Prime - who's better than who

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

2 sets of forwards and Ciaran MacDonald not mentioned yet. Hang your heads

McGuigan
Giles
O'Sullivan
Clifford
Kilkenny

All 5 were better playmakers than McDonald.

Nobody in the history of the game could kick the ball as high or arcing as Kieran.

Difference is that those 5 all know it looks good, but produces little.

Like cutting your jersey to the shoulders

[Wildweasel74]

I cant help but remember all the frees McDonald missed against Kerry in 1997.

[ardtole]

The Mayo supporters used to give McDonald dogs abuse when he was playing, and once he retired he was elevated into superstar status.

[From the Bunker]

McDonald was plagued with inconsistency in his early years. As well as that he was in and out of Mayo panels, on mentally weak teams and utilised poorly by various managers.
He was also a free soul which meant that he could mix moments of pure magic with pure madness.
But when he was on song - Jez, he was great to watch.
Hairstyles, flashy boots and tattoos left him open to scrutiny in a GAA world that was still conservative about players showing individuality.

[quit yo jibbajabba]

McDonald was plagued with inconsistency in his early years. As well as that he was in and out of Mayo panels, on mentally weak teams and utilised poorly by various managers.
He was also a free soul which meant that he could mix moments of pure magic with pure madness.
But when he was on song - Jez, he was great to watch.
Hairstyles, flashy boots and tattoos left him open to scrutiny in a GAA world that was still conservative about players showing individuality.

Started off all Joe brolly.
Ended up nice 😄

[thewobbler]

So to rate the 5.

Much as at annoys me that Tyronnies overrate their players, Brian McGuigan is probably my favourite footballer  ever (apart from David Clifford). His peak years coincided with the best era of football ever seen - better conditioned, smarter and more ruthless than their predecessors, but not robotic - and he was the high conductor of the best team I've ever watched.

Paudie Clifford comes next and he will likely overtake McGuigan in the coming years. He was clearly more gifted than the rest during the defensive  implosion of our game. Then, what he did this season, in the knockout games was many level above. A rare combination of athleticism and genius. He's extraordinary.

Kilkenny for me should have been the best player of all time. He's perfect. But he's so perfect that he always put winning over winning with distinction. And that's a paradox. I've seen him do the most exceptional things but my overarching memory of him is playing it safe. It's a shame. I don't want him to be Kieran McDonald and all style over substance. But all my life I've been waiting for the game where he just shows off.

Giles and O'Sullivan are joint 4th. Both were a joy to watch. Energy, intelligence, will to win.  But they're  not quite at the level of the lads above. It's small margins, but it's all time greats against generational greats and something has to give.

[seafoid]

Ciarán McDonald

https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1kvJpApNNOZxE

[small white mayoman]

2 sets of forwards and Ciaran MacDonald not mentioned yet. Hang your heads

McGuigan
Giles
O'Sullivan
Clifford
Kilkenny

All 5 were better playmakers than McDonald.

Nobody in the history of the game could kick the ball as high or arcing as Kieran.

Difference is that those 5 all know it looks good, but produces little.

Jeez , he did Far more than that, doing him a disservice there , you didnt watch him play many matches live if you think thats all he did.

[bennydorano]

I'd have MacDonald, Greg Blayney and even Shorty Treanor in any top 5 CHF/creative forward. Nothing like recency bias to skew perception.

[In hiding]

I'd have MacDonald, Greg Blayney and even Shorty Treanor in any top 5 CHF/creative forward. Nothing like recency bias to skew perception.

Shorty Treanor was a superstar at club level with a great Burren team.
I don't think he really reached that level for Down

[bennydorano]

He broke my Armagh heart on a few occasions

[Sonny Joe]

Blaney number 1 for me

McGuigan
Clifford
Giles
O'Sullivan
Kilkenny