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That's not really his fault. His team was dominant. I can't remember him costing Kilkenny the AI finals they lost either.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14077 - 20/11/2023 10:26:20 2513826 Link 0 |
I think if anything the backs in front of Nickie have made him a better goalie. If Nickie has a weakness it is shot stopping, he has a few howlers every year but the backs in front of him take the nunber of shots he faces down a lot. But his ball striking and delivery are probably one of the best if not the best of any goalie we've seen. He's very like Donal Óg, neither great shot stoppers but changed games with their vision and delivery. Not to say they were bad shot stoppers or never made great saves but it was by no means their strongest point. I do think Eoin Murphy is the greatest goal keeper I've ever seen and definitely the greatest reaction speed of any keeper that I've ever seen, I never thought I'd see someone better than Damien Fitzhenry in my lifetime but he has to be. Still have Nickie in the top 6 or 7 keepers of all time in terms of what he offers away from actual goal keeping. I know a lot of lads compare Nickie to Stephen Cluxton and that's fair enough but I think Cluxton is the most complete goalie that's ever existed in GAA across both, he was probbaly the best at every facet of goalkeeping from delivery to shot stopping, an absolute freak in the best way.
Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 285 - 20/11/2023 11:48:07 2513846 Link 0 |
I can't accept this. Fitzy out o his own. Especially when you consider how busy he had to be in the later years. Even in games where wexford were hammered he was amazing. The semi final against Cork stands out as one example. We were bet out the gate but he just kept making ridiculous saves. Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3203 - 20/11/2023 13:47:07 2513871 Link 0 |
Agree he was phenomenal. Hopefully he can pass on some of that to the lads he will be coaching over the coming winter.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14077 - 20/11/2023 14:50:25 2513881 Link 0 |
I know, huge call but I just think Murphy might be ahead. But him and Fitzy are easily the best I've ever seen. Fitzy probably the only wexford man bar maybe Liam Dunne who has been the best player in Ireland in his position since the 70s. Exceptional player and I think if a new team of the millennium was picked today it'd go down between Murphy and Fitzhenry. Both went to another level even while their teams were poor. Some Eoin Murphys moments have been insane, catching Pauric Mahonys free in 16, the performance v Limerick in 18, some of the reflex saves v Wexford, Galway, obviously the save this year v Clare, the scores he's hit from long distance frees. It's a close one but I think Murphy just about and still has time to add to it. 1. Eoin Murphy, 2. Fitzhenry, 3. Cummins are my top 3 I've ever seen. Obviously loads more, Cunningham, Davy, Stephen O'Keefe, Quaid (both Nickie and Joe), Colm Callanan, Donal Óg, Anthony Nash, Enda Rowland have been huge goalies over 35 years too. I know there's more to goalkeeping than saves but saving a 3 pointer going in that they'd no right to save is probably the biggest lift a goalie can give and no one was better at that than Eoin Murphy and Fitzy. Saving a goal that 99% of keepers would let in is literally like scoring a goal for them.
Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 285 - 20/11/2023 15:35:07 2513888 Link 1 |
I think Sean Brennan is very underrated of the current keepers.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14077 - 20/11/2023 16:39:52 2513898 Link 1 |
Never said he did.
Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1942 - 20/11/2023 19:08:36 2513920 Link 0 |
He's superb actually. Made a sick save from mickey Dwyer this year that got them the win
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3203 - 20/11/2023 19:31:26 2513921 Link 0 |
Fair play to you for being so objective about it. That's something I'd struggle with, especially where kilkenny are concerned. Cummins was incredible too. The 03 semi final against kk was a career defining performance and unfortunately they lost. If I look back on fitzys career I think we took him for granted at the end because we'd gotten used to him being exceptional. I look back on offaly 96, and 97, then Cork 03, kilkenny, offaly and Cork 04, kilkenny 05, tipp 07. He won that 04 leinster title on his own nearly. I would have included Martin storey and Darragh Ryan in that group you mentioned too. Storey was a modern centre forward about 20 years ahead of everyone else. Ryan is second only to I Donnell as the ultimate full back. Unstoppable on his day. Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3203 - 20/11/2023 19:40:24 2513922 Link 0 |
Agree, Alan Nolan and Gary Maguire before him were also very very good goalies too. Sean Brennan if Dublin were getting further would definitely come into all star contention, top goalie.
Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 285 - 20/11/2023 20:18:14 2513926 Link 0 |