What about the 2 penaltys he scored in all ireland semi final, was there no pressure there?

He was top scorer in the championship last year but didnt get an all ireland.

He is the top scorer this year also and he will prob be looked over again...



HEREBENJI
County: Donegal
Posts: 180

1646650 Surprised at O'Connor being mentioned.While he scores a lot almost all his scores are close in frees or he is on the end of a move for a handy score. He never scores from out the field or when the pressure is really on. The goal he missed against Kerry in the first game was awful.

saddam (Mayo) - Posts: 414 - 02/09/2014 11:59:18    1646668

We made Ryan Mchugh look like a superstar I don't know how good he is yet, no Donegal forward can be judged after the Dublin game it was too easy for them and we played right into there hands(read what bonner said about our defending) best footballer in Ireland is James O Donoghue for me the man is incredible

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 02/09/2014 12:00:44    1646669

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 11854

1646661
Too often these things hinge on one off games. Murphy wasn't getting picked in any teams on this site before the weekend. Similarly, nobody has mentioned lee keegan, probably the most consistently excellent player over the last 3 years - because he had a bad game at the weekend. After last year's final Aidan O'Shea was useless, now he is in the elite again. It is daft stuff. Certain games can suit certain players. The best player on the pitch on sunday was Ryan McHugh, yet he struggled in other games this year. People get carried away with these things.

______________

Yet no one has mentioned him. The players mentioned are proven greats.

Who would you have other than Keegan then? Do you not think Murphy is one of the top players?

I know for sure Murphy would have been on my list this time last week. Against us in Celtic Park this year he was sublime. His point from the sideline kick both sickened and delighted me at the same time. One of the greats of our generation.

jamesjoyce (Derry) - Posts: 126 - 02/09/2014 12:03:18    1646673

Paul Flynn for me. Outstanding footballer.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 02/09/2014 12:54:54    1646715

Michael Murphy.
Honorable mentions to Martin Dunne and Seannie Johnston

pdempsey (Mayo) - Posts: 1313 - 02/09/2014 13:03:03    1646721

Sean Cavanagh - 4 All Stars, 1 POTY

Plays in an average side but he raises the bar and if Tyrone are competitive Sean has a good game. Same can be said of Peter Canavan in his day. Didn't play in the best teams but his quality brought the team to finals.

Obviously ive tyrone bias, best player this year is D.Connolly without a doubt a mention to P.Flynn as well

Tyrone Gaa (None) - Posts: 403 - 02/09/2014 13:13:50    1646735

Saddam, anyone can kick a penalty.

Murphy, O'Donoghue, Flynn, McGlynn and Connolly would be my top 5.

HEREBENJI (Donegal) - Posts: 421 - 02/09/2014 13:19:31    1646745

Sean Cavanagh really continues to carry Tyrone on the big occasions and is an outstanding player. Diarmuid Connolly is also a tremendous footballer with the heart and stomach of a lion. David Moran of Kerry is also a very talented, intelligent player while I don't think Paddy McBrearty gets enough credit for the role he plays for Donegal. His bursts forward on Sunday really ripped through Dublin and opened them right up at times. However at this time I would say Diarmuid Connolly would get my vote.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9703 - 02/09/2014 13:20:13    1646746

jamesjoyce I would have keegan and murphy in there. My point was nobody mentioned murphy before the weekend as even being in the top 6 forwards while keegan was the best half back in the country, now after 1 game they have totally switched positions in the minds of the same lads. My point about McHugh only highlights how haphazard the whole thing is - he was even better than murphy on the day, yet murphy gets in on one performance and he doesn't.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 02/09/2014 13:24:04    1646754

Paul Flynn
Wish he was meath man

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 02/09/2014 13:32:01    1646772

If we are judging players on present form then Ryan McHugh has to be in the mix.

Man of the Match in the Ulster Final & All Ireland Semi Final is an achievement in it's own right, but when you consider that the lad is only 20..........

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 02/09/2014 13:33:05    1646773

After been at the three semi finals the last week and numerous games throughout the year I have to say as much as a lot of people don't like him Diarmuid Connolly is sheer class. Just look back to last wknd the points he kicked ....class act.

velo (Mayo) - Posts: 33 - 02/09/2014 13:40:14    1646778

TheMaster. If you think Michael Murphy has had one performance for Donegal this year you may go back to smoking your pipe.
As jamesjoyce mentioned, worth the entry fee on his own in Celtic Park.
Orchestrated the win against Armagh when the game was in doubt.
Played a huge tactical role in the Ulster final win over Monaghan.
If his folks had settled in his fathers home you'd have at least 1 set of celtic crosses in this era.

DLGael (Donegal) - Posts: 111 - 02/09/2014 13:42:28    1646784

on present form IMO Diarmud Connolly

cavan97 (Cavan) - Posts: 369 - 02/09/2014 13:43:08    1646785

Connolly was excellent for dublin on Sunday even when dublin were been beaten everywhere else.
Paul fylnn was very good first twenty min but went missing for me when donegal put the presssure on.
Hard to say who is the best at minute. O doughune not as good againist mayo without donaghy.
Murphy most complete forward in the country.
Cavanagh deserves a mention.
Higgins and boyle very good for mayo. Anyone of the donegal backs.
Best midfield of moran and gallagher and mcelias as sub.
No one player stands out for me yet maybe the final will make a hero.

tom84 (Cavan) - Posts: 334 - 02/09/2014 13:43:36    1646787

Diarmuid Connolly

different gravy

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 02/09/2014 13:45:35    1646791

is it fair to say that we are being blinkered and concentrating on forwards. Murphy is superb, few supports him like i do. I have a personal thing against mayo but yes keegan is a man I'd love to have on my team. again agreed about number 10 for dublin, he is class.

however every donegal game I go to it is the tought of the two magees keeping the best forwards in ireland quiet and they always always deliver. They are two fantasic and very very intelegent footballs, I think they deserve a mention in this forum.

Last note, the dub supporters were abosultely fantastic at the weekend me and the wife and the 3 year old daughter went to game and the amount of dubs that congratulated us afterwards was fantasic and humbling and they done themselves proud. Them are the things that make gaa an amazing thing to be part of....

fatfrog (Donegal) - Posts: 200 - 02/09/2014 13:49:14    1646794

Paul Flynn has been the most consistent player in the country for the past 4 or 5 years.He always seems to play well.He was brilliant on Sunday aswell.He's the complete footballer.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 02/09/2014 14:21:19    1646835

Paul Flynn or Diarmuid Connolly......

Mollymalone (Dublin) - Posts: 1137 - 02/09/2014 14:42:32    1646868

james o donoghue...gonna walk the player of the year award..new golden boy of gaa it appears

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 02/09/2014 14:47:02    1646873