The Irish News - your county's top 15 players ever

[Maximus Marillius]

This is the same SS2 that had a certain Mc Manus on his favourite Antrim team...not a clue really and his post backs it up all the way. Nudie one of the greats of the game.

[saffron sam2]

Yes Max, the old white rook argument. You have found one player who could possibly be described as a great. How many others on that list do you think will make the final 125?

[Maximus Marillius]

I feel that no-one from Monaghan has ever achieved greatness on the football pitch.

you said it

You have found one player who could possibly be described as a great.

make your mind up

[Maguire01]

Yes Max, the old white rook argument. You have found one player who could possibly be described as a great. How many others on that list do you think will make the final 125?

Well you said there were none, so that's one better already. There are a number of other all-star winners in there too. Who knows how many will make the final 125. No need for ignorant comments all the same.

[Drumanee 1]

thomas freeman is a class act and should make the 125,imo

[saffron sam2]

I feel that no-one from Monaghan has ever achieved greatness on the football pitch.

you said it

You have found one player who could possibly be described as a great.

make your mind up

No, personally, I wouldn't describe Nudie Hughes as a great; I can see how others may possibly feel otherwise. The term 'great' is bandied about far too readily. People like Sean O'Neill, Tony Scullion, Kieran McKeever, Mickey Linden, Paddy Doherty, Greg Blaney and Peter Canavan are greats. Nudie Hughes wasn't in the same league as any of these. A very good player no doubt, but not a great one.

[heganboy]

Question for the Down lads.

Would Pat Rice not be in there with any top 15?

[Wee Roddy]

Tyronies, I am not just saying this because he played for my club (and i never seen him about the place at all so he must not have been a good club man) but Frankie Donnelly should be in there. He holds the record for the most scored in any game at national level.
I was not involved directly in the conversation at his funeral, but was close by, but Jody O'Neill and Raymond Munroe were talking about him. Jody said he was as good as Iggy on his day!

[Schkite]

Great is indeed a term that's bandied about alot, but maybe that's why Nudie could be the only Monaghan player described as a true great. He's up there with the best.

But for you to think that no Monaghan players(or one now that you've changed your mind), would make the top 125 Ulster players is very ignorant I have to say. The likes of Gerry McCarville, Ray McCarron, Eamon McEneaney, Ciaran Murray were all brilliant players in their day, and I'd say Tommy Freeman might have a chance of the list too. Then there's those players I obviously haven't seen, but from what the aul lad and grandda used to say, the likes of Pat Clarke, John Rice, Ollie O'Rourke and Joe Smyth were all fantastic players too. Who knows who'd make the list, but no need for ignorance like that.

[Maguire01]

The term 'great' is bandied about far too readily.

So should there not be 125 greats then? Would that be too many to merit the 'great' tag?

[Goats Do Shave]

I feel that no-one from Monaghan has ever achieved greatness on the football pitch.

you said it

You have found one player who could possibly be described as a great.

make your mind up

No, personally, I wouldn't describe Nudie Hughes as a great; I can see how others may possibly feel otherwise. The term 'great' is bandied about far too readily. People like Sean O'Neill, Tony Scullion, Kieran McKeever, Mickey Linden, Paddy Doherty, Greg Blaney and Peter Canavan are greats. Nudie Hughes wasn't in the same league as any of these. A very good player no doubt, but not a great one.

Am I right in saying Nudie got 3 All stars?

[Maximus Marillius]

100% right, got one as a back and the other 2 as a forward....outstanding footballer, as was Ciaran Murray and Mc Carron.

[saffron sam2]

I feel that no-one from Monaghan has ever achieved greatness on the football pitch.

you said it

You have found one player who could possibly be described as a great.

make your mind up

No, personally, I wouldn't describe Nudie Hughes as a great; I can see how others may possibly feel otherwise. The term 'great' is bandied about far too readily. People like Sean O'Neill, Tony Scullion, Kieran McKeever, Mickey Linden, Paddy Doherty, Greg Blaney and Peter Canavan are greats. Nudie Hughes wasn't in the same league as any of these. A very good player no doubt, but not a great one.

Am I right in saying Nudie got 3 All stars?

So greatness is measured in terms of All-Stars. Mickey Linden and Kieran McKeever have one. Was Hughes better than either?

It should also be pointed out that Hughes won his three at a time when Ulster football was muck and when a provincial title was enough to guarantee a token All-Star for that county. Hughes won an All-Star at corner back in '79 having played on a team that lost an All-Ireland semi-final by about 50 points - tokenism at its best. There is also a history of All-Star selectors recognising the big name, high profile player on a team and there is merit in the argument that this is why Hughes was awarded All-Stars in '85 and '88 ahead of say Eamon McEnaney or Ray McCarron.

In fact the more I think about, the less worthy of a place Hughes is.

Great is indeed a term that's bandied about alot, but maybe that's why Nudie could be the only Monaghan player described as a true great. He's up there with the best.

But for you to think that no Monaghan players(or one now that you've changed your mind), would make the top 125 Ulster players is very ignorant I have to say. The likes of Gerry McCarville, Ray McCarron, Eamon McEneaney, Ciaran Murray were all brilliant players in their day, and I'd say Tommy Freeman might have a chance of the list too. Then there's those players I obviously haven't seen, but from what the aul lad and grandda used to say, the likes of Pat Clarke, John Rice, Ollie O'Rourke and Joe Smyth were all fantastic players too. Who knows who'd make the list, but no need for ignorance like that.

Wise up. I have no idea what you think football is (or was) but to describe Gerry McCarville as a brilliant footballer is taking the piss. Do you want to be taken seriously on this board or not?

I could easily name forty better forwards than either McCarron or McEneaney and a larger number of defenders better than Murray. Freeman may well make the list, but that would be standard bias towards high-profile, current players than any objective expertise.

[ONeill]

Tyronies, I am not just saying this because he played for my club (and i never seen him about the place at all so he must not have been a good club man) but Frankie Donnelly should be in there. He holds the record for the most scored in any game at national level.
I was not involved directly in the conversation at his funeral, but was close by, but Jody O'Neill and Raymond Munroe were talking about him. Jody said he was as good as Iggy on his day!

Frankie is 100% guaranteed to be in the top 15.

[Tim Buzaglo]

The Irish News has put up a blog with all the team selections so far at http://www.irishnews/125blog

You can view each post so far and leave comments. You can have your say about whether you agree with the selection and you can put forward your own views too in the comment box. Its already started.

Monaghan is up today and you can have a look at the Armagh and Cavan selections form the last few days. Should get a bit busy before voting starts on the 20th of February when all the selections have been put up.

I have chosen not to put up the Monaghan selection here. I feel that no-one from Monaghan has ever achieved greatness on the football pitch. Dick Clerkin's presence in the IN list would appear to back up my point.