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Well said Greengrass. On McGeeney a great player nó doubt but could be a little loose at times. As a leader though he was tremendous. Glen Ryan another titan of a CB.
CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3678 - 15/02/2021 13:02:20 2331438 Link 1 |
Fair enough Sssthe but I have a different view. Kilkenny great footballer but as a forward does nt score enough to get in supreme all stars although in todays game I think he s worth his weight in gold. For me James Mccarthy better than Keegan. I just think Keegan fouls too much and James a better all rounder. I like Lee but tbh honest for me even in Mayo I'd prefer Paddy Durcan to Lee and Colm Boyle but we all have different opinions.
CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3678 - 15/02/2021 13:15:38 2331442 Link 1 |
Ah but couldn't hit the eyes of a football with a gps from 10 yards could he? ;) although I'm not sure if McCarthy can either mind you.
Dubsfan28 (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 15/02/2021 13:37:25 2331446 Link 0 |
I only saw the highlights reel for Matt Connor and Mikey Sheehy but they both looked class. Very hard to make an argument when only seeing their best bits. Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1835 - 15/02/2021 14:08:59 2331453 Link 1 |
Oh sure it's such a hard task to try pick the best team and we all have different opinions. I was always a fan of Galway football going back to Gay McManus and Val Daly and true Fallon Ml Donnellan and Joyce all great players too.
CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3678 - 15/02/2021 14:40:00 2331458 Link 0 |
matt connor is tghe best forward i have seen in my lifetime my top 5 would be 1 matt connor 2 peter canavan 3 maurice fitzgerald 4 kieran mcdonald 5 mike sheehy mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1806 - 15/02/2021 14:53:19 2331459 Link 0 |
Matt was pure and utter class. A joy to watch. Silken skills pace. So accurate. A career cut short at 24 years of age. Can you imagine if he had been able to play till 32 or 33 years of age. I'd say he d have broken some records. Matt was the full package.
CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3678 - 15/02/2021 15:08:11 2331462 Link 1 |
You wouldn't have Pat Spillane in there Mick?
Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 15/02/2021 16:48:37 2331468 Link 0 |
Not everyone will agree with any team that's picked but for me Pat Spillane is a certainty.I don't like Spilane as a pundit and I don't like the way he carries on either.He was my least favourite player on the Kerry team but I could never deny his brilliance.People that never saw him play don't realise how influential and important he was to a team.He could defend like a Trojan and go on a fifty yard solo run at top speed and scores points from massive distances.For a a half forward that defended a lot he was a prolific scorer.He only came on at half time in the 82 final vOffaly as he was nt fit due to knee problems and missed 83 also.Many believe that if Spillane was nt injured Kerry might have won in 82 and 83 and Kerry might have done 9 in a row.Now that might be stretching it but Kerry were not beaten with a fit Spillane from77 to 87.Spillane gave a man of the match display in 1975 all Ireland final and 16 years later he still scored 2 points from play in an all Ireland semi v Down.He was a stylist but he was a terrific worker and had non stop energy.Pat has many flaws but football was nt one of them.As Mick O dwyer said years ago when asked would he worry about injuries to top players he replied "we will manage once its not Spillane. CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3678 - 15/02/2021 20:04:41 2331486 Link 1 |
He was brilliant but that's my top 5 that I have seen
mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1806 - 15/02/2021 20:18:51 2331487 Link 3 |
If you look at that forward line Mick you have to ask yourself who do you drop and who do you bring in. Once again I find myself in agreement with you. I would classify Matt Connor as the best forward I have ever seen. My reasons for doing so are his staggering scoring achievements and the fact that he had played his last game at the age of just 24. He was a scoring machine. He was terrorising defences when still in his teens. He was two footed, highly skilled, a great target man, highly intelligent in his distribution and a lethal finisher. He was also blessed with a great temperament. You couldn't leave him off that team. Not everyone could be played in their regular position but I find the idea of playing him on the wing to be a step too far. He was an inside forward. For what it is worth this is the forward line I would pick. I've attended 53 All Ireland Senior football finals going back to 1972. In a team of this nature it's impossible to put all the players in their natural positions. Maurice Fitzgerald, Pádraic Joyce, Pat Spillane, Mikey Sheehy, Peter Canavan and Matt Connor. John Egan isn't included there. It came down to a choice between Mikey Sheehy at right corner or John Egan at left corner. After a lot of thought I went for Mikey Sheehy. There are none of this Dublin team included either. Of those who have left the scene Diarmuid Connolly was the most gifted. He was very close but I felt the three half forwards had better temperaments than he had. Bernard Brogan would also be very close but pound for pound no one beats Matt Connor for me. Players like Ciarán Kilkenny and Con O Callaghan have yet to write their full story. In the future I have no doubt they will be mentioned in the same breath as the men we are speaking about now. He
Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 15/02/2021 21:49:37 2331499 Link 3 |
Well Greengrass I would have similar views and while I think the forward line that was picked is fantastic other forwards very unlucky to lose out.Like yourself for me Matt Connor a certainty no doubt.I would have 3 certainties in Matt Connor Peter Canavan and Spillane.the other 3 spots I would find very hard to choose,However I do like your 3 of Sheehy Maurice Fitz and Padraic Joyce.
CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3678 - 15/02/2021 22:10:17 2331500 Link 1 |
I remember Pat well, I can't say I've seen a better half-forward.
realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 15/02/2021 22:54:07 2331505 Link 8 |
Fair play Mick. It's all in the eye and the mind of the beholder. You've compiled a serious top five.
Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 15/02/2021 23:11:05 2331509 Link 1 |
Spot on realdub. Can't say the same for him as pundit though lol
CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3678 - 16/02/2021 14:10:38 2331551 Link 1 |
I've read a lot of rubbish on here over the years but to the posters saying Fenton is over-rated and is not a big game player??? Has to be the biggest load of rubbish I've seen to date. ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 16/02/2021 14:20:00 2331555 Link 2 |
just an observation a young lad of the 1980s who in my opinion was underrated was offaly midfielder padraig dunne . he held his own against jacko and seanie walshe in the 82 final . ably assisted by tomas connor , but he would not make a team of supreme all stars mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1806 - 16/02/2021 14:44:07 2331558 Link 0 |
I realize we're all a bit guilty of county bias and I'm not saying he should necessarily be included in the all time 15, but I'm surprised Karl Lacey's name hasn't been mentioned at all. He won All Stars in 06 and 09 as a traditional tight-marking corner back and then another two from a play making center half back role in 11 and 12. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9154 - 16/02/2021 14:58:19 2331559 Link 0 |
Everyone has different views on players and alot of it is cos they are comparing to other great players. I do think most people in gaa and on this site agree that Fenton is a fantastic player. He has everything one would want in a midfielder. He has height and great fielding ability. He is strong fast and can tackle and score. I only saw Micko Connell play in his last game when I was a very young boy but in my lifetime Fenton and Jacko Shea are the two best midfielders I have seen.
CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3678 - 16/02/2021 15:36:59 2331567 Link 0 |
I remember him Mick. Yes you are correct. He was a class midfielder but when Offaly slipped after 82 I did nt see much of him as not many games televised live that time. But for certain Pádraig Dunne was a very talented midfielder.
CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3678 - 16/02/2021 15:39:51 2331568 Link 0 |