I'm a fan of Second Captains. as I'm sure a lot of ye are, and watching the show a few weeks back, I noticed that there are usually zero, or at most one Gaelic players on the 'Good Wall'. Surely, I thought this was an oversight, but I was thinking about it, and did my own list on the best Irish athletes of all time, as per the link below, and again there are no Gaelic players on that.

I was thinking Gaelic is maybe too team organized to allow for individual brilliance, but then again hurling is equally so, yet Shefflin, Ring, Keher etc all are regarded as true masters in a way that no Gaelic player is. Why do you think this is?

http://catmalojin.com/2015/04/08/the-top-irish-athletes-of-all-time/

CatMalojin (USA) - Posts: 32 - 09/04/2015 10:04:47    1712299

Just because they don't feature on the Second Captains wall, doesn't mean there are no great Gaelic footballers. The "Wall" is too focused on recent events, and "celebrity" sports personalities like "ROG" and "BOD", largely promoted by the "cool" D4 media brigade. The county-based strength of Gaelic games doesn't lend itself very well to national sporting heroes. My Tipperary-born uncle, for example, who say Ring playing numerous times would rate a few Tipp lads ahead of him in the "all-time great" stakes!! From a football point of view, the likes of Sean Purcell, Sean O'Neill, Mick O'Connell, Gooch, Brian Mullins, Matt Connor, Peter Canavan, Maurice Fitz etc would all be worthy of consideration as national sporting greats.

football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 09/04/2015 10:25:50    1712312

Gooch was definitely on the wall at some stage , tends to be soccer special guests bring a " great " from their own code for the wall , likewise rugby etc therefore not enough football men appearing as special guests .
For me I could easily have Cluxton from my own county , for the wall and a list too big to put on here of lads from other counties .
The wall tends to have an international feel to it , perhaps that's the lack of recognition .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 09/04/2015 10:30:23    1712315

I think it's the fact that someone who has represented Ireland (and not just in international rules a couple of times) is more likely to be liked by all. For examply Damo, I'd disagree with you on Cluxton but I'm sure we'd probably both agree on Brian O'Driscoll or Tony McCoy, etc.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5010 - 09/04/2015 11:05:37    1712323

cavanman47
County: Cavan
Posts: 1089

1712323 I think it's the fact that someone who has represented Ireland (and not just in international rules a couple of times) is more likely to be liked by all. For examply Damo, I'd disagree with you on Cluxton but I'm sure we'd probably both agree on Brian O'Driscoll or Tony McCoy, etc.

Agreed , but you can hardly call racing in England International which McCoy did , unlike flat jockeys like M Kinane etc , in other words interpretation of great is a personal call , by the way not being disrespectful of AP love the guy .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 09/04/2015 11:37:01    1712340

I think there are a number of legends who every gael would agree should be up on that wall! McDonald picked one last night in Maurice Fitz for a start!
Have to say McDonald came across as an old school sportsman and a great thinker of the game last night, total class act of a footballer on the field also, always 3 steps ahead. Loved to watch him play, not too many id pay in to see from another county amongst the current crop

highking12 (Meath) - Posts: 184 - 09/04/2015 11:37:30    1712341

If an individual excels , if one of our national team triumphs , its a shared triumph we unite , If Kilkenny triumph who celebrates , If Mayo won an all Ireland does the 32 counties combine in sheer traffic stopping delight ? No there is competition and a touch of jealousy , anger , derision , when your rival plays , so its unlikely that a Cork man is going to put Kerry footballers up as the greatest , a Dub wouldn't put Meath men up either , Im generalising but Im sure the point is clear , there are great players however your lucky if a fella retires if they get the praise they deserve .
Ive often noted the exemption being if someone passes we are quick to herald , just not while they have a pulse .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 09/04/2015 11:46:44    1712347

Delighted to see Ciaran McDonald on second captains last night. A great player and gentleman off the field too.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 09/04/2015 11:55:11    1712356

Jack O Shea without doubt. Holds his own with any Irish sports person past or present. Just for interests sake is Dr. Pat O Callaghan on that wall ?

