Me father (galway man) tells me that Sean Purcell not only pointed every free, but they went right in the middle of the posts and landed on top of the net.
Got me thinking, in the absence of stats, would do ppl think is the best free taker of all time? the modern era? and present day?

Purcell. Maurice Fitz. Cillian O'Connor?

could have also gone
Purcell. Peter Canavan. Michael Murphy....

HenryHill16 (Dublin) - Posts: 249 - 08/02/2016 16:07:46    1823585

definitely Michael Murphy. He is the most consistent and can score from long range too.

can't believe some of the easy fres that Kerry missed against the rossies, criminal.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 08/02/2016 16:16:39    1823595

for present day Ian Ryan is up there. takes them of left and right depending on the side of the pitch he's atand rarely misses.

blackspot91 (Limerick) - Posts: 1055 - 08/02/2016 16:22:29    1823604

Bryan Sheehan and murphy are as good as you can get in the modern game.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 08/02/2016 16:31:59    1823607

Michael Murphy is the best. Good shout on Ian Ryan but Murphy is unreal

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 08/02/2016 16:32:21    1823608

https://dontfoul.wordpress.com/2014/10/28/an-ode-to-cillian-oconnors-right-foot/

Cillian O'Connor is probably the best at the minute from within 40 yards.

Looks like Cluxton is seriously good too.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4210 - 08/02/2016 16:42:19    1823614

Watch out for Kevin O'Halloran from Tipp. plucked from the Unknown last year to make up numbers on the U.21 team which nearly won the AI. His a great left boot on him very accurate off the ground which is very rare these days.

Actually his some lad to take a sideline in hurling as well probably up there with Big Joe from Galway.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 08/02/2016 17:12:01    1823628

Would youse all go away.

Only the bold Jimmy Keaveney had the waddle, and was deadly from any close in free. Only he could saunter out to take a free as if he hadn't a care in the world.

And in no way am I been would eyed about this!!!

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 08/02/2016 17:17:23    1823632

Mickeys Kearns, Jimmy Keaveney, Matt Connor, Maurice Fitz, Mikey Sheehy, Larry Tompkins, Brian Stafford, Paraic Joyce, Eamon McEneaney, Oisin McConville and Peter Canavan to name but a few.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 08/02/2016 17:47:56    1823640

"Only the bold Jimmy Keaveney had the waddle, and was deadly from any close in free."

I know you're talking about football, but Nickey Rackard was the King of the close in free, or so I've been led to believe. Paul Codd in more recent times was a great free-taker.

In the football, I suppose Matty Forde could split the posts from any distance/angle, and the Great Eddie Mahon could place a ball aswell back in the 80s.

extranjero (Wexford) - Posts: 375 - 08/02/2016 18:00:39    1823645

yeah surely mike murphy these days. who was that lad from meeath a couple of years ago, ward was it? had a massive boot on him!

blackspot91 (Limerick) - Posts: 1055 - 09/02/2016 11:51:22    1823873

Conor McManus is the most assured I can see around at present.

RedRum (Fermanagh) - Posts: 278 - 09/02/2016 12:10:24    1823882

Bryan Sheehan, distance, accuracy and style.

Llaw_Gyffes (Mayo) - Posts: 1113 - 09/02/2016 12:23:01    1823888

Bryan Sheehan for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5WaNh0a3UI

surfdude62 (Kerry) - Posts: 46 - 09/02/2016 12:38:17    1823897

Trevor Giles

mrfox (Wexford) - Posts: 338 - 09/02/2016 13:10:06    1823925

The best way to take a free is still from the ground & it's amazing so few are able to it anymore. That's why goalkeepers were being brought up the field to takes '45s.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 09/02/2016 13:44:14    1823939

The best way to take a free is still from the ground & it's amazing so few are able to it anymore. That's why goalkeepers were being brought up the field to takes '45s.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts:2630 - 09/02/2016 13:44:14

A practise that should be banned forthwith even if only for the amount of time wasted.

It's a poor state of affairs if a county team can't find one outfield player who can kick a ball off the ground.

You'd never see it happening here in Donegal.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 09/02/2016 14:15:46    1823960

Bryan Sheehan and Maurice Fitzgearld

kerrykerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1779 - 09/02/2016 15:27:05    1824016

Conor McManus never fails to deliver regardless of the occasion

bullwork (UK) - Posts: 11 - 09/02/2016 15:28:23    1824018

Unerring Jinkin Joe Corcoran was probably the best ever.

liner (Mayo) - Posts: 756 - 09/02/2016 17:38:12    1824133