better at scoring off either foot. Unfortunately, the beginning of 2006 saw the start of the saerious knee and hamstring injuries that were to affect him for the rest of his career. He still had a lot of good moments, but to be honest was never the same player again due to training restrictions and long term impact that the injuries had on his speed and agility.
I agree..some of the scores, against Armagh and Dublin in particular, that he got that year were just outrageous. As good as anything or anyone I've ever seen. Pity that the injuries restricted him from there on.
Imagine a full forward line of Gooch Fitz Canavan. 3 of the greatest forwards we are likely to see.. Unplayable...
On another note, Stephen ONeill has scored some of the best points corker has ever seen and was a joy to watch, pity injuries have taken their toll..
These days, Bernard Brogan is probably the only one who is near that level
Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on February 24, 2014, 01:23:47 AM
Quote from: Ohtoohtobe on February 23, 2014, 11:59:34 PM
JD a fair call for Kildare though couldn't argue if someone went with Glenn Ryan. Nuckser probably more talented than both.
I think Glenn and Johnny were the only two of our most talented players of the last 30 years or so who reached their true potential in a Kildare jersey.
Nuxer was injured after the Leinster Final in 98 and was then lost to emigration when he should have been at his peak. He was the most naturally talented Kildare footballer I have seen apart from Martin Lynch who was almost unplayable as a midfielder when he was in the right mood. He won an All Star at midfield as a 20 year old. I don't think he ever scaled those heights again afterwards because we had to make a forward out of him where he was never as influential.
Cork saw Larry's best years rather than Kildare. He never got a chance to shine on a poor Kildare team in the eighties but could have made a big difference on the team during Micko's first stint in the early nineties. Fahy likewise.
Dermot Earley probably only had two injury free years in his entire career and won an All Star in both of those years.
As consistently excellent as Johnny has been for 14 years I would have to go with Glenn as the best Kildare footballer I have seen. I think Glenn was one of the best players in his position of his generation but I'm not sure I could say the same about Johnny. Micko said that Glenn's display against Laois in 97 was the greatest performance from a centre half back that he had ever seen in Croke Park. That's good enough for me.
Couldn't disagree. If longevity is a factor - and I think it has to be - then I'd go Glenn first, John second. However I think Nuckser at his best was a cut above any other Kildare player I've seen in terms of raw ability, the fact that he got an All-Star in a year Kildare were knocked out in the Leinster semi-final shows how unplayable he was that year. We never got the best from Lynch, though he did play a major role in 1998, "winning" so many frees. There was more in him though.
When did "ever" start ladeens? 1998? (or 2003 in Tyrone's case??)
I presume Kildare's best EVER would have been from 1927/28.
Quote from: Rossfan on February 26, 2014, 11:01:41 AM
When did "ever" start ladeens? 1998? (or 2003 in Tyrone's case??)
I presume Kildare's best EVER would have been from 1927/28.
Larry Stanley
I think the Lilies have 4 senior all Irelands
Quote from: Rossfan on February 26, 2014, 11:01:41 AM
When did "ever" start ladeens? 1998? (or 2003 in Tyrone's case??)
I presume Kildare's best EVER would have been from 1927/28.
Sure those were bad years for football. All the best teams of all-time played in the 40s.
Based on what I've seen. Had to leave a few out.
Antrim - Kevin Madden
Armagh - Kieran McGeeny
Carlow -
Cavan - Dermot McCabe
Clare -
Cork - Shea Fahey
Derry - Anthony Tohill
Donegal - Michael Murphy
Down - James McCarten
Dublin - Stephen Cluxton
Fermanagh - Rory Gallagher
Galway - Sean og de Poar
Kerry - Maurice Fitzgerald
Kildare - Glen Ryan
Kilkenny -
Laois - Ross Munnelly
Leitrim -
Limerick - Stephen Kelly
Longford - Paul Barden
Louth -
Mayo - Aiden O'Shea
Meath - Trevor Giles
Monaghan - Tommy Freeman
Offaly - Ciaran McManus
Roscommon - Frankie Dolan
Sligo - Eamon O'Hara
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Sean Cavanagh
Waterford -
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - Leighton Glynn
Nudie Hughes would be Monaghans. Could play anywhere and excel at it.
top half dozen footballers that I have seen in my lifetime are in no particular order;
Larry Tompkins (Cork) - awesome player who brought a level of performance and fitness that was rarely matched by any other player of that time. Had some great battles with the Meath men
Peter Canavan (Tyrone) - almost impossible to mark for entire game and only needed a sniff to be able to score. Great leader also. Arguably the best of all time....
