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Best Player From Your County You Ever Seen

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Replying To midlands:  "Yes, Dessie was central to nearly all of Westmeath's successes - Under 21 All-Ireland, two U 21 Leinsters and of course our only Leinster senior. He also played a key role in Westmeath's only Leinster senior club success with Garrycastle in 2011. None of those would have been achieved without him, in my opinion. Martin Flanagan was also a special player and it was a pity he wasn't involved in 2004."
Felt terrible for Dessie against Meath that time, but I'm glad he got over the line, great player.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8753 - 25/08/2021 23:24:17    2374822

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Best footballer I've seen from Wexford is Mattie Forde. Philip Wallace and David Shannon deserve honourable mentions.

Most skilful hurlers I've seen in Wexford are Tom Dempsey, Jimmy Holohan, Declan Ruth and Damien Fitzhenry.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2574 - 26/08/2021 07:52:33    2374838

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Hurling I suspect in 10 years time would be Rory O'Connor but for now, I think Rory Jacob or Liam Ryan.
Football, I was lucky to see Matty Forde and am glad I got to. A genius.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1836 - 26/08/2021 09:42:29    2374853

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Replying To bdbuddah:  "I never thought of Geraghty as dirty, he was able to look after himself. When Boylan moved him to the forwards he had to put up with constantly being pulled and dragged by defenders.
Lyons was a huge leader for Boylan's first great team, he was the player Meath supporters looked up to more than any other when the team made the breakthrough in Leinster in 86 and All Ireland in 87. People remember his toughness now but sometimes forget he was a top ball player as well. When he missed 89 the Meath defence were a shadow of what they were previously.
From what I have seen (mostly on TV but sometime live) I think your fellow Kerry man Jack O'Shea was greatest Gaelic football player of all time."
Lyons won the famous 4th game for Meath in 91. He ran alongside Barr shouting at him when he was taking his penalty. Barr duly hit the post and the officials turned a blind eye to it. I was right behind it on the Canal End. As Barr famously said afterwards "Mick nearly got to the ball before I did". Those were the days. Lyons was as tough as they come, always had something to say to his marker, always a bit of off the ball stuff as well. But sure Barr and Heary were no angels either.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4743 - 26/08/2021 11:59:37    2374906

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Replying To arcadia:  "From Longford... John 'Speedy' McCormack, Dessie Barry and Paul Barden. All three were all-star quality."
All 3 were great players. However, having lived for a while in Longford, I'm surprised you omitted Padraic Davis. He really was class.

Ailteoir (Galway) - Posts: 900 - 26/08/2021 12:19:22    2374916

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Replying To bdbuddah:  "I never thought of Geraghty as dirty, he was able to look after himself. When Boylan moved him to the forwards he had to put up with constantly being pulled and dragged by defenders.
Lyons was a huge leader for Boylan's first great team, he was the player Meath supporters looked up to more than any other when the team made the breakthrough in Leinster in 86 and All Ireland in 87. People remember his toughness now but sometimes forget he was a top ball player as well. When he missed 89 the Meath defence were a shadow of what they were previously.
From what I have seen (mostly on TV but sometime live) I think your fellow Kerry man Jack O'Shea was greatest Gaelic football player of all time."
Jacko was super alright.Geraghty always so entertaining and versatile.Yeah Lyons a colossas at FB>Some players could learn a lot from Lyons too.Took a belt of a fist in 1990 all Ireland final v Cork.Just rubbed his jaw and walked away No lying on the ground like a soccer player.Lyons was a man!

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3918 - 26/08/2021 12:33:28    2374923

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "Jacko was super alright.Geraghty always so entertaining and versatile.Yeah Lyons a colossas at FB>Some players could learn a lot from Lyons too.Took a belt of a fist in 1990 all Ireland final v Cork.Just rubbed his jaw and walked away No lying on the ground like a soccer player.Lyons was a man!"
Jacko was a clean player (apart from the time when Conor Counihan grabbed him where he should not have!) but he was tough as nails in his own way. I remember watching sometime in the mid 1980's Ireland and Australia in the compromise rules. Jack was the best player on the pitch so the Australians often smashed him to try to slow him down but it made no difference, Jack would just hop back up and do it all again.

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1413 - 26/08/2021 14:35:53    2374985

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Tony McManus was already mentioned here and rightly so. A brilliant player for Roscommon. A class forward.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2409 - 26/08/2021 17:14:01    2375030

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Replying To endgame:  "Tony McManus was already mentioned here and rightly so. A brilliant player for Roscommon. A class forward."
In 1991 all Ireland semi final Derek Duggan from Roscommon put on an exhibition against us.

