The coaching at inter county level these days is of a high standard and sometimes games can see mechanical systems, mechanical players and mechanical results appear where the standard of coaching means that there is very little between the sides. An example is the 2015 Munster Final.

In my opinion Henry Shefflin is the greatest hurler I've seen, but John Troy of Offaly is the most skilful. For me, Troy exhibited all of the skills of the game and his hands and wrists appeared soft enough to wriggle a ball off the ground & away from a tackle, yet strong enough to catch a ball under pressure. The era he played in probably allowed him to exhibit these skills more than modern players are allowed to but for a relatively light bloke he played centre forward and seemed gifted.

I'd of course rank Ciaran Carey very highly and each county has a couple of notable hurlers who oozed class.

So just gauging opinion here - the most skillful hurler you have seen?

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 18/11/2015 09:16:19    1808140

Some fine examples there man. I loved John Troy's goal v Antrim years ago!

Of today's crop I think the skill that Tony Kelly possesses is a joy to behold at times. So comfortable with the ball on his hurl. Magnificent to watch.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 18/11/2015 09:26:43    1808144

Richie Hogan.

mayo_hurler (Mayo) - Posts: 113 - 18/11/2015 09:42:21    1808155

Yeah Tony Kelly, TJ Reid, Richie Hogan as well as DeBurca from Waterford are superb, technical hurlers, making it look easy and comfortable all the time.

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 18/11/2015 09:44:18    1808158

Interesting post, no doubt that Henry Shefflin is one of the greats but his success was down to attitude, physical condition and to a certain extent luck that he was around to be a (massive) part of the greatest team in modern history - not just skill. I would argue that there are loads of hurlers who possessed more skill but didnt have the attitude/luck etc. to be as successful. Some extremely skillful hurlers that come to mind include Kevin Broderick, Joe Canning, Ciaran Carey, Andrew O'Shaughnessy, Podge Collins, Tony Kelly, Eddie Brennan, Richie Hogan, Joe Deane, Paul flynn, Eoin Kelly and no doubt many others that i ant think of

McFan88 (Limerick) - Posts: 447 - 18/11/2015 10:20:54    1808171

John Troy was indeed a skillfull hurler.In a different era,players usually stuck to their positions and fitness levels were below todays levels,Troy was not the most mobile of players.He had little pace but like a lot of that great Offaly team,he had it between the ears.Good reader of the game.A wily fox.
On Ciaran Carey,i never particularly thought he was a very skillfull player.Where he trumped nearly every player ive ever seen though was im his never say die spirit.If i could choose one man to be in the trenches with me it would be Carey.A real leader.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 18/11/2015 10:35:13    1808176

Eoin Kelly the most naturally skilful hurler I have seen on the field of play bar none. Big game temperment also. Brian Whelehan and Brian Corcoran also in this bracket. DJ Carey had away more skill then Shefflin but Shefflin was a better player. Adrian Fenlon also very skilful.
From my own county the O'Connor twins and Gardiner had incredible skill and further back again Tony O Sullivan blessed with hurling ability.

Cornerback1977 (Cork) - Posts: 67 - 18/11/2015 10:38:13    1808179

A few of my most skillfull hurlers would be R Hogan,TJ Reid,DJ Carey,E Kelly(Tipp),N English,T Dunne,J Canning,J Cooney,P Flynn,K McGrath,J Deane,J Fenton,B Whelehan,T Kelly,S McMahon(Clare).

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 18/11/2015 10:45:34    1808182

Interesting topic.

John Troy would have been the first name that sprung to mind as well. Brian Whelehan, Brian Corcoran, Eoin Kelly,Kevin Broderick, DJ Carey were also brilliant (as were many, many more).

The best game of the year in the championship was probably Galway v Tipp. If you watch the Sunday Game again, you will note that all the pundits talk about is the workrate of Galway. Now fair play, Galway did work hard (and nobody is suggesting that they have no skill). It seems now that skill and fitness are a given (that all teams much reach a certain threshold level of skill and fitness) and what separates them is work rate.

Of course we do see individual pieces of brilliance in hurling. Joe Cannings goal v KK, Jonathan Glynn's goal v Cork (though all pundits would suggest that he should have been fouled by Cork players on the way in and that trying to tackle fairly by flicking the ball of the hurley or waiting to get a hook was 'naive', 'lazy' defending), Shane Bennets goal v Dublin etc We should also say that the first touch, ball-control of the players is probably higher now than it ever was before. I would say in general, the median player is now more skillful than at any time in the past.

However, the emphasis has changed and some skills are defunct almost. There is almost no over head pulling, no pulling on the ground, no contested throw ins. These have been replaced with endless amounts of rucks, body checking, defenders swarming players in possession (ie workrate).

We have more skillful players but a less skillful game. I still think the 1990s was the zenith of hurling (in my opinion) in terms of competiveness, skill on view, atmosphere..

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 18/11/2015 11:07:05    1808196

Benny,if i said that Corks defending for J Glynns goal was juvenile,it would be an insult to every young lad playing the game.Who said anything about fouling Glynn?How about even attempting to hit him a fair shoulder as he slalomed through unopposed for nearly 50 yards?How he could just toss the ball over the last Cork defenders head without even the slightest contact was pathetic.Could you imagine Noel Hickey,B Lohan or Diarmuid O Sullivan being as obliging?This small,but significant,snapshot was indicative to how far Cork have fallen.Christy Ring wouldnt have slept well that night.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 18/11/2015 11:37:36    1808207

John Troy was a genius a master craftman and I believe he was the most skilful player I've seen., his stickwok was exquisite.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 18/11/2015 11:54:08    1808215

I could watch Tony Kelly and Podge Collins all day , from the past J Mullane and P Flynn spring to mind

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 18/11/2015 12:18:20    1808223

Imo, DJ Carey, troy, whelehan, Paul Flynn. More or less in that order. Hogan, callanan, podge Collins from today

flack (Dublin) - Posts: 1054 - 18/11/2015 12:53:12    1808232

uibhfhaili1986
County: Offaly
Posts: 715

1808215 John Troy was a genius a master craftman and I believe he was the most skilful player I've seen., his stickwok was exquisite.

He was skilful....but extremely lazy and didn't have a great attitude. He wouldn't last the pace today simple as that!

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 736 - 18/11/2015 12:58:49    1808235

Most skillful hurler I have seen is Richie Hogan without doubt . That man just oozes class and is a modern great.

Others greats I have seen have been DJ (cousin of Hogan), Joe Deane and Paul Flynn of Waterford.

John Mullane and Dan The Man were also very skillful. Mullane had a great ability of scoring points for impossible areas on the pitch while Shananhan was a fabulous goal scorer.

deadybai (Kilkenny) - Posts: 63 - 18/11/2015 13:11:11    1808242

adrian fenlon was a the undisputed king of the keep the ball moving on the ground delivery,but for me i always go back to that era and i think of seanie McMahon,liam dunne,joe deane,mark foley,ciaran carey,tony browne,and dj of course.
dan the man was not a skillful hurler.john mullane was.sylive linnane springs to mind!!!!

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 18/11/2015 14:50:42    1808280

Yeah Tony Kelly is a joy to watch, definitely up there with DJ , Whelehan and Richie Hogan

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1909 - 18/11/2015 16:51:04    1808313

Joe cooney carried a wand on the pitch

tribesfan (Galway) - Posts: 45 - 18/11/2015 17:29:00    1808318

Sylvie carried an axe(:

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 18/11/2015 18:05:30    1808325

Haha good one!

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1909 - 19/11/2015 10:51:02    1808396