Anthony Tohill (Derry) - Collosus of a man who despite his size had great skill, brilliant from the dead ball and had great fielding ability - was one of the first to step it up a gear in terms of prep and fitness
Kieran McGeeney (Armagh) - Great player & leader who done his talking on the pitch, quiet man who never failed to deliver when it mattered except 2005 AI semi if you are Joe Kernan
Trevor Giles (Meath) - brilliant player who had super vision and passing ability but deceptively very strong. Seemed to go thru games in slow motion such was his elegance.
Maurice Fitzgerald (Kerry) - like Giles, was supremely elegant and could play anywhere and score from anywhere as well. Should have won much more in terms of titles etc
Also considered;
Paul Curran (Dublin) - the first attacking half back and boy could he do it. Still reportedly going strong for Dublin 40+
Colm O'Rourke (Meath) - super player, strong, accurate and immense in the big games
Ja Fallon (Galway) - again a super player who could play anywhere and deliver the goods. Mighty left peg on him
Steven O'Brien (Cork) - could play anywhere on the pitch, very strong, dependable player. Much better defender though
Aaron Kernan (Armagh) - IMHO the best and most influential club player in Ireland by a mile. Due to Armagh going through a rough patch, does not get recognition he deserves
Niall Buckley (Kildare) - brilliant fielder with super skills who was lost to USA - is he still in the states....?
Brian McGuigan (Tyrone) - best performance in an AI final in 2005 that I have ever witnessed. Didn't get the plaudits he deserved
Quote from: nrico2006 on February 25, 2014, 03:39:00 PM
Stephen O'Neill is the player that could have been up there if his career hadn't been decimated with injury. He rose to prominence at an early age but University committments etc curtailed his involvement in 2003, although he came on to kick 2 points that took Tyrone home. In 2005 he had a summer no player has matched since. He was untouchable that year and in my time watching football there has been no player better at scoring off either foot. Unfortunately, the beginning of 2006 saw the start of the saerious knee and hamstring injuries that were to affect him for the rest of his career. He still had a lot of good moments, but to be honest was never the same player again due to training restrictions and long term impact that the injuries had on his speed and agility.
100%..., very few have lit up Croke Pk like O'Neill on his day. As naturally a gifted footballer that has ever played the game. Some player. The black card will bring more of the silky players to the fore again
Ciaran McDonald
Willie Joe Padden
Liam McHale
Tom Langan
Sean Flanagan
Peter Brogan
Paddy Prendergast
Padraig Carney
Sean Lowry
Henry Gavin
Kenneth Mortiomer
Peter Burke
Joe Corcoran
Kevin O'Neill
Tommy O'Malley
Noel Connelly
Colm McManamon
Willie Casey
John Morley
Gabriel Irwin
Ray Dempsey
Keith Higgins
Eugene Lavin
Andy Moran
Pat Fallon
Conor Mortimor
Quote from: OakleafCounty on February 26, 2014, 02:19:12 PM
Based on what I've seen. Had to leave a few out.
Antrim - Kevin Madden
Armagh - Kieran McGeeny
Carlow -
Cavan - Dermot McCabe
Clare -
Cork - Shea Fahey
Derry - Anthony Tohill
Donegal - Michael Murphy
Down - James McCarten
Dublin - Stephen Cluxton
Fermanagh - Rory Gallagher
Galway - Sean og de Poar
Kerry - Maurice Fitzgerald
Kildare - Glen Ryan
Kilkenny -
Laois - Ross Munnelly
Leitrim -
Limerick - Stephen Kelly
Longford - Paul Barden
Louth -
Mayo - Aiden O'Shea
Meath - Trevor Giles
Monaghan - Tommy Freeman
Offaly - Ciaran McManus
Roscommon - Frankie Dolan
Sligo - Eamon O'Hara
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Sean Cavanagh
Waterford -
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - Leighton Glynn
By the age profile of the other players ion your list I am assuming you mean James McCartan Junior?