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 09/04/2015 11:56:06    1712357

greengrass i haven't seen the show in ages but from memory, these people are or were on the wall (it changes every week with 2 being replaced)

roy keane
paul mcgrath
katie taylor
tony mccoy
brian odriscoll
keith wood
colm cooper
henry shefflin
padraig harrington
jack oshea
rory mcilroy
christy ring
ronana ogara

and obviously plenty more. it struck me as being very modern, i.e. mainly mid 90s onwards. cant remember seeing johnny giles, jack kyle, eamonn coughlan, etc.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5010 - 09/04/2015 12:07:34    1712362

Greengrass
County: Louth
Posts: 3628

1712357 Jack O Shea without doubt. Holds his own with any Irish sports person past or present. Just for interests sake is Dr. Pat O Callaghan on that wall ?

No ,
Paul McGrath , J Giles , AP McCoy , Henry Sheflin , Rory McElroy , P Harrington , O Driscoll , Paul O Connell , Katie Taylor , George Best , if memory serves me correctly , names listed not in order , just off top of my head .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 09/04/2015 12:09:01    1712363

Thanks lads. Dr Pat O Callaghan won Olympic gold medals in the hammer throw in 1928 and 1932. But for the split that occured in Irish athletics he would have gone to Berlin as favourite for a third successive gold. Unfortunately he was prevented from doing so. He is right up there with any Irish sportsperson of all time. Along with Paddy Barnes he is the only Irish person to win medals at two successive Olympics. If Paddy could win a medal in Rio what a lifetime of sporting achievement he would have lived. I would be inclined to agree with you in relation to the fact that memories are short. No other boxers apart from Katy Taylor on the wall either. It is without doubt the sport at which we are most successful. Over half our paltry total of Olympic medals have been won by our boxers and we have also had world champions in the professional game as well.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 09/04/2015 12:39:35    1712381

From my own Wee County the great Paddy Keenan who is probably the greatest player to wear the red jersey. Louths only all star and he also played for Leinster and for Ireland. Captain fantastic and a great warrier who gives more than 100%. Great attitude and a gentleman off the pitch. Cruelly denied the Leinster medal he so richly deserves. One word for him: Legend.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 09/04/2015 12:43:24    1712384

Greengrass a Louth man carried the tri-colour at the opening cermony of the 1956 Olympics. Tony Socks Byrne. He also won a bronze in the boxing that year.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 09/04/2015 12:47:29    1712390

As a fan of second captains ,I should explain that wall changes every week that's the purpose , so names off the top of my head who have previously been on wall are as follows ,
Dennis Taylor
Alex Higgins
Barry McGuigan
Sonia O Sullivan
Eddie Keher
Roy Keane
Eammon Coughlan


Im sure theres been many others their just off top of my head .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 09/04/2015 12:59:11    1712396

Good man Ollie. Socks was a good one. Thanks Damo.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 09/04/2015 13:00:24    1712397

While we're at it. . .anyone got their own top 10? I'm going to try to pick no more than 2 from each sport. .

rory mcilroy - years left in him but already best on the planet
brian o'driscoll - words can't describe what this man has done for Irish rugby
Katie Taylor - same as mcilroy
henry shefflin - i rate him as the best ever exponent of the greatest field game on earth, i know many will disagree
jack o'shea - complete all-rounder on a football field, moreso than any other IMO
AP McCoy - again, top of his field and for so long and so consistently
George Best - a genius
roy keane - just a colossus in the green jersey, hadn't the skill of brady or giles but such a competior. i'm still haven't forgiven mccarthy for saipan!
Eamonn Coughlan - a world champion in a very competitive era!
colm cooper - an absolute joy to behold, so many times he's been worth the admission fee alone!

about 20 or so more i would consider as honourable mentions

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5010 - 09/04/2015 13:24:34    1712413

Aye I often found that wall stuff a bit ridiculous, esp given the predominance of rugby and soccer players on it. FFS you could have 10 Kerry players on it and it wouldn't be enough.

Jacko, Gooch, Shefflin and Whealan should be on it for a start you can be throwing off Rory McIlllory, Harrington, some blasted jockey and some snooker player for a start to make way.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 09/04/2015 13:30:29    1712417

Hermit

Whealan???


Brian Whelahan i hope you mean!

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5010 - 09/04/2015 13:42:26    1712423

The very man Cavan man, although its hard to chose just 2 hurlers from the last 20 odd years alone let alone since year dot.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 09/04/2015 14:33:55    1712450