National Forum

Top 10 Footballers In The Country

(Oldest Posts First)

Who are your top 10 footballers in the country? You should base it on medium to long term form and overall ability. My top 10 is:

1. Michael Murphy
2. David Clifford
3. Ciaran Kilkenny
4. Brian Fenton
5. Sean O'Shea
6. Jack McCaffrey
7. Con O'Callaghan
8. Ryan McHugh
9. Gary Brennan
10. Conor McManus

Kerry15 (Kerry) - Posts: 957 - 15/10/2019 18:51:29    2243789

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1 Stephen Cluxton
2 Brian Fenton
3 Jack McCaffrey
4 Conor McManus
5 Sean O Shea
6 David Clifford
7 Paddy McBrearty
8 Ciaran Kilkenny
9 Paul Mannion
10 Lee Keegan

There's so many guys are close.

Dean Rock (most under rated player in my opinion), Michael Murphy, David Moran, Peter Harte, Paul Geaney, Paddy Durcan, Con O Callaghan

I think the 3 top lads are out on their own a little.

The 2 Kerry youngsters are about as high as they can go for 2 years out of minor. I think O Shea is more effective than Clifford.

McBrearty is more important than Murphy for Donegal at this point.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4208 - 15/10/2019 19:11:55    2243792

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Brogan got to be in there surely

lilypad (Kildare) - Posts: 1363 - 15/10/2019 20:53:03    2243811

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1. Brian Fenton
2. Stephen Cluxton
3. Jack McCaffrey
4. James McCarthy
5. Con O Callaghan
6. Ciaran Kilkenny
7. David Clifford
8. Sean O Shea
9. Michael Murphy
10. Conor McManus

Notable mentions: Paul Mannion, Brian Howard, Dean Rock, David Moran, Lee Keegan, Colm Boyle, Shane Walsh, Paul Murphy, Gary Brennan, Matthew Donnelly

hopballref (Galway) - Posts: 377 - 16/10/2019 09:44:50    2243879

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1.Fenton
2.Cluxton
3.McCaffrey
4.Kilkenny
5.Durcan
6.Clifford
7.Sean O'Shea
8.O'Callaghan
9.Mannion
10.McShane

sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1144 - 16/10/2019 11:16:24    2243896

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Replying To Whammo86:  "1 Stephen Cluxton
2 Brian Fenton
3 Jack McCaffrey
4 Conor McManus
5 Sean O Shea
6 David Clifford
7 Paddy McBrearty
8 Ciaran Kilkenny
9 Paul Mannion
10 Lee Keegan

There's so many guys are close.

Dean Rock (most under rated player in my opinion), Michael Murphy, David Moran, Peter Harte, Paul Geaney, Paddy Durcan, Con O Callaghan

I think the 3 top lads are out on their own a little.

The 2 Kerry youngsters are about as high as they can go for 2 years out of minor. I think O Shea is more effective than Clifford.

McBrearty is more important than Murphy for Donegal at this point."
"McBrearty is more important than Murphy for Donegal at this point."

McBrearty is highly rated in Donegal but Murphy has been the most important Donegal player for the last 10 years and has just come off arguably his best ever season (personal performance wise). Not sure how you can say any Donegal player is more important than Murphy. We have a decent group of players at the moment but he's still out on his own for us.

Mobot (Donegal) - Posts: 459 - 16/10/2019 11:31:45    2243899

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1. Murphy
2. Fenton
3. Con
4. Kilkenny
5. McCaffrey
6. Clifford
7. O'Shea (Kerry)
8. McShane
9. Ryan McHugh
10. Mattie Donnelly

Mobot (Donegal) - Posts: 459 - 16/10/2019 11:34:32    2243901

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Replying To Mobot:  ""McBrearty is more important than Murphy for Donegal at this point."

McBrearty is highly rated in Donegal but Murphy has been the most important Donegal player for the last 10 years and has just come off arguably his best ever season (personal performance wise). Not sure how you can say any Donegal player is more important than Murphy. We have a decent group of players at the moment but he's still out on his own for us."
Fair enough, you know better than me.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4208 - 16/10/2019 12:15:42    2243907

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Any list of best footballers in the country has to include Odhran Mac Niallais.