No Canavan?
Rory Gallagher?
Quote from: Rossfan on February 22, 2014, 09:31:24 PM
Taking my cue from the title of the thread - O'Malley was a much better footballer than Dermot. FULL STOP Gasúinín.
Now have your batheen and go to bed.
I'm not about to interfere between genuine followers of Connacht football here, all making valid points, but just to say that Gerry O'Malley was the only player I've seen who could consistently subdue Sean Purcell. The fact that it was a bleak spell for Roscommon speaks volumes about O'Malley's colleagues. Dermot Earley was surrounded by better players, many of whom here mentioned in a subsequent post in fairness.
Galway: Sean Purcell.
Leitrim: Packy McGarty.
Mayo: Willie Casey.
Roscommon: Gerry O'Malley.
Sligo: Mickey Kearnes.
I can't fathom the Down nominations. Sean O'Neill is head and shoulders above all suggestions. (It must be an age thing) :-[
Quote from: Mikhailov on February 26, 2014, 03:47:46 PM
top half dozen footballers that I have seen in my lifetime are in no particular order;
Larry Tompkins (Cork) - awesome player who brought a level of performance and fitness that was rarely matched by any other player of that time. Had some great battles with the Meath men
Peter Canavan (Tyrone) - almost impossible to mark for entire game and only needed a sniff to be able to score. Great leader also. Arguably the best of all time....
Anthony Tohill (Derry) - Collosus of a man who despite his size had great skill, brilliant from the dead ball and had great fielding ability - was one of the first to step it up a gear in terms of prep and fitness
Kieran McGeeney (Armagh) - Great player & leader who done his talking on the pitch, quiet man who never failed to deliver when it mattered except 2005 AI semi if you are Joe Kernan
Trevor Giles (Meath) - brilliant player who had super vision and passing ability but deceptively very strong. Seemed to go thru games in slow motion such was his elegance.
Maurice Fitzgerald (Kerry) - like Giles, was supremely elegant and could play anywhere and score from anywhere as well. Should have won much more in terms of titles etc
Also considered;
Paul Curran (Dublin) - the first attacking half back and boy could he do it. Still reportedly going strong for Dublin 40+
Colm O'Rourke (Meath) - super player, strong, accurate and immense in the big games
Ja Fallon (Galway) - again a super player who could play anywhere and deliver the goods. Mighty left peg on him
Steven O'Brien (Cork) - could play anywhere on the pitch, very strong, dependable player. Much better defender though
Aaron Kernan (Armagh) - IMHO the best and most influential club player in Ireland by a mile. Due to Armagh going through a rough patch, does not get recognition he deserves
Niall Buckley (Kildare) - brilliant fielder with super skills who was lost to USA - is he still in the states....?
Brian McGuigan (Tyrone) - best performance in an AI final in 2005 that I have ever witnessed. Didn't get the plaudits he deserved
That's embarrassing. Without leaving the same club, Oisin McConville & John McEntee easily more influential and that's without trying. Wouldn't register in Armagh's best 50 players.
As an aside, it's amazing how people perceive the best club players to somehow always be playing for teams who win championships. Most of the best club players i've encountered over the years are performing heroics carrying mediocre teams on their back and keeping their club competitive in lower leagues.
Quote from: mayogodhelpus@gmail.com on February 26, 2014, 05:00:30 PM
Ciaran McDonald
Willie Joe Padden
Liam McHale
Tom Langan
Sean Flanagan
Peter Brogan
Paddy Prendergast
Padraig Carney
Sean Lowry
Henry Gavin
Kenneth Mortiomer
Peter Burke
Joe Corcoran
Kevin O'Neill
Tommy O'Malley
Noel Connelly
Colm McManamon
Willie Casey
John Morley
Gabriel Irwin
Ray Dempsey
Keith Higgins
Eugene Lavin
Andy Moran
Pat Fallon
Conor Mortimor
What's that?
Early possibilities for the local elections....Peter Brogan ::)
I see everyone is going with Paul Barden in Longford. Would argue its a very close run thing between Paul and Dessie Barry. Dessie would have played on any county team in Ireland. Some of the goals he scored were incredible including one very heartbreaking one from my own perspective!!!!
