Retirements

[StephenC]

A question for Donegal men on here.
Was Mc Brearty better than Colm Mc Fadden ?

He never had a flawless season like McFadden did in 2012.

I think he was more consistent over his career than McFadden though.

I would agree with this. Paddy a level above because he delivered relatively consistently over 14 years. Colm Anthony had several solid years and one exceptional one.

[thewobbler]

A question for Donegal men on here.
Was Mc Brearty better than Colm Mc Fadden ?

He never had a flawless season like McFadden did in 2012.

I think he was more consistent over his career than McFadden though.

I would agree with this. Paddy a level above because he delivered relatively consistently over 14 years. Colm Anthony had several solid years and one exceptional one.

Colm McFadden was an exceptional winter footballer throughout his career, but only became a proper championship game winning forward towards the end of it.

Paddy would shade that one for me.

[gallsman]

Not to get to deep into it but you probably need a few more tiers in that debate. Sweeney for example was capable of winning any game, but he might be best described as a great man to win you an Ulster quarter final. Devenney as well. Kind of like Johnny Crowley in Kerry, although Crowley's ceiling probably a bit higher than either. I'd have mcbrearty ahead of the pair of them for sure but below Murphy and Lacey. Recency bias and medals count for sure.

[mackers]

Paddy always came across as a decent skin along with being a superb footballer.  I remember him trying to diffuse a situation between a fourth official and a former manager of his in the Athletic Grounds but failing miserably.  There were no manners in the manager concerned.

[Hand of God]

Think I'd go with McFadden. McBrearty was playing the football of his life up until the dresses ACL and never looked near anything like that player again.

McGuinness biggest mistake was not starting him in the 2014 AI final. Donegal were flat all game until McBrearty came on and he hit a few points in a short space of time.

McFadden always had the potential and ability but never really reached that with the party boy culture that was in place in Donegal before McGuinness arrived but when that took place he became one of the top forwards in the game.

I'm edge for McFadden due to his impact at the latter end of the Championship.

[Armamike]

Always really feared him when playing against us - thought he was a very dangerous player.  He seemed to be able to pop up and get important scores.  His body must be feeling the effects now of playing inter county since his teenage years. 

[Fogarty]

I think that was the day Antrim beat them yeah.

The knee has clearly been impeding him for a few years now.

McGuinness's heavy training methods hardly helped.

[Look-Up!]

As good an U21 as I've seen in the flesh. Just looked a different level.

Great senior career but injuries probably curtailed him from maximising his promise.

[J70]

I think that was the day Antrim beat them yeah.

The knee has clearly been impeding him for a few years now.

Nah, Antrim's win was 2009.

McBrearty made his double-debut in 2011. The seniors beat Antrim fairly handily that day, which was the day Spillane first drew the ire of McGuinness by giving a very grudging, best-of-a-horrible-lot, sure-we-have-to-give-it-to-someone man of the match award to Ryan Bradley.

[Armagh18]

Niall Grimley taking time away from Armagh panel.

Would be hopeful that it's not permanent but a good chance that it will be unfortunately.

A superb player and a class act off the field as well.

[DaleCooper]

As a Tyronian I roared Niall clipped over the point after ref played advantage. Incredible moment in that game.

[Armagh18]

As a Tyronian I roared Niall clipped over the point after ref played advantage. Incredible moment in that game.

Ah it was special.

Could have choked him when he hit the post near the death though!!

[David McKeown]

As a Tyronian I roared Niall clipped over the point after ref played advantage. Incredible moment in that game.

Ah it was special.

Could have choked him when he hit the post near the death though!!

Was that not Oisin O'Neill after a layoff from Grimley?

The thing that struck me about Grimleys point was that it was a mark as well (which is what I think the great advantage signalled by Hurson was for, a tackle within a yard of the mark) but Grimley ploughed on and took on the difficult shot on the run.

He will be missed next year. Particularly as I think Armagh will struggle greatly.

Stefan Campbell, Jemar Hall, Mark Shields O'Hanlan and Roland all lost to retirement, while Rory Grugan, Aidan Forker, Ben Crealey, Niall Grimley, Barry McCambridge and Connaire Mackin will all miss all or nearly all of at least the league for different reasons.

That coupled with a tough Ulster draw I think will probably see the end of a very good team

[mackers]

As a Tyronian I roared Niall clipped over the point after ref played advantage. Incredible moment in that game.

Ah it was special.

Could have choked him when he hit the post near the death though!!

Was that not Oisin O'Neill after a layoff from Grimley?

The thing that struck me about Grimleys point was that it was a mark as well (which is what I think the great advantage signalled by Hurson was for, a tackle within a yard of the mark) but Grimley ploughed on and took on the difficult shot on the run.

He will be missed next year. Particularly as I think Armagh will struggle greatly.

Stefan Campbell, Jemar Hall, Mark Shields O'Hanlan and Roland all lost to retirement, while Rory Grugan, Aidan Forker, Ben Crealey, Niall Grimley, Barry McCambridge and Connaire Mackin will all miss all or nearly all of at least the league for different reasons.

That coupled with a tough Ulster draw I think will probably see the end of a very good team

You're definitely wrong on the first point and hopefully wrong on the second.

[Armagh18]

As a Tyronian I roared Niall clipped over the point after ref played advantage. Incredible moment in that game.

Ah it was special.

Could have choked him when he hit the post near the death though!!

Was that not Oisin O'Neill after a layoff from Grimley?

The thing that struck me about Grimleys point was that it was a mark as well (which is what I think the great advantage signalled by Hurson was for, a tackle within a yard of the mark) but Grimley ploughed on and took on the difficult shot on the run.

He will be missed next year. Particularly as I think Armagh will struggle greatly.

Stefan Campbell, Jemar Hall, Mark Shields O'Hanlan and Roland all lost to retirement, while Rory Grugan, Aidan Forker, Ben Crealey, Niall Grimley, Barry McCambridge and Connaire Mackin will all miss all or nearly all of at least the league for different reasons.

That coupled with a tough Ulster draw I think will probably see the end of a very good team

Almost sure it was Grimley, then they go up the field and Joe makes that block.

Yeah it's a shame we're losing so many this year, but hopefully we can get but O'Neills fit and available all year, plus Ciaran Mackin and Aaron McKay coming back were massive losses and will be some help if they're back fit.