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1413 - 26/08/2021 17:29:28    2375033

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Replying To endgame:  "Tony McManus was already mentioned here and rightly so. A brilliant player for Roscommon. A class forward."
Before my time but my father (Also a Mayo man) always speaks fondly of Harry Keegan at corner back for Roscommon. Reckons ye should have won that 1980 All Ireland too…a missed opportunity which we know all about too well.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11571 - 26/08/2021 18:43:45    2375048

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I have two. Ciaran Carey & his nephew Cian Lynch

Seeking_silver (Limerick) - Posts: 411 - 26/08/2021 21:02:40    2375079

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Before my time but my father (Also a Mayo man) always speaks fondly of Harry Keegan at corner back for Roscommon. Reckons ye should have won that 1980 All Ireland too…a missed opportunity which we know all about too well."
Your father is correct. Harry Keegan of Castlerea St. Kevin's was a brilliant right full back for Roscommon during the 70s and the 1980 All Ireland Final. Agree also with your Dad that we missed a big opportunity that day against that great Kerry 4 in a row team. It was one of the wettest days ever for an All Ireland Final. Roscommon scored a goal in the first minute but ultimately lost by 3 points. The one that got away. We haven't been back in a senior All Ireland Final since.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2409 - 28/08/2021 10:28:16    2375367

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Replying To bdbuddah:  "In 1991 all Ireland semi final Derek Duggan from Roscommon put on an exhibition against us."
Derek Duggan scored a great goal just before half time. The Meath Keeper hardly saw it. Tommy Dowd was brilliant in the second half for Meath who won by a point. Down beat them in the Final.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2409 - 28/08/2021 11:08:43    2375374

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Replying To endgame:  "Derek Duggan scored a great goal just before half time. The Meath Keeper hardly saw it. Tommy Dowd was brilliant in the second half for Meath who won by a point. Down beat them in the Final."
Yes, but Meath were without Colm O'Rourke for most of that final. There is a very real chance that a full Roscommon would have seen off Down.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4495 - 28/08/2021 11:57:25    2375385

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Football
From my own county:
Diarmuid Connolly. Now greatest ever means different things to different people. For some its the amount of personal accolades a player has won. For others its who was the most consistent performer year in year out. But for me its raw talent, raw skill and raw natural ability and being able to do things that others just couldn't do. And that is Diarmuid Connolly personified. The most naturally gifted and skillful technician i've ever seen. The GOAT!
Other County:
Maurice Fitzgerald. I feel Clifford will be in this conversation in years to come though.

Hurling
From my own county:
Ill go with Liam Rushe. All stars as a forward and a back along with a young hurler of the year. Not too many people can say that.
Honorable mention to Conal Keaney. If he hadn't of left for the big ball for so many years i feel he would have been one of the very bets hurlers in the country.
Other county:
Joe Canning (see reasons for D.Connolly). Honorable mentions Dj Carey, Tommy Walsh.

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 28/08/2021 12:49:35    2375398

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LAOIS

Football - Tom Prendergast
Hurling - John Taylor
And no, Portlaoise isn't my club!

Heraf (Laois) - Posts: 316 - 31/08/2021 13:14:39    2376755

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Replying To Heraf:  "LAOIS

Football - Tom Prendergast
Hurling - John Taylor
And no, Portlaoise isn't my club!"
Didn't John Taylor get MOTM v Kilkenny in a Leinster championship game one year? Can't remember the year but the score finished something like 4-15 to 1-17 Kilkenny, Taylor had a super game. Difficult to get MOTM on a losing side.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 31/08/2021 13:20:30    2376759

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Gay McManus was one of the best footballers never to win an all ireland , Tomas Mannion , Mike Meehan also spring to mind but Michael Donnellan from his days in SJC right up to his senior days in full flight was truly a sight to behold!

BilboNaggins (Galway) - Posts: 59 - 31/08/2021 14:14:33    2376774

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Replying To BilboNaggins:  "Gay McManus was one of the best footballers never to win an all ireland , Tomas Mannion , Mike Meehan also spring to mind but Michael Donnellan from his days in SJC right up to his senior days in full flight was truly a sight to behold!"
I've seen clips of Mountbellew man Val Daly of Galway. Would he have ranked as a great footballer never to win an all Ireland? Seems to be a very accurate centre forward. Won 2 all stars and five Connacht titles.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11571 - 31/08/2021 14:48:49    2376782

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Replying To yew_tree:  "I've seen clips of Mountbellew man Val Daly of Galway. Would he have ranked as a great footballer never to win an all Ireland? Seems to be a very accurate centre forward. Won 2 all stars and five Connacht titles."
Val Daly was a brilliant footballer. Intelligent classy and the ideal centre forward.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3918 - 31/08/2021 15:06:35    2376785

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