From a pure talent point of view I've seen very few footballers with the natural ability Declan Reilly possesses. I think he is completely wasted playing corner back for Longford but then he is the best corner back in Longford. The club tried an experiment a few years ago where he played full forward for 2 consecutive club league games and he scored a combined total of 16 pts. The experiment failed because they needed Declan Reilly out the field to kick the ball in to Declan Reilly!!! And speaking of Paul Barden he is the only player I have seen completely outplay Paul and he's done it more than once. Pity is of all the experts on this website you wouldn't find 10 who would recognize him if he walked past them......the problem with coming from an unfashionable little county!!
Ahem. I went with Dessie Barry.
Quote from: moysider on February 26, 2014, 11:12:57 PM
Quote from: mayogodhelpus@gmail.com on February 26, 2014, 05:00:30 PM
Ciaran McDonald
Willie Joe Padden
Liam McHale
Tom Langan
Sean Flanagan
Peter Brogan
Paddy Prendergast
Padraig Carney
Sean Lowry
Henry Gavin
Kenneth Mortiomer
Peter Burke
Joe Corcoran
Kevin O'Neill
Tommy O'Malley
Noel Connelly
Colm McManamon
Willie Casey
John Morley
Gabriel Irwin
Ray Dempsey
Keith Higgins
Eugene Lavin
Andy Moran
Pat Fallon
Conor Mortimor
What's that?
Just a reminder that we have had other great players not just Ciaran.
Can't comment too much on most counties but would go as follows
Tyrone Sean Cavanagh
Kildare Anthony Rainbow
Cork Anthony Lynch
Donegal Brian Roper (massively underrated imo )
Wexford Mattie Forde
Armagh Stevie McDonnell
Derry Anthony Tohill
Laois Paraic Clancy
As for Dublin, Kerry , Meath I couldn't really pick one out of the many great players they have had over the years. Probably seen these counties play the most .
Quote from: Canalman on February 27, 2014, 10:15:55 AM
Can't comment too much on most counties but would go as follows
Tyrone Sean Cavanagh
Kildare Anthony Rainbow
Cork Anthony Lynch
Donegal Brian Roper (massively underrated imo )
Wexford Mattie Forde
Armagh Stevie McDonnell
Derry Anthony Tohill
Laois Paraic Clancy
As for Dublin, Kerry , Meath I couldn't really pick one out of the many great players they have had over the years. Probably seen these counties play the most .
as good a player as cavanagh is , i cant see how anyone could pick him ahead of PTG ???
Quote from: LeoMc on February 26, 2014, 05:05:16 PM
Quote from: OakleafCounty on February 26, 2014, 02:19:12 PM
Based on what I've seen. Had to leave a few out.
Antrim - Kevin Madden
Armagh - Kieran McGeeny
Carlow -
Cavan - Dermot McCabe
Clare -
Cork - Shea Fahey
Derry - Anthony Tohill
Donegal - Michael Murphy
Down - James McCarten
Dublin - Stephen Cluxton
Fermanagh - Rory Gallagher
Galway - Sean og de Poar
Kerry - Maurice Fitzgerald
Kildare - Glen Ryan
Kilkenny -
Laois - Ross Munnelly
Leitrim -
Limerick - Stephen Kelly
Longford - Paul Barden
Louth -
Mayo - Aiden O'Shea
Meath - Trevor Giles
Monaghan - Tommy Freeman
Offaly - Ciaran McManus
Roscommon - Frankie Dolan
Sligo - Eamon O'Hara
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Sean Cavanagh
Waterford -
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - Leighton Glynn
By the age profile of the other players ion your list I am assuming you mean James McCartan Junior?
No Canavan?
Rory Gallagher?
Probably the most gifted. Still holds the record for the highest score in a match in championship football, 3 goals and 9 points is tight going, especially in the Ulster Championship for a minnow like Fermanagh.
Raymie was some player too. Scored a goal against Cavan in the late 90s which is the best goal I've ever seen (and was in the last few minutes while 3 points down, i.e. necessary, with all the pressure that brings), and in a thread discussing such scores, I saw a few cavan posters saying the same.
