Down Club Hurling & Football

[5 Sams]

As far as I know, he still holds the record for the number of Railway cup winners medals for a Down player. Perhaps someone else can verify?

As far as I know Seán O'Neill holds the all time record of eight medals.

[islandboy]

the only one i would really argue with is that i would have paddy doherty at either one or two. i believe he held the highest scoring record in the ulster championship up until very recently. not sure but i think canavan overtook him( or mc conville) . that is ubelievable if you consider how poor the footballs were in that day.

[off the laces]

i am with islandboy paddy would be above greg for me too and  could be tied with s o'neill

[off the laces]

i hear they are tramping over the mournes again

[Leo]

Right lads....An article in the Sunday Tribune sports magazine at the weekend on the top 50 Kerry players of all time and the "Princes of Pigskin" book got me thinking......who would be Down's top 25 of all time??


Here's my stab at it...there is nothing pre 1960 obviously and the 60s players would be based solely on what I heard from my Da and various other guys who were around then. BTW I have only included guys who have played Senior football so I had to omit Marty Clarke. I know I have made glaring omissions and maybe some of the older contributors on here will put me right about the 60s and 70s guys but here goes.


1. Sean O'Neill
2. Colm McAlarney
3. Greg Blaney
4. Paddy Doherty
5. Mickey Linden
6  Wee James
7. Ross Carr
8. Benny Coulter
9. Oul James
10. Tom O'Hare
11. Joe Lennon
12 Ambrose Rogers RIP
13. Barry Breen
14. Cathal Digney
15. Paddy Kennedy
16. Mark Turley
17. Conor Deegan
18. Dan McCartan
19. Brendan Mason
20. Shorty Trainor
21. D J Kane
22. Neil Collins
23. Gary Mason
24. Paul Higgins
25. Paddy O'Rourke

Sorry 5 Sams you're afflicted by post 1980's syndrome. A list of 25 cannot be complete without the late great Breen Morgan. Also from the 50's and 60's George Lavery and Tony Hadden were absolute class. Go back a bit further and Briany Mc Cartan and Joker Carr are complete legends.

Even coming more up to date there can be no place for Shorty or Brendy Mason who never replicated club form in a county jersey - indisputable. There are so many players to prefer  - Mickey Cole, John Purdy, Patsy O'Hagan, even John Mc Cartan - in their place - yet I am not sure they would make the top 25.
Tommy Mc Govern is a must of the recent crop from pre-91 but I think Paddy Kennedy had really only one exceptional season and could not warrant a place. We have never seen the like of Brendan Sloan at corner back in recent times although Higgins comes close.
If POR is in as an All-Ireland captain they why not Kevin Mussen?

Best goalkeeper ever in a Down jersey was Slim Donnan - happened to play at an unfashionable time.

Very impressed with Digney but was he better than Willie Doyle?
Was Conor Deegan better than James Milligan?

Great stuff for argumenst but I think you need to redress the "ageism" of your selection.

[western exile]

I agree with you Leo.

Also, Islandboy...   the highest scoring total previously held by Paddy Doherty was indeed overtaken recently.  But players are playing more games for their county in the modern game.  Paddy Doherty still holds the highest average score per game record.

[western exile]

beautiful indeed.   I wish I had been around to have seen them in action...

[islandboy]

very intersting reading. they must have been brilliant to watch. all of us were lucky to see the brilliant down forward line of the 90's so those mentioned from the 60's must have been something else.

I agree with you Leo.

Also, Islandboy...   the highest scoring total previously held by Paddy Doherty was indeed overtaken recently.  But players are playing more games for their county in the modern game.  Paddy Doherty still holds the highest average score per game record.


i dont doubt that. his reputation is enhanced even more

[the milkman]

What about George Lavery? Way before my time but I hear he was great

[spiritof91and94]

Why not make it a top 50 if everybody has different ideas?

