National Forum

Greatest Lost Talents In Your County

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Stephen Mc brearty brother of paddy. Seen him as a minor brilliant prospect but hasn't really pushed on yet but still only about 23. But I would have expected him to be a regular on the donegal team now. Don't think he's committing this year either word he's heading to America. Huge loss in my eyes ticks all the boxes.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2614 - 13/11/2019 13:55:31    2249441

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Without a doubt Tompkins and Fahy to Cork.
Missed a few to Australia but they came back after short spells. Ben McCormack a big loss this year.

St.Conleth (Kildare) - Posts: 1723 - 13/11/2019 14:00:32    2249444

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Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "Ya paddy had great potential also lost Barry john Walsh Tommy's brother, he was lethal.

But our biggest loss of all is Mark O'Connor who is in Australia he had it all and it's no surprise he's one of geelong s top men and he helped them to a semifinal in his first full season.

Also Stefan Okunbar is a serious loss."
A bit before my time but I remember watching a young lad for Kerry on the football year 91. He was straight out of minor and scored a crucial goal against a very strong Cork side to break their dominance of that time. Cronin I think his surname was. Ger Canning was waxing lyrical about him at the time. What ever happened him do you know?

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2558 - 13/11/2019 14:13:27    2249448

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For Leitrim I'd have to say Sean Leyden. Won a Connacht under 21 championship in 1977 with a legendary team who then narrowly lost the All Ireland under 21 semi final to a great Kerry tem managed by Mick O'Dwyer. O'Dwyer was appartently in awe of his display that day. Leyden had it all, physique, ariel ability, passing and an outstanding football intelligence that you just cannot teach. He trgically died in a carpentary accident aged 20. There is a bust dedicated to him at the enterance to Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada in Carrick On Shannon.

Lately it's Conor Beirne, still playing club football and in his mid twenties. Had the potential to be the best forward in Connacht no doubt about it. A precocious talent, somewhat of an enigma. Won't train, won't apply himself and somewhat lost to shall we say the social scene. Debuted for leitrim in 2011 aged 17 and scored 1-3 at full forward when we beat sligo in Markievicz. Scored 9-53 in 5 championship games one year when he was just devastating, always scores heavy.An absolute outrageous talent that only comes along once in a while, his brother Tomas is exactly the same, a fabulous footballer.

Us in Leitrim need these guys to be dedicated. Other counties with their big population can afford a few of these rare talents to slip through but we definately can't.

leitrim4sam (Leitrim) - Posts: 698 - 13/11/2019 14:15:37    2249450

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Replying To cavanman47:  "He was still only 16 at the time too. An absolutely exceptional talent gone before his last year of Minor.



Not mentioned yet, but just how great a career would Cormac McAnallen have gone on to have (on top of his already impressive one)."
Cormac was a great player, well said.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 13/11/2019 14:29:18    2249455

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Replying To SaffronDon:  "A bit before my time but I remember watching a young lad for Kerry on the football year 91. He was straight out of minor and scored a crucial goal against a very strong Cork side to break their dominance of that time. Cronin I think his surname was. Ger Canning was waxing lyrical about him at the time. What ever happened him do you know?"
Ya john Cronin was his name, I don't know what became of him after.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 13/11/2019 14:32:03    2249456

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From a Dublin Hurling Perspective

Con O'Callaghan
Ciaran Kilkenny
Cormac Costello
Dermot Connolly
Eric Lowndes

All outstanding hurlers but chose the big ball for obvious reasons. I honestly think if some of these lads had of chose the hurling we would be challenging for Liam McCarthys. These lads were/are not just good hurlers, but rather outstanding. Con O'Callaghan a prime example.... unfortunately this is the scenario that Dublin hurling will always face, making it extremely difficult to take Dublin hurling to the next step...

Tomas Brady - one of the best full backs in the country before joining Jim Gavins ranks.

And Conal Keaney .. started off playing the hurling and was well on his way to becoming one of the best hurlers in the country but switched to the football during his peak years. Switched back to the hurling in his later years as we know, and still had a huge impact!!

All lads lost to the football. And I'm sure I'm forgetting quite a few..

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 13/11/2019 14:50:09    2249466

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Niall Quinn

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Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12332 - 13/11/2019 15:26:15    2249472

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Replying To Coopers_Helmet:  "Tipp have lost a number of footballers. Among those are Colin O'Riordan now playing Aussie rules for Sydney Swans. Who was wing back on the Tipp MF team as a 15 year old that beat Dublin in 2011 AI. Colman Kennedy now with Limerick FC was also with that team. He came on as a sub and scored an unbelievable goal that day. https://youtu.be/0enzHAw84fw
In hurling Shane Long won a MF as a 16 year old."
i remember that goal well!!! what a finish, what a day for football!!!

theweanling (Cavan) - Posts: 414 - 13/11/2019 15:26:40    2249473

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Replying To Breffni39:  "Niall Quinn

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Probably his greatest act of sheer skill ever lol

Outrageous score that haha.. class had never seen that

Although he gave his country plenty to be happy about scoring / creating some iconic goals at the highest levels

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 13/11/2019 16:21:34    2249485

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Surely someone from Galway hurling will come in here and list the various future stars from the minor teams that didn't make it.