I never saw much of McGinnity, I'm pretty sure he wasn't going for that goal everyone talks about though. The likes of Paul Brewster and Paddy McGuinness were serious players, and the only thing that prevents them from being spoken with in the same breath as any of these is the relative lack of success during their time. Ryan McCluskey too could be considered, Owens suffered a lot through injury but was a hero, for me for Fermanagh though its Marty McGrath. Had his share of injuries too, but gave Fermanagh a presence they lacked, and was just a real leader.
Quote from: nrico2006 on February 25, 2014, 03:39:00 PM
Stephen O'Neill is the player that could have been up there if his career hadn't been decimated with injury. He rose to prominence at an early age but University committments etc curtailed his involvement in 2003, although he came on to kick 2 points that took Tyrone home. In 2005 he had a summer no player has matched since. He was untouchable that year and in my time watching football there has been no player better at scoring off either foot. Unfortunately, the beginning of 2006 saw the start of the saerious knee and hamstring injuries that were to affect him for the rest of his career. He still had a lot of good moments, but to be honest was never the same player again due to training restrictions and long term impact that the injuries had on his speed and agility.
I agree what a great talent Stephen O'Neill but as far as the best two-footed player of recent times, Maurice Fitzgerald is the undoubted king in my opinion.
Take this for a free off the ground with his 'weaker' foot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwEdA5yR5Ec
How many players would be even able to come close to doing that off the ground with their weaker foot in a challenge match never mind have such ability that they'd be confident enough to do it in an All-Ireland final?
The best I saw was in a UCC match when he scored a 45 off both, a sideline kick off both and a point from play off both.
I've seen a fair few players who were two footed from play, but very few players who were two footed from dead ball kicks off the hands as well, and nobody else except Maurice Fitz who were two footed from play, dead ball kicks off the hands and dead ball kicks off the ground. I know Stephen O'Neill took a lot of frees but I don't recall him ever taking one with his right?
I remember hearing that Mark Lynch used to hit frees off both feet too. Didn't Connolly take one this year of his weaker foot?
Quote from: nrico2006 on February 27, 2014, 02:55:44 PM
I remember hearing that Mark Lynch used to hit frees off both feet too. Didn't Connolly take one this year of his weaker foot?
Yea he possibly did but 'blanketattack' refers to the skill of doing it off the deck - only a very few players have ever tried it at senior county level.....lots can do it from the hands but off the deck is a much tougher skill
Quote from: AZOffaly on February 27, 2014, 09:15:16 AM
Ahem. I went with Dessie Barry.
Ahem, ahem, I mentioned 3 players of which they were two. :P
Yeah, but you're from fecking Longford :)
Quote from: haranguerer on February 27, 2014, 11:33:40 AM
Quote from: LeoMc on February 26, 2014, 05:05:16 PM
Quote from: OakleafCounty on February 26, 2014, 02:19:12 PM
Based on what I've seen. Had to leave a few out.
Antrim - Kevin Madden
Armagh - Kieran McGeeny
Carlow -
Cavan - Dermot McCabe
Clare -
Cork - Shea Fahey
Derry - Anthony Tohill
Donegal - Michael Murphy
Down - James McCarten
Dublin - Stephen Cluxton
Fermanagh - Rory Gallagher
Galway - Sean og de Poar
Kerry - Maurice Fitzgerald
Kildare - Glen Ryan
Kilkenny -
Laois - Ross Munnelly
Leitrim -
Limerick - Stephen Kelly
Longford - Paul Barden
Louth -
Mayo - Aiden O'Shea
Meath - Trevor Giles
Monaghan - Tommy Freeman
Offaly - Ciaran McManus
Roscommon - Frankie Dolan
Sligo - Eamon O'Hara
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Sean Cavanagh
Waterford -
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - Leighton Glynn
By the age profile of the other players ion your list I am assuming you mean James McCartan Junior?
No Canavan?
Rory Gallagher?
Probably the most gifted. Still holds the record for the highest score in a match in championship football, 3 goals and 9 points is tight going, especially in the Ulster Championship for a minnow like Fermanagh.
Raymie was some player too. Scored a goal against Cavan in the late 90s which is the best goal I've ever seen (and was in the last few minutes while 3 points down, i.e. necessary, with all the pressure that brings), and in a thread discussing such scores, I saw a few cavan posters saying the same.
