Laochra Gael Mick Lyons 22.00 TG4 Tonight

[Jinxy]

Have to say I enjoyed that immensely. His reaction when Colm O'Neill boxes him never ceases to make me laugh. Just carrys on strolling with a little rub of his jaw. I daresay there aren't too many lads togging out today who would react the same. Mores the pity.

[5 Sams]

Class the way he took the slap from the Cork lad...imagine how long Canavan or some of the fairies playing today would be on the deck after that one!!

[screenexile]

Class the way he took the slap from the Cork lad...imagine how long Canavan or some of the fairies playing today would be on the deck after that one!!

I wouldn't class him dirty, in fact I wouldn't really class any of the Meath lads I now, or know of, dirty.

Tough, yes. Physical, yes. Honest, yes.

I think Meath can play anyway. If you want a row, they'll fight. If you want to play football, they'll play football. They'll still hit hard, but there'll be very little, if any, dirt.

In my own humble opinion, there are far worse teams for sneaky dirt than Meath.

Cue Tyronies.. "Shut up Canavan was a saint and never dived in his life he is God and we are the best". and also "What about 96 when those rough Meath boys done Dooher Dinkie and God.... disgraceful when our boys were only trying to play a game of football and those bullys did that... bunch of Meath bullys that's what I say!"

[Hardy]

I liked his story about how he apologised to Seán after the Cork game - "sorry, Seán - maybe I should have hit him - started a row - it might have woken us up".

I know some will scoff at the idea of anyone being too, ahem, robust, for the Meath team, but Lynchbhoy's story about a man being just too dangerous to let loose in county football is not unique. When I was a youngster on our team, our goalkeeper was far and away the best in the county but there was never the slightest chance that he would play for Meath. You couldn't risk staging his exploits to a wider audience and certainly not on television. Forwards in club football were genuinely afraid of him and anyone coming through one-on-one not only took his life in his hands but was also well warned on the way with roars of what was going to happen to him if he came any further.

Great days.

[AZOffaly]

I liked his story about how he apologised to Seán after the Cork game - "sorry, Seán - maybe I should have hit him - started a row - it might have woken us up".

I know some will scoff at the idea of anyone being too, ahem, robust, for the Meath team, but Lynchbhoy's story about a man being just too dangerous to let loose in county football is not unique. When I was a youngster on our team, our goalkeeper was far and away the best in the county but there was never the slightest chance that he would play for Meath. You couldn't risk staging his exploits to a wider audience and certainly not on television. Forwards in club football were genuinely afraid of him and anyone coming through one-on-one not only took his life in his hands but was also well warned on the way with roars of what was going to happen to him if he came any further.

Great days.

To be honest I think it's more to do with the fact that you can't be sending out lads who are guaranteed to get the line. At club football, fellas kind of get used to them, and their suspensions are more or less expected. In intercounty, you can't get a lad sent off for butchery, and then expect to win the game, or have him back later on. Not much point picking a lad who's going to be suspended for the rest of the championship.

[orangeman]

When I was a youngster on our team, our goalkeeper was far and away the best in the county but there was never the slightest chance that he would play for Meath. You couldn't risk staging his exploits to a wider audience and certainly not on television. Forwards in club football were genuinely afraid of him and anyone coming through one-on-one not only took his life in his hands but was also well warned on the way with roars of what was going to happen to him if he came any further.

We had one of them in our club as well - Big Raymond ! 

[ONeill]

Cue Tyronies.. "Shut up Canavan was a saint and never dived in his life he is God and we are the best". and also "What about 96 when those rough Meath boys done Dooher Dinkie and God.... disgraceful when our boys were only trying to play a game of football and those bullys did that... bunch of Meath bullys that's what I say!"

Erm, nope.

[screenexile]

Cue Tyronies.. "Shut up Canavan was a saint and never dived in his life he is God and we are the best". and also "What about 96 when those rough Meath boys done Dooher Dinkie and God.... disgraceful when our boys were only trying to play a game of football and those bullys did that... bunch of Meath bullys that's what I say!"

Erm, nope.

You're too experienced to fall into that trap O'Neill but many of your less learned Tyrone brethren usually do!

[thejuice]

We had 2 on our team, only one still plays. They were unpredictable. One lad, if anyone, the ref, his opponent or a team-mate even looked at him funny he'd lash out. A great player though. Seen him do stuff and get incredible scores but he'd be a loose canon if things werent going his way.

The other lad was a full back who's solution to marking a man was to make sure he wasnt physically capabe of running. You could tell that if his marker was getting the better of him or someone on the opposite team was having too good a game.

He suddenly got this look on his face, and you could instantly tell that he was no longer interested in the ball, and next ball coming in, wouldnt even have to be 50/50 usually resulted in one of the opposition lying stretched out on the grass.

But having said that, when he wanted to play football he was capable of being on the meath team, one of the best backs I've seen.

[mackers]

Have to agree with the earlier posters the way he reacted to O'Neill's punch shows how to play football, if you dish it out like a man, you have to take it like a man. I must say when I saw it last night I thought of Philly Jordan.

[feetofflames]

Lyons was a class act, but he was into a lot of dirty stuff.  O neill punched him because he was stupid but he was Cork best forward in the earkly stages and Lyons had had got to him.  In that era refereees did not protect forwards so big men like Lyons could get away with what he wanted.  He wasnt so hot against a bigger man in Withnell yet hes now a folk hero.  Fine player much dirtier than Canavan but couldnt have laced Canavans boots if you want to compare.  Also he was phsically a much stronger man, but he still didnt have a patch on him. Hes a hero because he was dirty.   

[feetofflames]

I cant get the image of Martin O Rourke (AIsemifinal) v Tyrone in 1995 doing a special back flip for 80,000 people after Mugsy and him had words - it was unreal.

[orangeman]

Definitely Mick has to be given credit - but then that was the way it was played back then - not like the lads in Cork who have spat out the dummy over just getting sandwiches after training !  

[Jinxy]

Lyons was a class act, but he was into a lot of dirty stuff.  O neill punched him because he was stupid but he was Cork best forward in the earkly stages and Lyons had had got to him.  In that era refereees did not protect forwards so big men like Lyons could get away with what he wanted.  He wasnt so hot against a bigger man in Withnell yet hes now a folk hero.  Fine player much dirtier than Canavan but couldnt have laced Canavans boots if you want to compare.  Also he was phsically a much stronger man, but he still didnt have a patch on him. Hes a hero because he was dirty.   

Even Mick Lyons needed 2 functioning legs in order to play the game. Did you even watch the programme? Go practice your roundhouse kicks somewhere else if this thread bothers you so much.

[AZOffaly]

Mick Lyons is a legend, even outside Meath, because for 10 years or more he was a teak tough, no-nonsense full back. Strong as an ox, and never took a step backwards.

Some lads are legends to neutrals because of their skill. Men like Canavan, Fitzgerald, Sheehy, Connor and Egan.

Others are legends because of their heart, their attitude and their sheer will to win. Lyons is one of the latter.

Good man Mick, the game could do with a few more of you.