Any time I've seen him play he has been outstanding, one of the most naturally gifted footballers of the last 20 years.

Pity he has decided to retire from inter county football. He would certainly be in a lot more lists like the above.

Rest of my list would be:


Michael Murphy
Brian Fenton
Shane Walsh
Sean O Shea
David Moran
Paul Mannion
Paddy McBrearty
Diarmuid Connolly - bit controversial but before he left for USA he was outstanding
Con O Callaghan

gowayboy (Galway) - Posts: 36 - 16/10/2019 16:32:29    2243955

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Replying To gowayboy:  "Any list of best footballers in the country has to include Odhran Mac Niallais.

Any time I've seen him play he has been outstanding, one of the most naturally gifted footballers of the last 20 years.

Pity he has decided to retire from inter county football. He would certainly be in a lot more lists like the above.

Rest of my list would be:


Michael Murphy
Brian Fenton
Shane Walsh
Sean O Shea
David Moran
Paul Mannion
Paddy McBrearty
Diarmuid Connolly - bit controversial but before he left for USA he was outstanding
Con O Callaghan"
Not sure Odhran has retired and hopefully we'll see him in a Donegal jersey in 2020. I agree that he is one of the most naturally gifted players around at the moment and would be a great boost to Donegal's chances on challenging for top honors next year if he does return.

That said, I would find it difficult to include him in my top 10 players because he hasn't always been consistent at intercounty level in the past. He's now coming into his prime years so if he does return I think we'll see the best of him.

I like you list of players - they are easy on the eye when playing at their best.

Mobot (Donegal) - Posts: 459 - 17/10/2019 10:10:39    2244030

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1.Stephen Cluxton
2.Jack McCaffrey
3.Brian Fenton
4.Con O'Callaghan
5.Paul Mannion
6.David Clifford
7.Seah O Shea
8.Michael Murphy
9.Paul Durcan
10. Conor MacManus

avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 1974 - 17/10/2019 11:37:36    2244048

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Paddy Durcan, sorry

avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 1974 - 17/10/2019 11:39:40    2244049

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1. Cluxton
2. Kilkenny
3. Murphy
4. Fenton
5. McCaffrey
6. Clifford
7. Sean O'Shea
8. McManus
9. Mattie Donnelly
10. Paddy Mc

Subs: Mannion (toss up between him and Paddy Mc). Con (just a little too early for him)

Can't believe I don't have a Mayo player there. I would have had 3 or 4 in previous years. Paddy D unlucky to lose out.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 17/10/2019 14:17:05    2244078

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1. Cluxton
2. Fenton
3. O'Callaghan
4. McManus
5. McCarthy
6. Murphy
7. McCaffrey
8. O'Shea
9. Clifford
10. Moran


So many could easily go into it mind you such as: Keegan, Geaney, Durcan, McBrearty, Howard, Mannion, Kilkenny, McHugh, Brennan etc etc.

TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 206 - 17/10/2019 15:24:53    2244094

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based on medium to long term form as mentioned, I would go

1. Conor McManus
2. Michael Murphy
3. Brian Fenton
4. Jack McCaffery
5. David Clifford
6. Stephen Cluxton
7. Ciaran Kilkenny
8. Con O'Callaghan
9. Peter Harte
10. Paul Geaney


Much harder than it looks to only have 10, definitely a lot of players could have mentioned but have to stick with 10.
Conor McManus at 1 for me, most inspirational forward of the modern era. When achievements and awards come out of it and you're left with only footballing ability McManus is the best out and out forward ive seen in the last 15 years

boman11 (Antrim) - Posts: 237 - 19/10/2019 09:29:03    2244330

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Suppose a few honourable mentions for a few players of the great mayo team of recent years... Aidan O'Shea, Lee Keegan, Cillian O'Connor

boman11 (Antrim) - Posts: 237 - 19/10/2019 09:30:53    2244331

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