I never saw much of McGinnity, I'm pretty sure he wasn't going for that goal everyone talks about though. The likes of Paul Brewster and Paddy McGuinness were serious players, and the only thing that prevents them from being spoken with in the same breath as any of these is the relative lack of success during their time. Ryan McCluskey too could be considered, Owens suffered a lot through injury but was a hero, for me for Fermanagh though its Marty McGrath. Had his share of injuries too, but gave Fermanagh a presence they lacked, and was just a real leader.
Here is the clip Harang:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFS2Ds6pxTM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFS2Ds6pxTM)
Brilliant stuff!
It.One that the greatest natural footballer ever produced, Paddy Moriarty hasn't been mentioned.and two,John Corvan has.Corvan was a player of outstanding ability who unfortunately never displayed it in a County Jersey, and was a major disappointment on the big occasions, ie All Ireland semi final in 82, NFL Final in 83 and the Ulster Final in 84 which was billed as a shoot out between him and Mc Guigan,and we know who won that one.I am struggling to recall even one outstanding game from John in a County Jersey. I wouldn't even have him near. Armagh's best ever team never mind best player.
[/quote]
Tony based on the criteria set forth by the title of the thread Johnny can be in the mix. The only player I ever saw in my life with a footballing brain as good as Johnny was Peter the great!
In the grand scheme of things he is not considered close to being an Armagh great, he simply had too short a career however he had the ability to make your jaw drop with his incredible intelligence and skill. Paddy Mo is a legend
Quote from: stew on February 27, 2014, 05:35:53 PM
It.One that the greatest natural footballer ever produced, Paddy Moriarty hasn't been mentioned.and two,John Corvan has.Corvan was a player of outstanding ability who unfortunately never displayed it in a County Jersey, and was a major disappointment on the big occasions, ie All Ireland semi final in 82, NFL Final in 83 and the Ulster Final in 84 which was billed as a shoot out between him and Mc Guigan,and we know who won that one.I am struggling to recall even one outstanding game from John in a County Jersey. I wouldn't even have him near. Armagh's best ever team never mind best player.
Stew
What is that DVD of Armagh 03 that you watch regularly ?
Is there anything that gives the background to what the win meant to the county ?
Tony based on the criteria set forth by the title of the thread Johnny can be in the mix. The only player I ever saw in my life with a footballing brain as good as Johnny was Peter the great!
In the grand scheme of things he is not considered close to being an Armagh great, he simply had too short a career however he had the ability to make your jaw drop with his incredible intelligence and skill. Paddy Mo is a legend
[/quote]
Greg McCartan could take it on the ground off either foot, hes the only one out of Maurice Fitz i seen do it
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on February 27, 2014, 06:05:20 PM
Greg McCartan could take it on the ground off either foot, hes the only one out of Maurice Fitz i seen do it
Kevin McStay was ambipedalous. Saw him kick frees off ground with both feet in championship in early eighties. Enda Colleran remarked on it on The Sunday Game at the time.
Quote from: mayogodhelpus@gmail.com on February 27, 2014, 09:55:34 AM
Quote from: moysider on February 26, 2014, 11:12:57 PM
Quote from: mayogodhelpus@gmail.com on February 26, 2014, 05:00:30 PM
Ciaran McDonald
Willie Joe Padden
Liam McHale
Tom Langan
Sean Flanagan
Peter Brogan
Paddy Prendergast
Padraig Carney
Sean Lowry
Henry Gavin
Kenneth Mortiomer
Peter Burke
Joe Corcoran
Kevin O'Neill
Tommy O'Malley
Noel Connelly
Colm McManamon
Willie Casey
John Morley
Gabriel Irwin
Ray Dempsey
Keith Higgins
Eugene Lavin
Andy Moran
Pat Fallon
Conor Mortimor
What's that?
Just a reminder that we have had other great players not just Ciaran.
Not really the thread for this but if you re going down that road why exclude recent players like James Nallen and James Horan? Likes of Peter Forde, Martin Carney and TJ from the 80s? Johnny Carey, Ger Feeney, Ted Web and Joe McGrath from 70s? And thats before we go back to the glory days of the 30s-50s.
Not saying any on your list are not worthy but ...........
