National Forum

Best Team Of This Century 2000-2026

(Oldest Posts First)

1- Rory Beggan - Freetaking, kickouts and all round game

2- Marc o se
3- Michael Fitzsimons - 9 all irelands an ever present on the greatest team in the modern era
4- Karl Lacey

5- Lee Keegan - Mr consistent for mayo
6- James mc Cathy- Rolls Royce
7- Jack Mc Caffery

8- Brian Fenton- Nailed on
9- Sean Kavanagh

10- Paul Galvin
11- Diarmuid connolly- Too good to leave out most skillful player ever
12- Michael Murphy

13- Conor Mc manus - His numbers speak for themselves
14- David Clifford- Best player to play the game
15- Gooch


Thats my opinion- Karl Lacey and Paul Galvin are the two i was unsure of

Farneyarmy2013 (Monaghan) - Posts: 19 - 22/07/2026 15:43:38    2686623

Link

Replying To Farneyarmy2013:  "1- Rory Beggan - Freetaking, kickouts and all round game

2- Marc o se
3- Michael Fitzsimons - 9 all irelands an ever present on the greatest team in the modern era
4- Karl Lacey

5- Lee Keegan - Mr consistent for mayo
6- James mc Cathy- Rolls Royce
7- Jack Mc Caffery

8- Brian Fenton- Nailed on
9- Sean Kavanagh

10- Paul Galvin
11- Diarmuid connolly- Too good to leave out most skillful player ever
12- Michael Murphy

13- Conor Mc manus - His numbers speak for themselves
14- David Clifford- Best player to play the game
15- Gooch


Thats my opinion- Karl Lacey and Paul Galvin are the two i was unsure of"
Peter Canavan?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20327 - 22/07/2026 18:20:51    2686649

Link

Shane Murphy

Dylan Casey
Jason Foley
Tom O'Sullivan

Brian O'Beaglaoich
Mike Breen
Gavin White

Mark O'Shea
Diarmuid O'Connor

Joe O'Connor
Paudie Clifford
Sean O'Shea

David Clifford
Paul Geaney
Dylan Geaney

TommyBermingham (Kildare) - Posts: 49 - 22/07/2026 20:14:22    2686655

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "Peter Canavan?"
He only played a few years in the 2000s. However still probably should be in there. Peter the great

Farneyarmy2013 (Monaghan) - Posts: 19 - 22/07/2026 21:16:24    2686662

Link

Peter Canavan was peak 93-98.

TommyBermingham (Kildare) - Posts: 49 - 22/07/2026 21:30:52    2686664

Link

Replying To TommyBermingham:  "Shane Murphy

Dylan Casey
Jason Foley
Tom O'Sullivan

Brian O'Beaglaoich
Mike Breen
Gavin White

Mark O'Shea
Diarmuid O'Connor

Joe O'Connor
Paudie Clifford
Sean O'Shea

David Clifford
Paul Geaney
Dylan Geaney"
I see School is still out for the summer hlynch12.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2897 - 22/07/2026 21:30:58    2686665

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "Peter Canavan?"
Canavan is a no brainer IMO, second only to Clifford. Out of that full forward line Gooch, is the one that would have to lose out.
Showing my bias but Lacey is a cert for me, in terms of consistency and all round footballing ability, he's the best in that defence along with Keegan. Keegan and Lacey could play anywhere from 2-6, drove there teams from defence and were standouts when there counties weren't always in the top 2 or 3 in the country.

Galvin I would agree is a questionable one, if you were to squeeze gooch in it would be in the half forward line for him, Murphy and Connolly are well able to compete at midfield and had more to their game, if you have them you don't need Galvin.
I would have Tomas O se in any team, Keegan could play anywhere across the half back line so move Keegan across to McCaffrey's position and put Tomas in.
Conor Gormley deserves a mention too.

JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 237 - 22/07/2026 21:44:35    2686668

Link

Replying To Farneyarmy2013:  "1- Rory Beggan - Freetaking, kickouts and all round game

2- Marc o se
3- Michael Fitzsimons - 9 all irelands an ever present on the greatest team in the modern era
4- Karl Lacey

5- Lee Keegan - Mr consistent for mayo
6- James mc Cathy- Rolls Royce
7- Jack Mc Caffery

8- Brian Fenton- Nailed on
9- Sean Kavanagh

10- Paul Galvin
11- Diarmuid connolly- Too good to leave out most skillful player ever
12- Michael Murphy

13- Conor Mc manus - His numbers speak for themselves
14- David Clifford- Best player to play the game
15- Gooch


Thats my opinion- Karl Lacey and Paul Galvin are the two i was unsure of"
I'd have Declan O Sullivan in ahead of Connolly. Darragh O Se ahead of Sean Canavan too. Dooher probably edges Paul Galvin. Don't think you can leave Cluxton out so him for Beggan.

