liathroidboy
County: Mayo
Posts: 272

445779 mcguigan would have alot of the same as whelan- idolised in their own county and not even considered elsewhere, i asked a lad a college before what all the fuss was about- he said he dominated an ulster final and not alot else- can anyone confirm thats not from tyrone!! ...........Confirmed

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 05/10/2009 21:05:06    445847

yes joe brolly wrote in an article awhile back about the time frank spent out in america...he talked about how they used to lift the king off the floor at 6 in the morning and then that day he would give another master class in the finest arts of gaelic football...a genius...the stories are legend..pity he wasnt around in his prime he was that good we might not have waited as long as we did to win sam

10foottall (Tyrone) - Posts: 44 - 05/10/2009 21:09:13    445848

Wrong Tomaoo7. McGuigan never had the big stage to show his range of skills and went to the US at a youngish age. Remember in the 1970s Tyrone were very much an average team.A terrific performer who would rank amongst the top ten players I had the pleasure of seeing in over 50 years of championship football. Leagues ahead of CW and certainly the best minor footballer to grace Croke Park. Regarding great players never to win an All Ireland and speaking as a Meath man our own Ken Rennicks,an All Star in 1975 would figure towards the top of the list.

Auldfella (Meath) - Posts: 472 - 05/10/2009 21:25:14    445860

Auldfella ill take your word for that.............

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 05/10/2009 21:46:40    445876

Frank McGuigan was a serious footballer, excellent player at mid-field, centre half forward, and when he was well past his prime he could still manage 11 points from play in the Ulster final from full forward.

In my opinion Cavanagh has some way to go to catch Frank, and Cavanagh is a very good player.

Strange to relate two of the games I saw Frank in were U21 finals in Ulster and Antrim as underdogs won both, although Gerry Armstrong (that one) was a serious player as well.

But McGuigan could win the ball, distribute, had vision, and could score. With a bit of dedication which he would probably have in these times, he would have been awesome.

Still a great player.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 05/10/2009 22:31:12    445902

Not to worry Tomaoo,have nothing what so ever against CW.In fact Ciarans wife comes from the same part of the world as my good self. Dublin had many fine players between 1963 and 1974 who never got the press coverage.Lets say that the 74 bunch were much fitter and worked as a team,the first of their kind in the GAA world. Heffo with a couple of the more experienced players brought a lot of what was happening at Old Trafford and Anfield into our game.By the way Brian Mullins and Jack O Shea would have been my best ever midfield pairing but on a team that would also feature a certain Mr McGuigan somewhere in the centre of attack.

Auldfella (Meath) - Posts: 472 - 05/10/2009 22:43:57    445920

patrique i think you've finally come round to my way of thinking excellent post sir, just a pity you couldnt have posted if three pages back & saved me a few posts i dont want too many beside my name and have to call it a day like some more senior posters on here recently. tomaoo i again pull you on your knowedge of anything outside Dublin, there's a bigger world out.

Rahilly_Man (Tyrone) - Posts: 361 - 05/10/2009 22:51:01    445927

Royal_Girl2k9 >> Would Ciaran Whelan now fall into this category?


Simple answer - NO. Not a chance.

aidangalway (Galway) - Posts: 648 - 05/10/2009 23:23:36    445953

Rahilly_Man
County: Tyrone
Posts: 296

445927
patrique i think you've finally come round to my way of thinking excellent post sir, just a pity you couldnt have posted if three pages back & saved me a few posts i dont want too many beside my name and have to call it a day like some more senior posters on here


I always said Frank McGuigan was a great player.

I also said there were thousands of unsung greats.

And good and all as Frank was he was no "Armie", especially at the hurling.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 06/10/2009 00:39:40    445992

from Limerick I'd say John Quane, a great footballer, very loyal to Limerick after having a chance to move over the border to play for Cork.

I think Frank McGuigan would also stand out. That performance in the Ulster final way back al lthose years ago, what was it, 0-11 from play? Savage.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 06/10/2009 08:56:40    446036

dermot early

traleeexile (Kerry) - Posts: 732 - 06/10/2009 09:30:56    446053

Connie Murphy

Real Kerry Fan (None) - Posts: 2957 - 06/10/2009 09:40:09    446059

Charlie Gallagher

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12408 - 06/10/2009 10:39:52    446091

Breffni....
You have a point... what about Gabriel Kelly too?

BIG SACKS (Tyrone) - Posts: 1681 - 06/10/2009 14:01:11    446285

BIG SACKS
County: Tyrone
Posts: 760

446285 Breffni....
You have a point... what about Gabriel Kelly too?

I could have listed several Cavan players Big Sacks but Patrique or thykingdomcome would have rounded on me.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12408 - 06/10/2009 14:46:18    446322

Eugene "Nudie" Hughes

seant2008 (Monaghan) - Posts: 55 - 06/10/2009 15:20:55    446353

History of Cootehill Celtic GAA Club
Famous Celts

Charlie Gallagher...
One of the All-Time Greats of Gaelic Football

Cavan has produced many outstanding footballers down the years, and names that come to mind include Jimmy Smith, Big Tom O'Reilly, P.J. Duke, Mick Higgins, Tony Tighe, Bill Doonan, Phil 'Gunner' Brady and the legendary John Joe O'Reilly amongst others. A player who would feel very much at home amongst this elite group, was the former Cootehill Celtic star, the late Charlie Gallagher.

