TG4 - Best Footballer: 1984-2009

[rrhf]

All irelands: 2 each
National League medals: Canavan 2; Fitz:
All stars:
Player of the year awards:
International rules appearances:
Career length:
Points / goals scored in chamnpionship:

Great post, Im not sure of the answers to these questions but my feeling is that Canvan matches Fitz on most counts and probably even exceeds.  Looks like thats the tin hat one it...

[ONeill]

All Irelands: 2 each
National League medals: Canavan 2 Fitz: 1
All stars: Canavan 6 Fitz 3
Player of the year awards: Canavan 1 Fitz 1
International rules appearances:
Career length: (intercounty) Canavan 89-05 Fitz 88-01
Points / goals scored in chamnpionship: Canavan: 9-191 (49 games) Fitz: 12-285 (58 games)

[redhandloo]

SS2 - McGuigan shades Blaney in my book because he knew (knows) where the posts are. His performance in the 2005 AI final was the best I ever saw.

No offence to McGuigan, but he isnt good enough to clean Blaneys boots.

Wise up lad. Brian McGuigan is one of the best centre half forwards ever.

I concur with the previous post.. Blaney never produced a performance of the quality of McGuigan's in the 05 AIF.  Blaney's distribution and ball winning capabilites were outstanding, but in terms of pure skill and footballing ability, McGuigan wins every time!

[5 Sams]

SS2 - McGuigan shades Blaney in my book because he knew (knows) where the posts are. His performance in the 2005 AI final was the best I ever saw.

No offence to McGuigan, but he isnt good enough to clean Blaneys boots.

Wise up lad. Brian McGuigan is one of the best centre half forwards ever.

I concur with the previous post.. Blaney never produced a performance of the quality of McGuigan's in the 05 AIF.  Blaney's distribution and ball winning capabilites were outstanding, but in terms of pure skill and footballing ability, McGuigan wins every time!

Just as a matter of interest..... when did you start watching Greg Blaney play football and how many times have you seen him play "live" to give you the evidence to make that assertion.

[No1]

5 Sams, your clubmate should be barred from your club.  The pints have obviously ruined his brain.   

[redhandloo]

SS2 - McGuigan shades Blaney in my book because he knew (knows) where the posts are. His performance in the 2005 AI final was the best I ever saw.

No offence to McGuigan, but he isnt good enough to clean Blaneys boots.

Wise up lad. Brian McGuigan is one of the best centre half forwards ever.

I concur with the previous post.. Blaney never produced a performance of the quality of McGuigan's in the 05 AIF.  Blaney's distribution and ball winning capabilites were outstanding, but in terms of pure skill and footballing ability, McGuigan wins every time!

Just as a matter of interest..... when did you start watching Greg Blaney play football and how many times have you seen him play "live" to give you the evidence to make that assertion.

i would safely say that i saw blaney play more often than you wee brian. I remember him in ulster final in 86 when noel mcginn got the better of him. I remember 89 when big enda roasted him. In 91 and 94 he was truly outstanding. So please get down off your high horse

[passedit]

TG4 - Best Footballer: 1984-2009
Kieran McGeeney (Armagh)Not even Our Ma's best
Graham Canty (Cork) 
Larry Tompkins (Cork)
Anthony Tohill (Derry)
Martin McHugh (Donegal)tokenism
Mickey Linden (Down)
Paul Curran (Dublin)
Ciarán Whelan (Dublin)
Pádraig Joyce (Galway)
Kevin Walsh (Galway) Not a patch on Donellan
Colm Cooper (Kerry) too many kerrymen ahead of him
Maurice Fitzgerald (Kerry)
Seámus Moynihan (Kerry)
Darragh Ó Sé (Kerry)
Páidí Ó Sé (Kerry)Wrong era*
Jack O'Shea (Kerry)Wrong era
Mikey Sheehy (Kerry)Wrong era
Pat Spillane (Kerry)Wrong era
Trevor Giles (Meath)only mead 'defenders' should be elligible for this
Martin O'Connell (Meath)
Robbie O'Malley (Meath)
Colm O'Rourke (Meath) see TG
Peter Canavan (Tyrone)
Seán Cavanagh (Tyrone)
Stephen O'Neill (Tyrone) too many gaps in his cv


Glaring omissions
Blaney
Donnellan
T O Se
M O Se
Mc Grane
E Mc Kenna
H Downey
C Mc Donald
E O Hara
Gormley
Wee James


*best days behind them in 84

[5 Sams]

SS2 - McGuigan shades Blaney in my book because he knew (knows) where the posts are. His performance in the 2005 AI final was the best I ever saw.

No offence to McGuigan, but he isnt good enough to clean Blaneys boots.

Wise up lad. Brian McGuigan is one of the best centre half forwards ever.

I concur with the previous post.. Blaney never produced a performance of the quality of McGuigan's in the 05 AIF.  Blaney's distribution and ball winning capabilites were outstanding, but in terms of pure skill and footballing ability, McGuigan wins every time!

