If I could pick the team of 15 hurlers I'd love most as a manager, here it is, lined out where I'd play them. This would be these guys at their prime obviously, like Tony Browne 1998 rather than Tony Browne 2012 etc. 1. Damien Fitzhenry 2. Brian Lohan 3. Kevin Kinahan 4. Frank Lohan 5. Brian Whelehan 6. Brian Corcoran 7. Ciaran Carey 8. Tony Browne 9. Richie Hogan 10. Joe Canning 11. John Troy 12. Eoin Kelly (Tipp) 13. Eddie Brennan 14. Joe Deane 15. Paul Flynn
This year will be 44 years since I've seen my first intercounty hurling match. My best team would be as follows
1: Skeehan. I know there are many greats over the last 15 years but I think he redefined the position and was way ahead of his time. 2: Whelahan. Out of position I know but he had to play and (although I can't believe it) he wouldn't make half back line 3: Lohan. Best full back I've seen 4: Tyrell. I can't think of a better no 4 5: T. Walsh. Automatic. 6: T. Keady. Maybe I'm biased. 7: JJ Delaney. Best all round defender I've seen. 8: C. Carey. The only player I think on the team without an AI. 9: J. Cooney. I know he didn't play much of his inter county career here but it was his best position. 10: Shefflin. No need to comment. 11: John Troy. I could watch him hurl all day. 12: DJ. He was actually one of the last I picked. 13: JBM. The most natural hurler I've ever seen. 14: Joe McKenna or Ray Cummins simply can't seperate 15: English. Although I also considered P. Fox.
I'm amazed I didn't come up with more Tipp and especially Cork players but again that may be my bias!
I'm amazed Brian Lohan gets so much good press as I thought he was a very limited hurler and I think David McInerny for example is twenty times the hurler he was. I also think Brian Lohan profited hugely from the work his brother did alongside him. I'd rank his hurling ability skills wise as low. However his attributes that made him a very effective full back were his positional sense, sizing up his opponent and a tremendous attitude that meant he never gave in. He always played on the shoulder of the attacker between the attacker and goal.
While he was a great leader on that 95 team, his performance v Waterford in the 2002 semi final stood out for me. I expected (as I often did with Brian Lohan) that he'd be roasted by the fast moving Waterford forwards. Waterford raced into a 0-7 to 0-2 lead until a big ball down the middle saw him shout, come out & bat it away and he sent out a message that nobody was coming into his patch. Clare goaled soon after and like a Boa Constrictor they just killed off their prey.
So with so many people saying he was a great, might need to re-assess him as a player......
1.Damien fitzhenry (biased decision to be honest,very good era for goalies Donal og,Davy Fitzgerald,Anthony Nash,always felt cummins was overrated) 2.Ollie canning (Paul Murphy not far off) 3.Brian Lohan (absolute warrior,the rock and Noel hickey weren't far off) 4.Jackie Tyrell (Wayne Sherlock was very good for a few years) 5.Tommy Walsh (2nd best half back I've seen) 6.Brian whelehan (Sean McMahon,john Gardiner and Brian Geary all worth a mention,liam Dunne served our county very well despite the reputation as a dirty player ) 7.JJ Delaney(best half back I've seen 8.Michael fennelly (Derek lyng,johnny Pilkington and ciaran Carey were in the mix) 9.Ken McGrath (jj Delaney said he's the best player he played against,tony Browne tommy Dunne and jerry O'Connor were very good aswel) 10.Martin storey (scored 3 or 4 points from play most games,unbelievable strike rate,Ben O'Connor would be best of the rest) 11.Henry shefflin(liked John troy back in the day,so naturally skilful even if he didn't look like a natural athlete 12.Richie hogan (dj Carey and Jamesie O'Connor would be unlucky) 13.Eddie Brennan(best goal scorer I've ever seen,Paul Flynn was fantastic for Waterford aswel) 14.Eoin Kelly(loved Joe Deane too and Gary Kirby was a serious operater in the mid 90's,seamie Callahan has been sensational for 2 years) 15.John Mullane (like storey had a great scoring rate from open play,if lar Corbett showed his form from 2009 to 2011 over a longer period I would have picked him ahead of Eddie Brennan)