Watching him last night reminded me just what a legend he is.
Himself and McGeeney my 2 all time favourite non Dublin footballers
incredible footballer, and seemed a top bloke too
I applaud that man

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 09/04/2015 12:53:39    1712392

Yeah - incredible individual/player, not much BS about him.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4895 - 09/04/2015 13:04:13    1712402

Ye I thought he came across very well, he seemed very modest and shy but also positive about the game, looked like he was fidgeting at stages with nerves and in a way that's sort of endearing. He was a great player aswell, any time Mayo were playing and I sat down to watch, McDonald would always be the man to provide that bit of class.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 09/04/2015 13:24:52    1712414

Mac da legend and could prob even do a job for us even now.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 09/04/2015 13:43:00    1712425

A rare insight into a footballing genius. Reminds me a bit of some of the rock stars of yore who were totally different personas onstage than they were in reality. McDonald comes out of his shell when he crosses the white lines on the pitch & there he's truly free to express himself. He's a fine example to young people on how to be your own person & not just follow-the-herd like modern society & peers encourage you to do.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 09/04/2015 14:13:18    1712436

One of the all-time greats, we were lucky that he played in an era when he could show off all his talents. Cant think of many players who play the game to him in a similar way now which is a real shame.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 09/04/2015 14:22:35    1712439

yew_tree
County: Mayo
Posts: 6351

I think you are right yew_tree. He could well have got you over the line in 2013. One of those unfortunate group of players who doesn't but should have an AI medal at IC level . Fantastic footballer.

Aido

Aido69 (Dublin) - Posts: 381 - 09/04/2015 14:43:46    1712459

from a rossie view , he was an unreal player of mayo all time and unreal score taker from awaked angles, but always nearly scored and great ambassador for Mayo of all time, followed by Conor Mortimer, Alan Dillion, Keith Higgins, Colm O Boyle, Aidan O Shea and cillian o connor sometimes, But is a pity Ciaran never got his reward an all ireland medal, because such a talent of him is very rare to see and o connor is like him but a bit cocky i think, but it is a pity he never got the reward but an outstanding player.

niamhyr1994 (Roscommon) - Posts: 22 - 09/04/2015 16:37:31    1712505

Ciaran Murphy was in awe, twas gas

i just wish they would drop the ol Shane Curran thing. Its stereotypical and stupid

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 09/04/2015 18:32:39    1712533

its a show of stereotypes

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 09/04/2015 19:33:02    1712550

On the second captains podcast today Eoin McDevitt was saying that after the show yesterday McDonald was telling them he scored 4 points in his debut for Crossmolina at 14 years of age. Unbelievable

square_ball_69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 826 - 09/04/2015 20:30:10    1712561

I agree with Fabio 8. The show audience is full of stereotypical would be sports groupies. Wasn't Ciaran Murphy on an RTE school quiz years ago., and that's wheeled out every week ad nauseam, especially in the sports quiz section. What connection has he with sport if any?.
Ciaran McDonald was one of those great players who nevertheless won national honours, and he was an unassuming man, but a superb footballer.
I'm of an age that prefers sports programmes with knowledgable people discussing sports items, not a few egotists.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1735 - 09/04/2015 21:05:41    1712578

Re Ciaran McDonald item, I should have said he is one of those great players who NEVER won national honours. Should have proofread before submission!

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1735 - 09/04/2015 21:19:55    1712585

Murphy played football for Miltown. You'd think that would make him sound. He's very childish. Early not so bad but McDevitt is the real talent there.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7337 - 09/04/2015 21:56:38    1712595

thelongridge
County: Offaly
Re Ciaran McDonald item, I should have said he is one of those great players who NEVER won national honours

He did win a club All Ireland in 2001 for his club Crossmolina againt Nemo Rangers. He lost the club final 2 years later against the same opposition scoring 5 points in a first half masterclass but sadly injured his foot just before half time and faded in the second. I think Cross would have won that final too were it not for McDonalds injury.

Interesting with Mayo all three final losses (97.2004.2006) were all against Kerry. Ciaran was in the US in 1996 and man Mayo could have done with him that year too.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 10/04/2015 08:39:39    1712603

Certainly don't like the shows format, OK on Radio but on TV in front of an audience this double-act just doesn't work at all.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4895 - 10/04/2015 08:55:21    1712610

Legend, great man at taking long distance scores. Plain no nonsense attitude, a genuine guy, was great listening to him.
Interesting to hear his comments regarding modern football. It's in a great place. Teams and players need to find a way around defensive set ups, like they do in many other sports.

fire_in_belly (Donegal) - Posts: 59 - 10/04/2015 09:32:22    1712621

In fairness it is a lighthearted show so the stereotype suggestion is over egging it. On Ciaran McDonald he came across as I kind of thought given I never heard him speak before. Shy, unassuming but logical. Some talent. We were really lucky in Connacht around that time to have two of the all time natural footballing greats in that period in McDonald and Michael Donnellan. Those type of footballers are few and far between in any era.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1946 - 10/04/2015 09:56:43    1712622

kiloughter - A Galway Cousin of mine just to say he would love to have McDonald in the Galway team so he could ping balls in Joyce. Of course we would have loved to have Joyce ourselves. I think they would have suited each other in the same team.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 10/04/2015 11:50:51    1712672

What a player!

He broke our hearts in 2006 with THAT point. I can still see that ball sailing over into the Hill. One of my standout memories as a Dublin supporter still.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13705 - 10/04/2015 11:58:09    1712676