Just as a matter of interest..... when did you start watching Greg Blaney play football and how many times have you seen him play "live" to give you the evidence to make that assertion.

i would safely say that i saw blaney play more often than you wee brian. I remember him in ulster final in 86 when noel mcginn got the better of him. I remember 89 when big enda roasted him. In 91 and 94 he was truly outstanding. So please get down off your high horse

I played against Blaney on numerous occasions from 1980 onwards and have seen practically every major club and county game he has ever played in. Most of Tyrone major games involving McGuigan have been televised live or I have seen him play in the flesh....high horse my hole.... Blaney was streets ahead.

[Master Yoda]

TG4 - Best Footballer: 1984-2009
Kieran McGeeney (Armagh)Not even Our Ma's best
Graham Canty (Cork) 
Larry Tompkins (Cork)
Anthony Tohill (Derry)
Martin McHugh (Donegal)tokenism
Mickey Linden (Down)
Paul Curran (Dublin)
Ciarán Whelan (Dublin)
Pádraig Joyce (Galway)
Kevin Walsh (Galway) Not a patch on Donellan
Colm Cooper (Kerry) too many kerrymen ahead of him
Maurice Fitzgerald (Kerry)
Seámus Moynihan (Kerry)
Darragh Ó Sé (Kerry)
Páidí Ó Sé (Kerry)Wrong era*
Jack O'Shea (Kerry)Wrong era
Mikey Sheehy (Kerry)Wrong era
Pat Spillane (Kerry)Wrong era
Trevor Giles (Meath)only mead 'defenders' should be elligible for this
Martin O'Connell (Meath)
Robbie O'Malley (Meath)
Colm O'Rourke (Meath) see TG
Peter Canavan (Tyrone)
Seán Cavanagh (Tyrone)
Stephen O'Neill (Tyrone) too many gaps in his cv


Glaring omissions
Blaney
Donnellan
T O Se
M O Se
Mc Grane
E Mc Kenna
H Downey
C Mc Donald
E O Hara
GormleyWee James


*best days behind them in 84

Please don't say you mean Conor Gormley.

[The Forfeit Point]

TG4 - Best Footballer: 1984-2009
Kieran McGeeney (Armagh)Not even Our Ma's best
Graham Canty (Cork) 
Larry Tompkins (Cork)
Anthony Tohill (Derry)
Martin McHugh (Donegal)tokenism
Mickey Linden (Down)
Paul Curran (Dublin)
Ciarán Whelan (Dublin)
Pádraig Joyce (Galway)
Kevin Walsh (Galway) Not a patch on Donellan
Colm Cooper (Kerry) too many kerrymen ahead of him
Maurice Fitzgerald (Kerry)
Seámus Moynihan (Kerry)
Darragh Ó Sé (Kerry)
Páidí Ó Sé (Kerry)Wrong era*
Jack O'Shea (Kerry)Wrong era
Mikey Sheehy (Kerry)Wrong era
Pat Spillane (Kerry)Wrong era
Trevor Giles (Meath)only mead 'defenders' should be elligible for this
Martin O'Connell (Meath)
Robbie O'Malley (Meath)
Colm O'Rourke (Meath) see TG
Peter Canavan (Tyrone)
Seán Cavanagh (Tyrone)
Stephen O'Neill (Tyrone) too many gaps in his cv


Glaring omissions
Blaney
Donnellan
T O Se
M O Se
Mc Grane
E Mc Kenna
H Downey
C Mc Donald
E O Hara
Gormley
Wee James


*best days behind them in 84

mcgrane and o'hara (the latter in particular) "glaring ommissions"?? i disagree completely, whilst good footballers don't get me wrong. nowhere near the best in the last 25 years. i agree with the rest of your post with the exception of the complete dismissal of graham canty and cooper?? what difference does it make how many kerrymen in particular are on the list. would that mean stephen o'neill and cavanagh should not be there because canavan is also on the list?

Anyway its Maurice FitzGerald for me

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

Wouldn't agree that McGrane is nowhere near the best 25. Ok he's not going to be in the top 3 but I don't think he's out of his depth amongst the players mentioned. In my view if you compare the performances of Darragh O Sé and Paul McGrane over the years, there's very little between them and in my (admittedly biased) view, McGrane might well shade it.

[Stall the Bailer]

Was Maurice Fitz not quite often a sub, especially towards the end of his career?

[longrunsthefox]

For the older boffins comparing Canavan and Maurice Fitz was like comparing Kevin Keegan and George Best. Keegan worked far harder and had a longer career and won far more awards and medals but Best was pure magic when he did play, a natural genius who didn't win as much and hadn't the same drive and dedication.
If I had to choose who I could go and watch... wud be Fitz and Best any day.   

[Donnellys Hollow]

Here goes...
I honestly believe that Maurice Fitz was greatly over rated. He may be the most naturally talented footballer ihave ever seen but definately not the best. There is a huge difference. Indeed i would rate Moynihan and Dara O Se as better footballers. Neither would possess the god given talent of Fitzgerald but i wiuld rather have either of them in my team.
Ready for the backlash from the purists

Are you serious? If anything Fitzgerald was hugely underrated. He had to spend half his Kerry career out around midfield because Kerry were in transition in the early nineties. He's easily the best on this list IMO. Canavan, great player and all that he was, doesn't come close.

It is just unfortunate that he was born either ten years too early, or ten years too late. Had he been playing on the Kerry team of the late 70s/early 80s or the Kerry team of today, he'd have a similar standing to Ring in hurling.

[magpie seanie]

Two people voted for Ciaran Whelan.