jafallon

it is true that kicking a ball from the ground is a much more difficult art than taking them from the hands but you have to admit that there was and still is some top class free takers who take them from the hand.
and as for michael meehan he is a class act but whats the point really being able to score from 50 metres if you cant score from 13 metres at a tight angle(he missed one of these against sligo).

if there was a million euro riding on one difficult free, paddy bradley would be the man id have hit it. who would all of you have hit it?

gggg (Monaghan) - Posts: 225 - 16/07/2009 01:47:59    347914

hannon from wicklow does not deserve a mention with the big boys. against wicklow he missed a number of scoring chances including a 45 from an easy position to actually beat westmeath! to me this shows he cant handle the pressure kicks that some of the best place kickers thrive on

gggg (Monaghan) - Posts: 225 - 16/07/2009 12:52:00    348240

sorry against westmeath ^^^^^^^^

gggg (Monaghan) - Posts: 225 - 16/07/2009 13:02:09    348251

Mj tierney is one of the nicest kickers of a deadball you'll see around

BigJohn.6_8 (Galway) - Posts: 704 - 16/07/2009 13:22:25    348295

Brian Stafford - the best ever.

theblindassasin (Meath) - Posts: 915 - 16/07/2009 13:32:57    348319

I would put sheehan at the bottom, because of his display in the final last year. Canavan, the man never made any mistakes...

HokeyPokey (Tyrone) - Posts: 1744 - 16/07/2009 14:14:01    348393

big corkery for cork footballers a few years didnt miss too many chances from the placed ball, and used to hit them from serious distances too

pig.ignorant (Derry) - Posts: 655 - 16/07/2009 15:07:29    348484

The Antrim captain with the tough kid hair cut isn't bad. Just hope he doesn't do too much damage against us on Sunday. I have a real fear that referee will be all all over the likes of Ricey, Gormley and Quinn and we'll be really punished by Cunningham. Should be alright by doing the damage at the other end though

CheFinny (UK) - Posts: 1358 - 16/07/2009 15:24:23    348520

Maurice Fitz or Joe Corcoran (Mayo late 60s early 70s)

ExilEd1014 (Mayo) - Posts: 280 - 16/07/2009 16:01:17    348594

Past, Cyrill Dunne,Jimmy Keaveney McTeague (tony) from offally, Mickey Kerins,Larry Tompkins, Maurice Fitz,Peter Canavan.

Present, Mike Meehan, Bryan Sheehan,

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 16/07/2009 16:47:26    348694

As A Mayo man I cannot believe some replies. Mortimer in Mayo. Ciaran Mac was the joint best with Maurice Fitz. Does noone watch football anymore

harp1759 (None) - Posts: 22 - 17/07/2009 00:29:37    349255

harp1759
County: All
Posts: 20

349255 As A Mayo man I cannot believe some replies. Mortimer in Mayo. Ciaran Mac was the joint best with Maurice Fitz. Does noone watch football anymore

Do you watch football???? Ciaran Mac was not the most accurate free taker he missed far more then he scored

paddyogall (Mayo) - Posts: 5110 - 17/07/2009 09:49:15    349372

There are so many from so many counties that it would be hard to call the best.

I do want to add one to the list that hasn't been mentioned.

Eamonn McEneaney from Monaghan - Was very consistent (when frees had to be taken from the ground) and in terms of big pressure kicks I've never seen his bettered. Last kick of the game in Semi-final V Kerry in 1985 to draw the match. He had to convert a free from about 50-55m not far from the sideline - bad day - heavy ball - Superb kick - Over the black spot with about 5M to spare. I'm not saying he was the best but he defo deserves a mention for that kick.

Whilst I am being parochial, I'd like to mention a feat achieved by Jaap Finlay (the real one - i.e. Paul Finlay's father) I remember a club championship match involving Ballybay in late 1970's. Line balls had to be kicked from the ground usually with sidelines being very tight. Anyway Ciaran (Jaap) Finlay managed to point a sideline ball from both sides of the field. Again I'm not putting him in the category of the others in the post but a great feat that I never saw being repeated anywhere.

The Sage (Monaghan) - Posts: 351 - 17/07/2009 10:03:02    349385

mark vaughan is an excellent free taker

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4649 - 17/07/2009 10:27:50    349409

Has to be Maurice Fitzgerald, with both feet!

Take a look at this, they're not all frees but there's a few great ones in it..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRtkOUsT5eg

Banisteoir (Louth) - Posts: 60 - 17/07/2009 10:57:56    349444

Stephen O'Neill and Owen Mulligan cause both trained with the great Peter Canavan.

drumragh3 (Tyrone) - Posts: 20 - 17/07/2009 11:47:29    349527

All mentioned previously but for what its worth
1. Maurice Fitzgerald, 2. Charlie Redmond 3. Colm Corkery
No particular order, have been impressed recently with MJ Tierney of laosi as well, he's a deceptive looking chap as he is small but can he belt a ball from 45 yards

Summerofsam (Kildare) - Posts: 157 - 17/07/2009 11:49:43    349530

Mtty Forde when fit

mondred (Wexford) - Posts: 872 - 17/07/2009 12:57:37    349669

Redmond, Rock, Keavney

RUBADUB (Dublin) - Posts: 477 - 17/07/2009 15:21:59    349879

Used to be a lad called Mickey Mallon years ago played to Tyrone. I can vividly remember him playing in the 1986 run to the All Ireland Final and he was a deadball expert if I ever saw one. Came from the Edendork club if memory serves me correctly, a class act in a team of class acts!

caughtredhanded (Tyrone) - Posts: 602 - 17/07/2009 15:42:09    349913