[umpire]

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

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

My second selection

1.Micheal McVeigh
2.Brendan Sloan, Attical
3.Conor Deegan, Downpatrick
4. Mark Turley, Glenn
5. Pasty O'Hagan, Clonduff
6. Barry Breen, Downpatrick
7. DJ Kane, Newry Shamrocks
8. Liam Austin, Rostrevor
9. Brendan Toner, Castlewellan
10. Ross Carr, Clonduff
11. Dalsey Mooney, Clonduff
12. James McCartan (jun), Tullylish
13. Peter Rooney, Warrenpoint,
14. John McCartan, Glenn
15. Benny Coulter, Mayobridge.

Others players  who have also played well.
Geogre Lavery, Kilwarlin
Pat Rice, Castlewellan,
Kevin Mussen, Clonduff
Tony Hadden, Newry Shamrocks
Breen Morgan, Annaclone
Willie Doyle, Liatriom
James Milligan, Ardglass
Micheal Cole, Rostrevor
Micheal Cunningham, Bryansford
Cecil Ward, Bryansford
Adrain McAuilfield, St Mitchels
Paddy Kennedy, Glenn
Brendan McGovern, Burren
Jim McCartan, Glenn
Donal Bell, Teconnagh
Brendan Mason, Loughinisland
Paul Higgins, Ballymartin
Paddy O'Rourke, Burren
Gregory McCartan, Ballymartin
Eamon Burns Bryansford.
Gary Mason. Loughinisland
Best match
1994 in Celtic Park Derry, Down v Derry in Ulster Championship

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

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

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

[umpire]

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

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

My second selection

1.Micheal McVeigh
2.Brendan Sloan, Attical
3.Conor Deegan, Downpatrick
4. Mark Turley, Glenn
5. Pasty O'Hagan, Clonduff
6. Barry Breen, Downpatrick
7. DJ Kane, Newry Shamrocks
8. Liam Austin, Rostrevor
9. Brendan Toner, Castlewellan
10. Ross Carr, Clonduff
11. Dalsey Mooney, Clonduff
12. James McCartan (jun), Tullylish
13. Peter Rooney, Warrenpoint,
14. John McCartan, Glenn
15. Benny Coulter, Mayobridge.

Others players  who have also played well.
Geogre Lavery, Kilwarlin
Pat Rice, Castlewellan,
Kevin Mussen, Clonduff
Tony Hadden, Newry Shamrocks
Breen Morgan, Annaclone
Willie Doyle, Liatriom
James Milligan, Ardglass
Micheal Cole, Rostrevor
Micheal Cunningham, Bryansford
Cecil Ward, Bryansford
Adrain McAuilfield, St Mitchels
Paddy Kennedy, Glenn
Brendan McGovern, Burren
Jim McCartan, Glenn
Donal Bell, Teconnagh
Brendan Mason, Loughinisland
Paul Higgins, Ballymartin
Paddy O'Rourke, Burren
Gregory McCartan, Ballymartin
Eamon Burns Bryansford.
Gary Mason. Loughinisland
Best match
1994 in Celtic Park Derry, Down v Derry in Ulster Championship

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

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

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

[5 Sams]

Leo,
I take your point completely....however I am going on what I have seen and I have included the likes of O'Neill, Doherty, etc simply because of what I have heard about them second hand from people who were around then...I havent seen enough of Jim Milligan or Willie Doyle to include them in my list but I grew up with Cathal Digney starring on a poor Down team and I have played against Conor Deegan so that's why they are in.

[downredblack]

That's a comprehensive list of Down greats going back through the years Umpire , I don't know much about the 60's men , only what I heard from the Da or what I've read about them . Pity there is no footage of them bar the odd bit of black and white you see the odd time .
In the book Giants of Gaelic Football - two Down men get a Chapter , Sean O'Neill and Joe Lennon .

[off the laces]

downredblack,
There was a copy off the all ireland final off 68 around a few months ago do not know who had it but did see it about.