I still think he has enough in the tank for another year or 2. It would be a sad day for GAA were he to retire

John_3__7 (Meath) - Posts: 546 - 13/03/2009 16:24:12    231882

A great player. I'd love to see him go on for another few years

Milky (None) - Posts: 98 - 13/03/2009 17:06:50    231929

He's no Darren Fay!

keep_the_faith (Meath) - Posts: 400 - 13/03/2009 17:16:13    231933

Francie Bellew is as Honest a player you'll ever meet. For me he epitomises all that is good about Gaelic football.

Jude (Armagh) - Posts: 20 - 13/03/2009 17:26:23    231938

Great footballer think the man is right to retire now, go out on a high with cross as armagh are going no were fast

fiannablue (Tyrone) - Posts: 326 - 13/03/2009 19:31:38    232011

hopefully he retires.hes overated..

dandy (Waterford) - Posts: 148 - 13/03/2009 20:01:46    232038

bye

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 13/03/2009 20:21:38    232049

Francie is a legend. He'll know himself when he can no longer make the inter-county grade. He'll be around for a few years yet judging by his performances for the mighty cross'!! Francie Bellew abu, true warrior!!!

pest_from_west (Antrim) - Posts: 27 - 13/03/2009 20:42:54    232073

If he retires now he'l have only played 7 years senior for armagh..very poor for a full back,was he a late developer does anyone know?

keep_the_faith (Meath) - Posts: 400 - 14/03/2009 13:44:09    232328

As a Tyrone man I would like to see him retire(especially with the Championship meeting not too far away). Having said that it will be a big loss for Armagh and the GAA as a whole

Plastic Paddy (Tyrone) - Posts: 664 - 14/03/2009 13:56:19    232331

a bit of a hard player- ask micky linden . . . .

Kinnear (Westmeath) - Posts: 158 - 14/03/2009 15:08:15    232351

Does he know something we don't. The new rules must be coming into effect in the Championship. Must realise he wont get much game time if they're introduced.

RichardCranium (Tyrone) - Posts: 262 - 14/03/2009 15:16:56    232354

Re: keep_the_faith.

Why are you always so negative on this forum. Francie may have only played for 7+ years but they were brilliant years. He was unlike other full backs like Darren Fay who seemed to play for an eternity but never had the best quality.

John_3__7 (Meath) - Posts: 546 - 14/03/2009 15:46:27    232368

think francie still has another yr or so in him think he stil has too much to give armagh
one of the best full backs of modern era

theoneandonlyJD (Dublin) - Posts: 84 - 14/03/2009 18:22:43    232397

Darren Fays so called lack of quality won him two all ireland medals..Francie cant say that

keep_the_faith (Meath) - Posts: 400 - 14/03/2009 20:31:20    232441

Re:keep_the_faith Thats a poor response. One man dosent win an all-ireland. Never has a never will. Francie was always more of a natural footballer than Darren Fay

John_3__7 (Meath) - Posts: 546 - 14/03/2009 21:50:33    232471

the real question dat must be asked is whether bellew is da most over-rated full back in da country? no basis to compare wit fay who has won 2 all-irleands numerous leinsters plus international rules. Bellew was well beaten by donaghy in 06 and never really recovered, maybe he realises dat the rough house treatment dat he dishes out will no longer go unpunished and wit his lack of pace da likes of cooper and stephen o neill wud roast him . .

Kinnear (Westmeath) - Posts: 158 - 14/03/2009 22:58:16    232511

No he is not an over rated full back and here is why... At county level he has won 1 All Ireland, 1 NFL title, 5 Ulster titles and 1 All star. At club level he has won 4 All Irelands (Could be 5), 6 Ulster titles and 13 Armagh club titles. In total he has 31 titles. Any you still think he is over rated? If you do you are a fool that either has a dislike towards Bellew or you know nothing about football. Now lets look at Fay: At county level he has won 2 All Irelands, 3 Leinster medals and 3 All stars. Thats only 8 titles. I might be wrong but what has Darren Fay won at club level? He is 23 titles behind Bellew. He might have one more county All Ireland medal than Bellew but at everything else, Bellew roasts Fay. Fay is a very good full back dont get me wrong but if you want to base it on titles like you did in your post Fay is not even in the same league. As for Bellew getting roasted by Donaghy, yes he might have got roasted but to be honest he only really made one mistake and there is a time when a player is no longer capable of playing at County level. Bellew for the past seven years has been playing all year without a break. He is a credit to Armagh and the GAA and does not deserve to be slated by GAA fans.

Walkman (Limerick) - Posts: 12 - 15/03/2009 01:05:20    232538

Kinnear County: Westmeath Posts: 95 232351 a bit of a hard player- ask micky linden . . . . According to Linden (Laochra Gael RTE) he was always very sore (pun intended) about that incident. Now Kinnear, to be fair, I take your further comments fully on board and do agree that Francie at 32, and not Ussain Bolt, would be under pressure going into the 2009 C/Ship. But back to Linden - he was spooned a hospital ball in fairness, that he had to rise to attempt to field, and Francie had pressed the ATTACK IT button: I have seen the clip 20 times, I have it on tape, and in all honesty I feel that Linden (great player/great ambassador) was having a small whinge. Every county has small incidents that don't do us proud but we get up, brazen it out and go again.

Boxtyeater (Leitrim) - Posts: 738 - 15/03/2009 03:08:29    232555

ah in all fairness ya can't compare in terms of club medals. Bellew has achieved great sucess but wit a great team. Shur fay's club cud be very average but doesn't make him a poor club player. That whack bellew gave to Linden was a disgrace and not about linden havin a 'whinge'. No excuse for it

Kinnear (Westmeath) - Posts: 158 - 15/03/2009 14:52:10    232653