Laochra Gael Mick Lyons 22.00 TG4 Tonight

[Declan]

Excuse me, Harnan and Foley were not thugs

Ah now Jinxy cmon - Harnan was possibly the dirtiest player I've seen - Although as far as Lynchbhoy is concerned he's the template for a CHB

[orangeman]

Harnan was a very good footballer - he wasn't there to admire centre forwards !

[Jinxy]

Excuse me, Harnan and Foley were not thugs

Ah now Jinxy cmon - Harnan was possibly the dirtiest player I've seen - Although as far as Lynchbhoy is concerned he's the template for a CHB

Examples please.

[5 Sams]

Excuse me, Harnan and Foley were not thugs.

I'm not so sure about Harnan but Kevin Foley did a "Francie Bellew" on Mickey Linden in 91. A case of one thug copying another.

[brokencrossbar1]

Dry you eyes 5 Sams, Blue lights on Golden Boy Benny's pass did the damage.

[Jinxy]

Wee James could have taken a leaf out of Mick Lyons book and not be rolling around holding his gob like he was doing in one of the clips last night. Even back then you could see the way Ulster football was heading.

[Declan]

Examples please.

Think it was 1990 when he had Dave Barry stretched off unconscious. Seen him a few times for Moynalvey as well

[downredblack]

Wee James could have taken a leaf out of Mick Lyons book and not be rolling around holding his gob like he was doing in one of the clips last night. Even back then you could see the way Ulster football was heading.

Yeah up the steps of the Hogan stand .

Meath def. tried to soften Down up early doors in 91 , when they realised it wasn't going to work the damage was done .

[Jinxy]

Just be glad Colm O'Rourke had consumption and could only play a very limited role that day.

[Declan]

"And leaving Meath's victory aside, what we have today is friendship. We get older, we finish with football. But even in those times we had a very healthy respect for one another. Don't get me wrong, we'd still go through one another for a shortcut. But the two teams were littered with very fine footballers and with that comes that respect. If the opportunity arose we'd go for one another but out of that comes more respect. And now look. Martin O'Connell is a gentlemen among many. Mick Lyons, Padraic Lyons, Liam Harnan, all great guys. We socialise together and their wives and families are as nice people as you could meet."

Keih Barrs views on it sums it up for me.

[downredblack]

Just be glad Colm O'Rourke had consumption and could only play a very limited role that day.

That old chestnut ,what about the struggle to get over the Dubs that was bound to take it out of ya's as well 

[Zulu]

Mick Lyons was always one of my favorite players, last night only served to elevate him in my estimation. If only more footballers were as manly as him, he gave it and took it without exception. Certainly a player everyone in Meath can be proud of.

[lynchbhoy]

reading some of these comments makes me laugh

there were so many players who had lost their battle going out to play meath and Lyons before the game even started because of the reputations these players had.
Mick wasnt a big man, he was six feet tall and quite thin. Strong and tough, but no giant.
Players feared his reputation more than him, and while he his brother P and cousin Liam Harnan were more than capable of using a bit of a dirty trick (no more dirty than lads pulling jerseys or feigning inj), a slap or whatever - it didnt hospitalise anyone.

Even still people just dont get it, the peny has still not dropped, Lyons biggest asset was not his footballing ability (and he was a very good player - although a midfielder at club level and where he prefered playing) but was the reputation he had.

the only time I ever saw Mick roasted was by a young 18 year old (barry Callaghan - dunderry) who simply had no fear, and his team had no fear of kicking the ball into him either. He scored 1-3 I think and set up more as Dunderry beat summerhill in the champinship.

[Jinxy]

In fairness Lynchbhoy for a man who made his county debut in '79 Mick would nearly have been drawing the pension by the time Barry Callaghan came on the scene.

[lynchbhoy]

In fairness Lynchbhoy for a man who made his county debut in '79 Mick would nearly have been drawing the pension by the time Barry Callaghan came on the scene.

he was no spring chicken, but intercounty players could have exposed is lack of pace but their teams gameplan (dont kick it into lyons) and their own subconscious fear meant that Mick could have been in a plastercast and been almost as effective.
He was still mobile and fit at that stage.

Declan, Harnan was, is and will be my model for CHB position. Outstanding stopper who could play football, defend, intimidate,hit hard, still not give away many frees and was a decent 'actor' in those leo red /yellow adverts !

(though he's a sh*te coach now by all accounts - from three diff clubs no less)