Pascal McConnon without a doubt !! Makes himself big (and he is) and can get down to low shots. Has great kick-outs and usually finds his man with them. Of course he is surrounded by good backs but has dealt efficiently with anything that gets past them. Should be the All-Star selection this year without doubt !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 28/07/2010 11:17:39    726718

Dónal Óg Cusack: one of his best seasons in the Cork geansaí

choctaw (Cork) - Posts: 274 - 28/07/2010 11:30:06    726742

As much as I intensely dislike him, Donal Óg has had a very good year, a few misplaced puck outs even against Antrim but no one else has been as solid!
Honourable mentions for the young lad from Offaly, Dempsey(?), and Gary Maguire from Dublin played well in the games I saw this year!

KKid (Kilkenny) - Posts: 421 - 28/07/2010 11:36:43    726753

Pascal McConnell has been exceptional for us this year. He has been hard to beat and has kept Benny Coulter and Thomas Freeman out so far and hopefully can keep Bernard Brogan and co out on Saturday.

tir_eoghain_abu (Tyrone) - Posts: 773 - 28/07/2010 11:42:15    726760

always thought pascal is a fantastic goakeeper great shot stopper anicks out etc.and he has a good rapport with the dubs support in parnell park..with the pascal pascal chant on his kick outs...it use to bring a smile to his face...i had the pleasure meeting him once and he was a gent.so he gets my vote.....i just hope he has a stinker on saturday of course :)

Dubsfan08 (Dublin) - Posts: 619 - 28/07/2010 11:49:26    726775

Brendan Murphy

Jimin10 (Meath) - Posts: 783 - 28/07/2010 12:06:55    726801

Yep has to be donal og

pidge (Cork) - Posts: 543 - 28/07/2010 13:02:48    726889

I also think big Packie should be in line for an All star in his form remains the same. I'll agree with you there Dubsfan08 in saying that he's a big gentle giant. If anyone is tuning into Pride of the Parish on RTE this weekend just take a look at the way his tyrone team mates get him psyched up for a game. Hilarious stuff altogether.

I always liked Cluxton as a keeper but the five goals scored against him by Meath earler in the year will set him back a bit in the pecking order despite his success from the 50 yard line.

mugsys_barber (Tyrone) - Posts: 2160 - 28/07/2010 13:36:01    726951

Stephen Cluxton for me!

Ok he let 5 goals in against Meath but every one of those goals were absolute screamers. Goals no keeper would of saved. Anyone read Martin McHugh's artcle in the Star on Monday? Good read and very true. He says goalkeepers never get much of the credit but Cluxton must be one of the most smartest footballers in Ireland. ''From kickouts and with ball in hand, Cluxton gave a masterclass against Louth- he is one of the team's main playmakers''. Fully agree with McHugh. Best keeper in the country by a long shot, and thats not being bias.

Oh and not to mention the 45s ;)

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 28/07/2010 13:39:42    726955

Ah did Cluxton not have a few howlers last year or the year before ?

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 28/07/2010 13:50:40    726982

Connollydub , can I put your opening gambit in Quotes of the year?..."Stephen Cluxton for me.....ok he let 5 goals in...." Top class.

gaelantrim (Antrim) - Posts: 1616 - 28/07/2010 13:55:49    726993

Maguire.

Has had a cracking year. I've never been too confident in his abilities but he's been fantastic this year

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13846 - 28/07/2010 13:55:53    726994

gaelantrim
County: Antrim
Posts: 825

726993 Connollydub , can I put your opening gambit in Quotes of the year?..."Stephen Cluxton for me.....ok he let 5 goals in...." Top class.

Ha permission granted :)

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 28/07/2010 14:01:13    727012

Big Packie hands down! or up as the case may be

redhanddefender (Tyrone) - Posts: 913 - 28/07/2010 14:18:36    727056

Cluxton was overdue to concede a few goals like he did against Meath and as others have said, I don't think any goalkeeper would have done much better in the circumstances Cluxton found himself. Peter Schmeichel was probably the best goalie I've seen in soccer yet he had games where he conceded 5 or 6 - didn't change the fact that he was still probably one of the best keepers ever.
If I recall correctly, from 05 up until he conceded 3 against Tyrone in 08 he had conceded 3 goals over 16 / 17 championship matches with a never ending changing full back line in front of him. Thats some record.
Thought his best match was against Laois in 05 made some unreal saves in that game ditto Kerry last year - the scoreline could have been a lot worse than it was. Dara O'Se is a big fan of his kick outs as he describes in the Times today - "Stephen Cluxton has a wonderful quality to his kick-outs. He picks players out like a quarterback does. You would love to be playing with him." Huge compliment from the best midfielder of the last 15 years.

NavyNBlue (Dublin) - Posts: 1357 - 28/07/2010 14:22:53    727067

Hurling.. Clintin hennessy

Football.. Pascal Mc Connel

biffo1 (Cavan) - Posts: 148 - 28/07/2010 15:45:15    727225

Pascall Mc Connell without a doubt

Blue and Black (Monaghan) - Posts: 187 - 28/07/2010 16:08:21    727267

Geoffrey Claffey by a country mile!!! no question

Ros2013 (Roscommon) - Posts: 644 - 28/07/2010 16:35:54    727330

Colm O'Gorman - Monaghan

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 28/07/2010 16:58:54    727370

Agree that those 2 are the best(Cluxton and Mc Connoll). Different kind of goalies however...,

Mc Connoll is a big presence between the posts, great shot stopper and has a huge kickout.

Cluxton is again a great shot stopper but his main attribute is his pin point kick outs.

A good goal keeper is one that obviously must keep goals out but also one who can provide a team with a platform for gettin hands on primary possesion with accurate kickouts and therefore I feel Cluxton is the best "Goalkeeper" of the modern day.

howareya (Louth) - Posts: 55 - 28/07/2010 16:59:00    727371