John Lee
Andrew Keary
Ger Mahon
Kerill Wade

Keith Hayes and Niall Donoghue as well who were taken before showing what they were capable of.

macruiskeen (UK) - Posts: 37 - 13/11/2019 16:51:25    2249489

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Replying To Coopers_Helmet:  "Tipp have lost a number of footballers. Among those are Colin O'Riordan now playing Aussie rules for Sydney Swans. Who was wing back on the Tipp MF team as a 15 year old that beat Dublin in 2011 AI. Colman Kennedy now with Limerick FC was also with that team. He came on as a sub and scored an unbelievable goal that day. https://youtu.be/0enzHAw84fw
In hurling Shane Long won a MF as a 16 year old."
Surely Johnny Smacks McMahon should be on that list no? He could of been county?

MonaghanGlory (Monaghan) - Posts: 738 - 13/11/2019 16:53:54    2249491

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Replying To ConnollyDub:  "From a Dublin Hurling Perspective

Con O'Callaghan
Ciaran Kilkenny
Cormac Costello
Dermot Connolly
Eric Lowndes

All outstanding hurlers but chose the big ball for obvious reasons. I honestly think if some of these lads had of chose the hurling we would be challenging for Liam McCarthys. These lads were/are not just good hurlers, but rather outstanding. Con O'Callaghan a prime example.... unfortunately this is the scenario that Dublin hurling will always face, making it extremely difficult to take Dublin hurling to the next step...

Tomas Brady - one of the best full backs in the country before joining Jim Gavins ranks.

And Conal Keaney .. started off playing the hurling and was well on his way to becoming one of the best hurlers in the country but switched to the football during his peak years. Switched back to the hurling in his later years as we know, and still had a huge impact!!

All lads lost to the football. And I'm sure I'm forgetting quite a few.."
Spot on there. Ciaran Kilkenny was the best minor hurler I've seen in the flesh and Costello wasnt far behind him. It's a real shame they couldnt realise their potential at the highest level.

From a Tipp persepctive Colin O'Riordan was a huge loss. Captained Tipp U21's at 19. For me he was up there with Clifford as an underage talent. Huge loss to football in general.

Similar to Dublin hurlers we have plenty of hurlers who are serious footballers.

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 13/11/2019 16:57:03    2249493

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Pierce Hanley Mayo - lost to the AFL. I can think of lads I know and even friends of mine who could have made it or reached a higher standard to what they are but life/drink/women/college etc gets in the way....I think we all know a few lads like that and maybe some of us can look in the mirror ;)

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11563 - 13/11/2019 17:33:04    2249498

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Plenty of lost talent like Nash o Rourke etc.
But for me, Meaths greatest loss was Connor Gillespie, he had it all and was just starting to impose himself and reach the heights we all had hoped for. He still would be playing.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 13/11/2019 18:13:25    2249504

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We have lost loads to rugby, Danny Qualter,Shane Layden,David Butler,Luke and his older brother Jack who played for Ireland in the Rugby World cup in few weeks ago. Niall Murray is standing out for Ireland's U20 Rugby and his younger brother Darragh is already excelling at U18 level for Ireland both hugely talented GAA footballers players and at 6ft 6 anf 6ft 5 they would have been a huge additions to both club and county teams.

Another talented player gone is Conor Shanagher who at 20 years old had to retire due to concussions.

The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 4043 - 13/11/2019 19:00:12    2249516

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I always felt that Ciaran Bonner would have been brilliant in the McGuinness era for Donegal if the required discipline was there. He played a good bit of ball in county colours around the mid 00's up until 2009 but drifted away from the scene then. He still had a great club career with Glenswilly though, and maybe he was just as happy with that.

Sincerely hope Kieran Gillespie can overcome the injuries which have blighted his young career so far too. Huge potential there if only he could get a sustained injury free run at it.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9755 - 13/11/2019 20:13:59    2249530

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Not from my County but Derry have lost some serious footballers to the Afl in the last couple of years. Conor Glass, Callum Brown and Anton Tohill, son of Anthony.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2874 - 13/11/2019 20:16:22    2249531

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Plenty of lost talent like Nash o Rourke etc.
But for me, Meaths greatest loss was Connor Gillespie, he had it all and was just starting to impose himself and reach the heights we all had hoped for. He still would be playing."
We lost ashbournes finest dean rock to Dublin aswell.

Royal.Legend (Meath) - Posts: 712 - 13/11/2019 20:22:27    2249532

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Plenty of lost talent like Nash o Rourke etc.
But for me, Meaths greatest loss was Connor Gillespie, he had it all and was just starting to impose himself and reach the heights we all had hoped for. He still would be playing."
Cian McBride off to the AFL also now I see, on a two year contract. Another big prospect lost for now anyway. Can't blame lads though, you would have to give it a go.

Royalace (Meath) - Posts: 121 - 13/11/2019 21:23:28    2249542

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