Paul Barden, one of the best players never to win an All-Star has hung up his county boots. Never missed a championship game in 16 seasons, he's been struggling badly with injuries over the last number of years. An absolute legend down this way and is the best footballer we've ever produced and that says a lot considering the teams we had back in the 60's. When Seamus Moynihan was asked who was his toughest opponent, his reply 'Paul Barden'. Enjoy your retirement Paul, well deserved.

Spinx (Longford) - Posts: 1237 - 04/02/2015 10:15:23    1689886

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ1T-gV5b3k

A tribute from Micheal

Spinx (Longford) - Posts: 1237 - 04/02/2015 10:22:23    1689890

Great player I think the Laois all-star and superb Corner back Joe Higgins said also that Barden was one of his toughest opponents.

Always good for a score and never failed to tog out....best of luck in your retirement!

BigJohn.6_8 (Galway) - Posts: 704 - 04/02/2015 10:24:22    1689892

Lovely footballer, best of luck!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8603 - 04/02/2015 10:27:08    1689895

A fantastic footballer. I remember Donegal playing Longford in a qualifier in 2003 in Ballybofey. It was a scorcher of an evening. Donegal were winning comfortably but I remember Barden going at it full tilt right to the end. He was a great man running with the ball. In that game he made one surging run near the end from deep and walloped a shot off the butt of the post from about 20 metres out. I remember poor Ray Sweeney trying to keep up with him, he was bollocksed after it!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9189 - 04/02/2015 10:43:33    1689904

Legend. A fabulous athlete, he had an unreal burst of pace & a shot that could rip a 'keeper's face off on the way to the roof of the net. Could score off either foot too so was virtually unmarkable one-to-one. Owes Longford GAA nothing. A true clubman for Clonguish, often lined out for their hurlers too & a great influence on younger players.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 04/02/2015 10:55:59    1689909

Class act who gave his county great service. Best man I've seen [aside from Michael Donnellan] to go with the ball.
@Spinx - Longford's best? I'd have to disagree there. He'd be up there, but I'd have to go with Padraic Davis.

Ailteoir (Galway) - Posts: 864 - 04/02/2015 12:18:24    1689951

Great footballer , tough as nails.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 04/02/2015 12:25:57    1689953

Dessie Barry & John 'Speedy' McCormack were the best I ever saw play for Longford. Paul Barden is up there with them!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 04/02/2015 13:05:31    1689977

Hard to believe he never got an all star !!

St.Conleth (Kildare) - Posts: 1700 - 04/02/2015 13:20:38    1689982

Easy to believe he never got an All Star.This is my one big gripe with our games.P Barden was a brilliant footballer but due to place of birth,realistically,his chances of winning a provincial,All Ire or All Star medal were non existant.If Barden was from Galway or Kerry hed get all the plaudits his talent deserves.Amalgamating of some counties,for me,has to happen.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 04/02/2015 13:57:03    1689999

I've seen Davis, Barry and Speedy McCormack all play for Longford and Barden tops that list. From speaking to 3 former players of the sixties who seen some great players for us in those times and they even said Barden would of been stand out. Out of the other 3 I seen play Barden was the only one that I seen club and county teams had him double marked and even at times treble marked. I can't speak for the sixties teams but from the 90'sand 00's he was our best player.

Spinx (Longford) - Posts: 1237 - 04/02/2015 16:01:14    1690079

Absolute genius

coffeecup1 (Roscommon) - Posts: 2 - 04/02/2015 16:30:00    1690103

So have I Spinx. Lived in Longford for a while in the 80s and seen Barry and McCormack and they were fine footballers as is Paul Barden. Lived/worked there again a decade ago and seen Padraig Davis in a few league games for Longford where he had 2 and sometimes 3 markers on him. One point he scored against Fermanagh from the terrace sideline, as a Fermanagh man next to me put it, Maurice Fitzgerald would have been proud of. A local behind us said to the Fermanagh man that Davis was past his best, and that he should have seen him a decade earlier. Either way, he was something else.

Barden and those mentioned previously would have walked onto any county team. Unfortunately as cuederocket observed, players from 'small' counties don't get the recognition they deserve.

Ailteoir (Galway) - Posts: 864 - 04/02/2015 16:44:34    1690110

Don't get me wrong Davis was a serious player and from my own club but I'd still rate Barden just ahead of Davis. Podge scored a lot for the county but he was our main free taker. I remember two scores in the championship from Barden. One down in Wexford, lashing rain and Barden ran full pace onto the ball on the 40, flicked it up without breaking pace soloed two or three times with his right before putting it over the bar with his left. The other one he picked the ball up inside his own full back line, ran the length of the field leaving Down players in his wake before knocking it over the black spot. Back in 2009 the best 15 players in Leinster over the previous 25 years was announced. Barden was the only Longford player selected on it. He was also selected twice for the international rules series.

Spinx (Longford) - Posts: 1237 - 04/02/2015 16:58:19    1690113

Who was best is subjective but I'd agree, when he went with a ball Barden was a hard man to keep up with.

Ailteoir (Galway) - Posts: 864 - 04/02/2015 17:20:16    1690122

Brilliant footballer rightfully revered beyond the borders of Longford. Really tidy player and able to carry a lot of weight on his shoulders. Big pity we never got to see more of him as he'd have lit up Croker in August and September.

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 04/02/2015 20:14:28    1690203

it been a bad year for GAA losing heros from small counties. All players should go down as greats
Paddy Keenan(Louth)
John Galvin(Limerick)
Barry Owens(Fermanagh)
Paul Barden(Longford)
Marin McGrath(Fermanagh)
Leighton Glynn(Wicklow)
Dessie Dolan(Westmeath)

HughHunt24 (Cork) - Posts: 841 - 06/02/2015 11:20:58    1690651

Superb player for club and county.As mentioned above, more often than not double marked, lads hanging out of him and almost invariably best player on the pitch. He maintained those levels for such a long time too.

LilySavage (Kildare) - Posts: 114 - 06/02/2015 13:01:46    1690703

Paul Barden is one of the best footballers to come out of Leinster in the last 30 years. Fantastic player and great servant to Longford GAA

dubshurling7 (Dublin) - Posts: 1017 - 06/02/2015 16:24:23    1690783