Best all-round gaelic footballer

[smort]

Felt this needed a separate thread instead of polluting the other one. Who does everyone think is the best all-round gaelic footballer of recent times

A few that spring to my mind:
- Con O'Callaghan
- Peadar Mogan
- Ciaran Kilkenny
- Barry McCambridge
- Shane McGuigan
- Tom O'Sullivan
- Brian Howard
- Michael McKernan

Admittedly this list is from the top tier teams. I'm sure there are some amazing players from lower division sides, players who do it all for their county, can attack/defend, set the standard

[gallsman]

Shane McGuigan and McKernan belong nowhere near that list!

[smort]

Shane McGuigan and McKernan belong nowhere near that list!

Shane is one of the top forwards in the country. He probably works harder than any of the other top forwards. He throws himself around up-front, and he is often seen, especially before the new rules, in his full back line making blocks and turnovers

McKernan always catches my eye when I watch Tyrone. He is one of their most influential players. He often marks one of the oppositions best players, and he has a nastiness to this aspect of his play which often boils over. But he has more recently turned himself into a line-breaker and is very regularly popping up with important scores

I'm not arguing that they are the best players in the country, the list was just a few players that sprung to my mind when thinking of all-rounders, players that I see doing everything

Who would you go for gallsman?

[smort]

- Ryan McHugh
- Kieran McGeary

[SouthOfThe Bann]

A few more to add to the equation

Paudie Clifford
David Clifford
Rian O'Neill
Con O Callaghan
Paul Conroy
Brendan Rodgers
Conor Glass
Shane Walsh
Peter Harte - over the duration of his career
Darragh Canavan - Despite recent form has dropped massively
Michael Murphy
Michael Langan
Ciaran Thompson

[gallsman]

I'd certainly go for both Glass and Rogers from a Derry perspective ahead of McGuigan.

Describing McGuigan as one of the top forwards in the country depends on how wide a net you're casting.

[smort]

A few more to add to the equation

Paudie Clifford
David Clifford
Rian O'Neill
Con O Callaghan
Paul Conroy
Brendan Rodgers
Conor Glass
Shane Walsh
Peter Harte - over the duration of his career
Darragh Canavan - Despite recent form has dropped massively
Michael Murphy
Michael Langan
Ciaran Thompson

Good shouts there. Paudie possibly the best

Michael Langan a fantastic footballer too.

[Walter Cronc]

Glass. End of conversation.

[trueblue1234]

Conor McManus needs a mention.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Honorable mention to Oisin Conaty who continues to impress despite being in the infancy of his career

[Ethan Tremblay]

Is versatility the main attribute we are looking for here? If so surly some of the names listed can be ruled out. 

Mc Guigan for example is an out and out forward, and one of the best operating at the moment.  But I wouldn't necessarily be throwing him into midfield to win kickouts or disrupt play, get tackles etc. 

Kilkenny and Glass for me are the standouts.  Seem to be involved in everything including scoring and defensive duties.  You could throw them into anywhere in the middle 8 and they would thrive. 

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Is versatility the main attribute we are looking for here? If so surly some of the names listed can be ruled out. 

Mc Guigan for example is an out and out forward, and one of the best operating at the moment.  But I wouldn't necessarily be throwing him into midfield to win kickouts or disrupt play, get tackles etc. 

Kilkenny and Glass for me are the standouts.  Seem to be involved in everything including scoring and defensive duties.  You could throw them into anywhere in the middle 8 and they would thrive. 

I'd like to think of it as a Ballon Dor type conversation. But not exclusive to this year.

[StephenC]

These threads are always fun because everyone has a slightly different understanding of the purpose.

Michael Murphy is not the best player in the country, he's probably not the best all-round footballer, but as I look back on his career, I don't there are too many lads who:
- take 45's (mostly goalies these days)
- primary free taker
- option for a high ball into the square
- 2-point threat this year
- regular kick-out target
- attacking playmaker out around the 45

His versatility is impressive, not least because all of things remain true this year at 35yo.

[Truthsayer]

In his prime and over his career, thread tilte: 'best all round player'  ... Murphy by a country mile

[smort]

My understanding of all-round would be most versatile

As good as Murphy is, I don't think I would have him as best all-rounder