Quote from: moysider on February 27, 2014, 10:45:12 PM
Quote from: mayogodhelpus@gmail.com on February 27, 2014, 09:55:34 AM
Quote from: moysider on February 26, 2014, 11:12:57 PM
Quote from: mayogodhelpus@gmail.com on February 26, 2014, 05:00:30 PM
Ciaran McDonald
Willie Joe Padden
Liam McHale
Tom Langan
Sean Flanagan
Peter Brogan
Paddy Prendergast
Padraig Carney
Sean Lowry
Henry Gavin
Kenneth Mortiomer
Peter Burke
Joe Corcoran
Kevin O'Neill
Tommy O'Malley
Noel Connelly
Colm McManamon
Willie Casey
John Morley
Gabriel Irwin
Ray Dempsey
Keith Higgins
Eugene Lavin
Andy Moran
Pat Fallon
Conor Mortimor
What's that?
Just a reminder that we have had other great players not just Ciaran.
Not really the thread for this but if you re going down that road why exclude recent players like James Nallen and James Horan? Likes of Peter Forde, Martin Carney and TJ from the 80s? Johnny Carey, Ger Feeney, Ted Web and Joe McGrath from 70s? And thats before we go back to the glory days of the 30s-50s.
Not saying any on your list are not worthy but ...........
I left a lot of the current players off because they are still playing (Andy and Keith got on my list). To be fair TJ Kilgallon and a few other players could have as easily made that list. Personally I always admired Maurice Sheridan and Michael Fitzmaurice.
Quote from: mayogodhelpus@gmail.com on February 27, 2014, 11:04:13 PM
Quote from: moysider on February 27, 2014, 10:45:12 PM
Quote from: mayogodhelpus@gmail.com on February 27, 2014, 09:55:34 AM
Quote from: moysider on February 26, 2014, 11:12:57 PM
Quote from: mayogodhelpus@gmail.com on February 26, 2014, 05:00:30 PM
Ciaran McDonald
Willie Joe Padden
Liam McHale
Tom Langan
Sean Flanagan
Peter Brogan
Paddy Prendergast
Padraig Carney
Sean Lowry
Henry Gavin
Kenneth Mortiomer
Peter Burke
Joe Corcoran
Kevin O'Neill
Tommy O'Malley
Noel Connelly
Colm McManamon
Willie Casey
John Morley
Gabriel Irwin
Ray Dempsey
Keith Higgins
Eugene Lavin
Andy Moran
Pat Fallon
Conor Mortimor
What's that?
Just a reminder that we have had other great players not just Ciaran.
Not really the thread for this but if you re going down that road why exclude recent players like James Nallen and James Horan? Likes of Peter Forde, Martin Carney and TJ from the 80s? Johnny Carey, Ger Feeney, Ted Web and Joe McGrath from 70s? And thats before we go back to the glory days of the 30s-50s.
Not saying any on your list are not worthy but ...........
I left a lot of the current players off because they are still playing (Andy and Keith got on my list). To be fair TJ Kilgallon and a few other players could have as easily made that list. Personally I always admired Maurice Sheridan and Michael Fitzmaurice.
Yeah. At the end of the day it s about individual perspective. When I was a kid the likes of Moclair, Burke, Courell, Flannelly, Carney etc were still around - never mind the kids from 50/51.
Quote from: haranguerer on February 27, 2014, 11:33:40 AM
Quote from: LeoMc on February 26, 2014, 05:05:16 PM
Quote from: OakleafCounty on February 26, 2014, 02:19:12 PM
Based on what I've seen. Had to leave a few out.
Antrim - Kevin Madden
Armagh - Kieran McGeeny
Carlow -
Cavan - Dermot McCabe
Clare -
Cork - Shea Fahey
Derry - Anthony Tohill
Donegal - Michael Murphy
Down - James McCarten
Dublin - Stephen Cluxton
Fermanagh - Rory Gallagher
Galway - Sean og de Poar
Kerry - Maurice Fitzgerald
Kildare - Glen Ryan
Kilkenny -
Laois - Ross Munnelly
Leitrim -
Limerick - Stephen Kelly
Longford - Paul Barden
Louth -
Mayo - Aiden O'Shea
Meath - Trevor Giles
Monaghan - Tommy Freeman
Offaly - Ciaran McManus
Roscommon - Frankie Dolan
Sligo - Eamon O'Hara
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Sean Cavanagh
Waterford -
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - Leighton Glynn
By the age profile of the other players ion your list I am assuming you mean James McCartan Junior?
