The observer, I agree that the 83 Munster final was one of the greatest days in GAA history, particularly after what had happened in 82. In fact 83 was a brilliant year all round with the dirty dozen and everything. Those Cork teams were fantastic and the munster final was the most magical day of the year for us. The walk down by the banks in the sun or the trad music around the fantastic setting of Fitzgerald. It still was magical up until the last year or two though. The back door in the last 2 or 3 years has definitely had an effect on it.

thykingdomcome (Kerry) - Posts: 1206 - 22/04/2009 11:03:27    264956

Correction to my post re Meath.....massive mid to late '80's team. Sean Boylan had that team wired to somewhere beyond the moon.....awesome team...again 1-15 household names! When I mentioned the Munster Final of '83 I'm not forgetting the Dub's took the spoils that September. Still, Cork should have won the drawn semi that year. Replay in Pairc ui Caoimh....still hear the Dub's chant's...easy...easy...easy! Still, it's Kerry....I know...I live among the h**r...'s

THE OBSERVER (None) - Posts: 112 - 22/04/2009 11:09:44    264962

The greatest GAA team I have ever seen play in front of my eyes are Tyrone 05.
Words fail.
Pure class.

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 22/04/2009 11:18:12    264973

st. mary's Edenderry colleges team.

computer (Leitrim) - Posts: 2 - 22/04/2009 11:19:03    264974

Great points thykingdomcome, very well said.

Greatest football team I've witnessed is the Kerry team from 2004-2007 where they won 3 All Ireland's in 4 years and appeared in every final. No other team has won back-to-back this decade. For me, consistency is the best marker for greatness. The way they took apart Mayo and Cork in the finals was sublime to watch (maybe not for the neutrals). Some of the best attacking football I've seen led by the likes of Gooch, Donaghy and Declan O' Sullivan.

3inarow08 (Kerry) - Posts: 2455 - 22/04/2009 11:30:24    264985

Hurlingdub, sorry mate, hope my follow-up post acknowledged Dublin's presence, particularily in '83. I STILL maintain we had ye in the drawn game but ye gave us a lesson in the replay. AGAIN, the 70's - '80's were for pure magic for anybody who could go to Killarney for a Munster Final Kerry v Cork....Thurles Tipperary v Cork.....football & hurling. Maybe thats why we're (Cork) scorned by the great unwashed. Unfortunately, only Kerrymen & Tippmen would understand what I'm referring to. However, these day's are gone, The backdoor has left in the pretender's and devalued the best provincial finals of all time. Now hurlingdub, I DO acknowledge Dublin V Meath Leinster's were a good second best. No offence mate. You can't beat the REAL 'culchie' provincial of that decade.

THE OBSERVER (None) - Posts: 112 - 22/04/2009 11:38:24    264996

I was only pulling your leg Observer. Without doubt it has to be Kerry although of course we would argue that Dubs were next best! Great days, Dubs v Kerry in the 70s, wouldn't be able to sleep for days thinking about them. Only thing comes close now that you remind me of it are the Cork Tipp classics of the 80s which I was lucky enough to see in Thurles. Heart stopping.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 22/04/2009 11:46:50    265006

What about the crossmaglen team they haven't lost a county chapionship game from '96
thats a brilliant acheivement and the ulster and all=ireland titles they won as well

I was a big fan of the derry 93 team tohill downey bros brolly Mckeever to name a few
I think them and The Armagh02 team have to go down as great teams only to win 1
All-Irealnd in there era

2ezy (Armagh) - Posts: 19 - 22/04/2009 11:49:39    265014

The two big moments (someone mentioned a big moment that sticks with you) wins I thought were particularly phenomonal were Armagh in 2002-watch that game again, great game, serious score-taking on both sides, two devastating full-forwrad lines, Armagh played exceptional diagonal ball, McGeeney was awesome and McDonnell's winner was a truly exceptional score.

Tyrone played 10 games in 05, bet the great Armagh team in most epic football game I'v ever seen, Armagh would have bet Kerry in final, outplayed Kerry in the best team performance I have ever seen and outplayed the Dubs in the q-f replay. Scintilating football.

Kerry's performance in 06 quarter final againts Armagh was a top-class performance as well.

ChungLad (Longford) - Posts: 351 - 22/04/2009 13:22:19    265132

Has to be the Wexford team who completed the first 4 in row of All Ireland Senior football titles - (1915,16,17 & 18) One of the best teams i ever saw, still remember it like it was yesterday. Ah good aul times they were :)

Crumbum (Wexford) - Posts: 65 - 22/04/2009 13:31:17    265139

Tyrone were wrote off all last summer Dellboy?! My team of the century hands down if they managed to win the All Ireland despite spending the whole summer, wrote off! What did Mickey say him a pioneer??

Niamh (Derry) - Posts: 2397 - 22/04/2009 16:28:06    265344

Wexford vs Armagh last summer,what a cracker of a match

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 22/04/2009 16:42:02    265362

Duffy, that doesn't answer the question by any way shape or form?!

Niamh (Derry) - Posts: 2397 - 22/04/2009 16:44:01    265365

oh right,i got ahead of meself and just threw in a answer


the Meath team of 1999 then,Fay,Geraghty,Murphy,some bloody players on that team

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 22/04/2009 16:55:01    265388

Can't agree that the Kerry team of this decade is exceptional, especially when compared with their predecessors from the 70's and first half of the 80's. They beat Mayo and Cork teams with leaden legs from stagefright! (Being like that on final day is ok if the opposition are in the same boat, which Kerry never are, except maybe when faced by one opponent). The problem is Tyrone. In terms of footballing talent, they're not greatly superior to Cork or Mayo, but they're on the same planet as Kerry when it comes to mental attitude. This means they also perform on the big day, making Kerry have to earn Sam right up to the last whistle. The fact that Tyrone have taken the spoils on the 2 occasions they've met in finals this decade has to put Redhand boys ahead of the present Kingdom team. Depressingly for Kerry, the conveyor belt of Tyrone talent is a well-oiled machine, and will keep them at the top table for the next decade.

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 22/04/2009 17:23:56    265428

the kerry team of the 80s were the best team i saw and the team this day and age is kerry again but tyrone only a fraction behind

hipster (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 22/04/2009 17:28:51    265433

Pericles - isn't the thread about the greatest team you've witnessed???

And as for conveyor belts of talent - the well down here hasn't run dry.

3inarow08 (Kerry) - Posts: 2455 - 22/04/2009 17:34:11    265441

The Down team of 91 and 94 stick out in my mind , especially granite man , Greg Blaney. I`ve rarely witnessed a guy with apparently equal measure of power and finese.

gaelantrim (Antrim) - Posts: 1616 - 22/04/2009 17:36:02    265445

1. Kerry 70's
2. Dublin 70's


then any from - Kerry early 80's, Meath late 90's, Down early 90's, Kerry 00's

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4649 - 22/04/2009 17:46:39    265464

It would be a bit of bore 3inarow08, if no one addressed anyone else's thread! But since you've pushed me, it would have to be Micko's Kerry team that the Biffos stopped from doing the 5-in-a-row... I can't make a judgement about what came before them, but there hasn't been another collection of players from any county (the Kingdom included) who've come anywhere close since. Times are different now and the spread of football talent and professionalism is more even than back then, so 3 and 4 titles in a row won't be done again in a hurry...

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 22/04/2009 18:12:59    265499