A real personality on the inter-county scene in the 'sixties, the popular Charlie wa regarded by many shrewd judges of the game, as one of the greatest score-getters Gaelic Football has known. Those who played for and against him, marvelled at his turn of speed, and quickness off the mark. He was a natural in every aspect of the game, but his real strength was his great belief in his own ability, and that he was always prepared to go for his score, no matter what the opposition.

Born in Cootehill town on Christmas day 1937, his father was the local practitioner. Following his primary school education at Saint Michael's National School, Charlie with his older brother Brian, who also had a medical practice in Cootehill and also a famed Cavan footballer and winner of an All-Ireland medal with the county in 19532, commenced his secondary education at Saint Patrick's College, Cavan where the brothers played leading roles in the success of the college teams in the McRory Cup and other Ulster colleges football competitions.

At the age of sixteen years in 1953, Charlie played a prominent part in bringing Cootehill Celtic to their first-ever Cavan senior football championship title. This breakthrough was followed by further senior championship successes in 1954 and 1955, giving Charlie his third senior championship medal, while still eligible for minor competitions.

1955 was a 'red-letter day' for the Cootehill youngster, when at eighteen years of age, he made his inter-county debut for Cavan, lining out against Sligo, and that was the start of a memorable inter-county career with his native county.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12408 - 06/10/2009 15:56:04    446391

Having completed his secondary education, Charlie went to University College, Dublin where he commenced his studies in Dentristy. Following a brilliant university academic career, which saw him take top honours in all his examinations, Charlie qualified as a dental surgeon. He then joined the practice of another Cavan stalward, Barney Cully in Derry City.

During his time at UCD, he lined out with the college side in the Dublin senior football championship and in the 1959 decider against the famed St. Vincent's club. The game proved a personal triumph for Charlie, as he scored eight points, and finished top scorer in the match.

Charlie's scoring exploits were now catching the imagination of GAA followers countrywide. He finished leading marksman with UCD, for his home club Cootehill Celtic and for the Cavan Senior county team - a truly remarkable hat trick!

As the years went by, Charlie was totting up the scores against all opposition. In 1964, he was Ireland's top scorer with six goals and one hundred and seven points and his name was now a household one in GAA circles countrywide.

The following year he was still the country's number one sharp-shooter, with seven goals and one hundred and two points. He also created a personal scoring record in a tournament game against a talented Down side in Emmet Park, Carrickmacross scoring two goals and ten points.

Another highlight in the 1964 season for him, was the honour of being one of seven players from Ireland chosen to play in Gaelic Park, New York - a tribute to one of Ireland's greatest players.

And still the honours came his way. In 1967, playing against the regining All Ireland three-in-a-row champions, Galway in Wembley Stadium, London, Charlie gave another virtuoso performance, which paved the way for the victory of the Breffnimen against all the odds. The following day in a leading English Sunday Newspaper, The People, had printed in banner headlines across the top of their sports page "Charlie is Cavan's Darling!"

Charlie Gallagher won the Ulster Senior Championship medals in 1962, '64, '67 and '69. He captained the Cavan team in the 1969 Ulster Final. The game was his 190th game inthe blue jersey of his beloved Cavan and marked the magnificent feat of having scored 49 goals and 676 points.

On the provincial scene (Railway Cup) - Charlie was an automatic choice on Ulster selections, winning medals with his province in '64, '65, '66 and '68 and always performed well amongst the top players of his era.

One of the hallmarks of his illustrious playing career, was the fact that he always went out to play football no matter what the opposition and he is fondly remembered as an exemplary sportsman both on and off the field of play.

In 1984, Charlie returned to his native Cootehill, setting up as a dental surgeon in the town. Such was his popularity that within a short space of time his practice grew to be one of the most extensive in the North-East region.

One of nature's gentlemen, his ultimely death as a result as a result of a tragic accident at the age of 51 years in July 1988 shocked not only the people of his beloved County Cavan who held him in such high regard but GAA people the length and breadth of the land.

Taken from the Programme for the Final of the inaugural Charlie Gallagher Tournament 31st January 1993

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12408 - 06/10/2009 15:56:21    446393

ciarán mac donald. gan dabht

big fish in a big pond unlike most of the others mentioned here.

voiceofreason (Mayo) - Posts: 588 - 06/10/2009 15:58:38    446397

voiceofreason
County: Mayo
Posts: 491

446397 ciarán mac donald. gan dabht

big fish in a big pond unlike most of the others mentioned here.

No harm but thats nonsense. You're making out that Mayo are winning all-irelands all the time and he was purely unlucky. If he was from Kerry and didn't win an AI then he'd be a big fish in a big pond.

I still agree, he is one of the best not to win one, but that "big pond" comment is nonsense.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12408 - 06/10/2009 16:39:25    446455