No Canavan?
Rory Gallagher?
Probably the most gifted. Still holds the record for the highest score in a match in championship football, 3 goals and 9 points is tight going, especially in the Ulster Championship for a minnow like Fermanagh.
Raymie was some player too. Scored a goal against Cavan in the late 90s which is the best goal I've ever seen (and was in the last few minutes while 3 points down, i.e. necessary, with all the pressure that brings), and in a thread discussing such scores, I saw a few cavan posters saying the same.
I never saw much of McGinnity, I'm pretty sure he wasn't going for that goal everyone talks about though. The likes of Paul Brewster and Paddy McGuinness were serious players, and the only thing that prevents them from being spoken with in the same breath as any of these is the relative lack of success during their time. Ryan McCluskey too could be considered, Owens suffered a lot through injury but was a hero, for me for Fermanagh though its Marty McGrath. Had his share of injuries too, but gave Fermanagh a presence they lacked, and was just a real leader.
I was watching this the other day. A very young Raymondo Gallagher - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvvB99iNaEo
QuoteAhem. I went with Dessie Barry.
..AZ you're even wiser than I thought.
As for Billy ......but you left out the wrong one although in your defence I expect you are one of the ones that would recognise him
As for me in future when I start 9 pages into a thread I will either read it a little more carefully...or not at all!!
Quote from: haranguerer on February 27, 2014, 11:33:40 AM
Quote from: LeoMc on February 26, 2014, 05:05:16 PM
Quote from: OakleafCounty on February 26, 2014, 02:19:12 PM
Based on what I've seen. Had to leave a few out.
Antrim - Kevin Madden
Armagh - Kieran McGeeny
Carlow -
Cavan - Dermot McCabe
Clare -
Cork - Shea Fahey
Derry - Anthony Tohill
Donegal - Michael Murphy
Down - James McCarten
Dublin - Stephen Cluxton
Fermanagh - Rory Gallagher
Galway - Sean og de Poar
Kerry - Maurice Fitzgerald
Kildare - Glen Ryan
Kilkenny -
Laois - Ross Munnelly
Leitrim -
Limerick - Stephen Kelly
Longford - Paul Barden
Louth -
Mayo - Aiden O'Shea
Meath - Trevor Giles
Monaghan - Tommy Freeman
Offaly - Ciaran McManus
Roscommon - Frankie Dolan
Sligo - Eamon O'Hara
Tipperary - Declan Browne
Tyrone - Sean Cavanagh
Waterford -
Westmeath - Dessie Dolan
Wexford - Mattie Forde
Wicklow - Leighton Glynn
By the age profile of the other players ion your list I am assuming you mean James McCartan Junior?
No Canavan?
Rory Gallagher?
Probably the most gifted. Still holds the record for the highest score in a match in championship football, 3 goals and 9 points is tight going, especially in the Ulster Championship for a minnow like Fermanagh.
Raymie was some player too. Scored a goal against Cavan in the late 90s which is the best goal I've ever seen (and was in the last few minutes while 3 points down, i.e. necessary, with all the pressure that brings), and in a thread discussing such scores, I saw a few cavan posters saying the same.
I never saw much of McGinnity, I'm pretty sure he wasn't going for that goal everyone talks about though. The likes of Paul Brewster and Paddy McGuinness were serious players, and the only thing that prevents them from being spoken with in the same breath as any of these is the relative lack of success during their time. Ryan McCluskey too could be considered, Owens suffered a lot through injury but was a hero, for me for Fermanagh though its Marty McGrath. Had his share of injuries too, but gave Fermanagh a presence they lacked, and was just a real leader.
I always thought that was Frankie Donnelly. (I met his son in college years ago and that is where I heard about his scoring record).
Just looked it up on wiki and it confirms him scoring 4-11 against Fermanagh but it doesn't say in what competition. Anyone know?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Donnelly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Donnelly)
Edit: found this: http://www.hoganstand.com/Tyrone/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=74341 (http://www.hoganstand.com/Tyrone/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=74341)
It was in something called the Dr. Lagan Cup apparently.