What a hurler this man has been down through the years, his peformance yesterday emphasised everything good about hurling in the hook in the first half. Henry may be the greatest ever but JJ is defintley second. It was also his 9th All Ireland. A superb player that goes about his business superbly.

222 (UK) - Posts: 693 - 28/09/2014 10:43:10    1657620

Yeah unbelievable hurler himself and tommy Walsh will go down as the 2 greatest wing backs the game has ever seen.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 28/09/2014 11:25:59    1657630

JJ is a legend. In my eyes he is the best full-back of all time.

The value of JJ Delaney to Kilkenny over the last few years can't be overestimated. When he retires, and I don't think he will be let retire for another few years, he will leave a massive gap at full-back and Kilkenny have no direct replacements to fill it.

To any Kilkenny posters out there: Who is going to replace JJ Delaney at no.3 when he eventually retires?

Paul Murphy? Willie Phelan? I have no other suggestions after that.

Hurling1Guru1 (Galway) - Posts: 244 - 28/09/2014 11:35:41    1657633

JJ Delaney is the greatest defender ive ever seen.Whether left half back,or full back,the man has rarely been bettered.I would love to see him marking Henry in a club game.Henry,most definately,would not take him to the cleaners.Nobody has.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 28/09/2014 12:40:28    1657645

A modern day Cú Chulainn!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8592 - 28/09/2014 13:52:03    1657666

one of a kind!

sob (Meath) - Posts: 492 - 28/09/2014 19:48:53    1657788

i am a massive fan of jj, he is probably one of my favourite players ever - an incredible player. no player always comes out on top every day, so im just wondering if anyone knows of any day when jj was comprehensively outplayed?

hurlingexpert (Clare) - Posts: 1941 - 28/09/2014 20:29:16    1657808

I think JJ is Kilkenny's greatest ever defender. Dislocated his finger at the end of the first half yesterday too but played on. Hurling guru it's gonna be so tough to replace him. At the moment I see Kieran Joyce as the natural successor, similar build to JJ, strong under high ball, plus he's not blessed with blinding pace so FB might suit him. I'd leave Murphy in the corner, don't think FB would suit him, would be too restrictive for his style of play.

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 28/09/2014 20:31:26    1657809

JJ Delaney is an absolute joy to watch. The funny thing is, in all his time, I cannot once remember him pulling a dirty stroke on anybody either. Now we all know he is a divil for the "cute arts" of a full back, but that is what makes a good full back!

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 29/09/2014 09:42:24    1657917

Hard to pick between JJ and Walsh in fairness, always been a big fan of Tyrell too!

As always with this KK team, it is the panel and team rather than individuals that shines in many ways.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 29/09/2014 09:46:24    1657922

Probably the best defender of all time. The majority of the Cody eras defenders would be on my greatest 15 team. The way Paul Murphy is going he will be there soon. JJ Jackie Tommy and Hickey would all make on my greatest 15. You could make cases for Hogan, O Connor and Kavanagh also. The whole defense in Codys time has been unreal.

deadybai (Kilkenny) - Posts: 63 - 29/09/2014 10:43:36    1657954