Cillian O'Connor is only 22 and already one of the top forwards in the country. Twice young footballer of the year too.

His free taking is as good as it gets and his goalscoring is also excellent. He's physically strong too and can kick scores well off two feet. He's improving all the time and will only get better in the future.

My question is, just how good can this fella get? Imo he could become the best forward of his generation. Thoughts?

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13705 - 27/01/2015 19:38:44    1687148

Could Bethe best that ever played the game an his younger brother won't be far behind

mat (Mayo) - Posts: 182 - 27/01/2015 20:28:26    1687175

brilliant finisher but i dont think he is anywhere on the level of o donoghue..his ball winning skills are nothing exceptional which is his major weakness..very good player all the same

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 27/01/2015 20:28:41    1687177

Hope will get better and we could do with a few more of him
Still abit behind brogan gooch

Vman (Mayo) - Posts: 39 - 27/01/2015 20:40:15    1687183

James O'Donaghue would be the other candidate alright. O'Connor is younger than O'Donaghue though it should be remembered.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13705 - 27/01/2015 20:41:36    1687184

Has serious potential, but I think Mayo need to win a couple of AIs for him to get the mantle of 'great', unfortunately that's the way the cookie crumbles, doesn't want to end up like Ciaran Whelan or Johnny Doyle and the likes. But a really good player.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8586 - 27/01/2015 20:46:39    1687189

No doubt he'll be likened to greats like Earley, McDonald and Forde. Best players not to win an All Ireland!! A shame when such talent is born in the wrong county :P

JMK (Kerry) - Posts: 273 - 27/01/2015 20:49:38    1687191

IMO I would put him in the same league as McConville and Canavan can get scores when the team needs them. he is the best about I think, I

would take him to Armagh before any other forward he is a class act and would be a shame if he didn't get an All Ireland.

youngfella27 (Armagh) - Posts: 110 - 28/01/2015 09:15:19    1687249

He is a great player but nowhere near the best around.
His case probably isn't helped by being the main man at such a young age. He isn't getting a chance to progress as he should in my opinion.

I wouldn't have him near alot of the others. Its easier to look good in a poor forward line than to stand out in a great forward line. To even compare him to some of the great forwards is a joke.

Just so it doesn't look biased I actually would say the same about Murphy. Has great ability and is a great player but unless something changes (there is time) neither of these players will be considered all time greats outside their own counties.

Obviously just my opinion.

dstuction (Donegal) - Posts: 1209 - 28/01/2015 10:21:43    1687271

Good forward but lacks pace to be a great IMO.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 28/01/2015 10:31:01    1687276

He's only 22 lads!

Just think about where he is now and what he has already achieved and think of how good he may be at 28 when he has had a chance to fully develop as a player!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13705 - 28/01/2015 10:36:09    1687281

youngfella- I dodn't realise McConville and Canavan were in the same class? As for O'Connor, he's a very good player but I think he's a long long way from been one of the greats. I have my reservations about him going to the next level but youth is on his side and only time will tell. O'Donoghue is a superior player.

TheWestIsAwake (UK) - Posts: 529 - 28/01/2015 10:43:01    1687288

Superb but not a great , how good may he become honestly don't know , has the talent but lacks bit of pace , he needs a few defining moments to be elevated to the level of some of the names mentioned already .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 28/01/2015 11:04:28    1687294

Extremely talented footballer

He has the potential to be the best of this generation (like others) but the thing that really matters is himself.

He will be as good as he thinks he can be!

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 28/01/2015 11:12:57    1687296

You can't compare him to Canavan as he's not even close. Canavan could single handedly turn a game around and damned near won Tyrone an AI in 1995 on his own. Canavan had pace, skill and scoring ability. I do think O' Connor is a good play but you rarely see him taking a man on and winning the race. He does have great feet and given a yard can take some great scores. Good player but a long way to go to be classed with the greats.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 28/01/2015 11:16:29    1687298

He is a steady, very consistent player who always delivers 7/10. However to class him as up there with the greats is a stretch too far. He does'nt have the natural ability and flair of Kieran McDonald, and lacks a bit of pace. However he is our best forward at the moment

Mayoforever (Mayo) - Posts: 142 - 28/01/2015 12:46:41    1687331

Cillian is someone you can count on to get scores and his attitude. Remember at only 19, his nerve in what I would describe as the worst weather I ever attended a match at in the Hyde in 2011. He is now vice-captain and will be Mayo captain in the future. He can in no way be considered a great especially at the tender age of 22...come back to us when he is 32. I sincerely hope he has an All Ireland medal by then.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 28/01/2015 13:15:24    1687350

Mayo need a marquee forward according to the media, lol.

saddam (Mayo) - Posts: 414 - 28/01/2015 13:46:23    1687371

I'm not saying that O'Connor is up there with the greats now but perhaps how does he compare with them when they were 21/22?

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13705 - 28/01/2015 13:56:56    1687375

Oui MesAmis,

He's definitely an stand-out player especially considering his age!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8586 - 28/01/2015 14:05:53    1687379