MunsterFan (Kerry) - Posts: 37 - 22/07/2026 22:07:08    2686671

Link

Replying To TommyBermingham:  "Shane Murphy

Dylan Casey
Jason Foley
Tom O'Sullivan

Brian O'Beaglaoich
Mike Breen
Gavin White

Mark O'Shea
Diarmuid O'Connor

Joe O'Connor
Paudie Clifford
Sean O'Shea

David Clifford
Paul Geaney
Dylan Geaney"
Id post Dublin 2018/19. Would beat that team out the gate after a few pints.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4499 - 22/07/2026 22:44:55    2686675

Link

Replying To TommyBermingham:  "Peter Canavan was peak 93-98."
For sure, but he still won 2 AIs in the period, and was a big contributor to both wins.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20327 - 23/07/2026 10:48:39    2686713

Link

Replying To MunsterFan:  "I'd have Declan O Sullivan in ahead of Connolly. Darragh O Se ahead of Sean Canavan too. Dooher probably edges Paul Galvin. Don't think you can leave Cluxton out so him for Beggan."
Not sure about Sean Canavan, but Sean Cavanagh would be in my team over Dara Ó Sé. A better all round in footballer in my opinion and had a serious scoring threat too. Dara was a good fielder and enforcer in the middle and had every trick in the book, but wasn't at the same level as Cavanagh. The likes of John Galvin of Limerick went toe to toe with and got the better of Ó Sé.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2959 - 23/07/2026 13:01:52    2686745

Link

Replying To MunsterFan:  "I'd have Declan O Sullivan in ahead of Connolly. Darragh O Se ahead of Sean Canavan too. Dooher probably edges Paul Galvin. Don't think you can leave Cluxton out so him for Beggan."
O'Sullivan was grand against Cork and Mayo. Disspeared against TYrone and dublin. Should got line in 2011 final for dunt on Kevin Nolan .

hlynch12 (Limerick) - Posts: 243 - 23/07/2026 13:39:41    2686764

Link

Some out of position:

Stephen Cluxton
Marc O'Sé
Darren Fay
Karl Lacey
Lee Keegan
James McCarthy
Seamus Moynihan
Brian Fenton
Sean Cavanagh
Michael Murphy
Michael Donnelan
Ciaran Kilkenny
Colm Cooper
David Clifford
Peter Canavan

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8667 - 23/07/2026 13:52:50    2686772

Link

1. Cluxton
2. McMeniman
3. Moynihan
4. Higgins
5. Jack McCaffrey
6. McGeeney
7. Keegan
8. Fenton
9. McCarthy
10. Dooher
11. Mick Murphy
12. Sean Cavanagh
13. Colm Cooper
14. David Clifford
15. Peter Canavan

countyman2022 (Wexford) - Posts: 1061 - 23/07/2026 15:15:52    2686789

Link

Replying To Farneyarmy2013:  "1- Rory Beggan - Freetaking, kickouts and all round game

2- Marc o se
3- Michael Fitzsimons - 9 all irelands an ever present on the greatest team in the modern era
4- Karl Lacey

5- Lee Keegan - Mr consistent for mayo
6- James mc Cathy- Rolls Royce
7- Jack Mc Caffery

8- Brian Fenton- Nailed on
9- Sean Kavanagh

10- Paul Galvin
11- Diarmuid connolly- Too good to leave out most skillful player ever
12- Michael Murphy

13- Conor Mc manus - His numbers speak for themselves
14- David Clifford- Best player to play the game
15- Gooch


Thats my opinion- Karl Lacey and Paul Galvin are the two i was unsure of"
I like to look back at old games occasionally and one thing i seem to see alot is Paul Galvins shooting was very poor alot of the time.
I appreciate it wasn't his main job though.
Also his temperament could make him pretty unreliable. He got himself needlessly sent off in a big game v armagh in 06 when the game was still up for grabs,albeit kerry still won it well in the end.

Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 189 - 23/07/2026 16:18:59    2686801

Link

Replying To TommyBermingham:  "Peter Canavan was peak 93-98."
He retired from intercounty football in 2005

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 614 - 23/07/2026 16:29:34    2686804

Link

I don't care in what position, but the following is my tuppence worth.

Cluxton - No brainer

Tomas O'se/Karl Lacey/Lee Keegan/Philly Jordan/James McCarthy/Seamus Moynihan

Brian Fenton/Sean Kavanagh

David Clifford/Gooch/Peter the Great/Michael Murphy/Ciaran Kilkenny/Stephen O'Neill

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 614 - 23/07/2026 16:41:59    2686808

Link

1. S Cluxton
2. M Ó Sé
3. M Fitzsimons
4. K Lacey
5. T Ó Sé
6. J McCarthy
7. L Keegan
8. B Fenton
9. D Ó Sé
10. B Dooher
11. C Kilkenny
12. S Cavanagh
13. Colm Cooper
14. David Clifford
15. Peter Canavan

Squareball.Squareball (Westmeath) - Posts: 2 - 23/07/2026 16:53:46    2686809

Link

Peter Canavan was the "Michael Jordan" of Gaelic football. There was no 2003 Sam for Tyrone without him.

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1815 - 23/07/2026 16:54:29    2686810

Link