patrique - I stand corrected on Greg Blayney. Always thought him a great player & the old mind must have been playing tricks as I always pictured him as a great place kicker too. Don't know why this is (old age & senility perhaps) as I was at the 91 & 94 finals. Mea culpa!

dingle1 (Clare) - Posts: 805 - 03/01/2010 13:37:01    523321

I was actually at the 1991 final myself. The only other football final I was at was in 1970.

People will believe me to be a closet Meath fan.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 03/01/2010 14:46:36    523352

Din Jo Crowley's goal was great in 1970 patrique. As a closet Meath fan it must still give you nightmares. Still you got value for your money with an 80 minute final - the first one over this timelength I think.

dingle1 (Clare) - Posts: 805 - 03/01/2010 14:52:39    523358

Surprised Dara O Cinnéide hasn't got a mention...he was a lovely kicker of the ball.

Ar.an.talamh (Kildare) - Posts: 320 - 03/01/2010 15:21:18    523366

mattie forde has to be one of the all time greats at place kicking has scored well over twenty sidelines in his career and has kicked more frees in the last ten years than any player ,other great place kickers maurice fitzgerald , charlie redmond ,declan browne

bogstandard (Wexford) - Posts: 799 - 03/01/2010 15:27:19    523370

People might be confused about Greg Blayney because he played in same half-forward line as Ross Carr & Gary Mason who were actually the free takers.

blu (Down) - Posts: 1240 - 03/01/2010 15:33:29    523375

Seanie Johnston
Stevn O Neill

CrokeParkMan (Cavan) - Posts: 23 - 03/01/2010 15:34:30    523376

dingle1 County: Clare Posts: 478 523358 Din Jo Crowley's goal was great in 1970 patrique. Din Joe's entire display that day was great. But O'Connell was probably the best dead ball kicker of them all. ED--Patrique, Din Joe was terrible that day and the Kerry selectors were about to haul him off prior to his super goal.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 03/01/2010 15:55:59    523394

REDROM
County: Offaly
Posts: 133

523309 Over the generations there are just too many to mention, there have been many sensational place kickers over the years but I suppose if there was a gun held to my head I would have to say Maurice Fitzegerald.

Seems a bit extreme in a debate.Them Nordie's...up to no good as usual!

fredrickwood (Roscommon) - Posts: 2871 - 03/01/2010 17:15:38    523440

03/01/2010 17:15:38
fredrickwood
County: Roscommon
Posts: 1648



Seems a bit extreme in a debate.Them Nordie's...up to no good as usual!


Very good.

However most "Nordies" surrendered/decommissioned.

But not all.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 03/01/2010 18:40:36    523513

Best I have seen would be Maurice Fitxgerald, Sheridan from Mayo was reliable too.
Cian Ward from Meath is a very reliable free taker from 50 metres in these days

jackhackett (Meath) - Posts: 773 - 03/01/2010 19:27:38    523554

dont think iv seen anyone mention Bryan Sheehan! Not too many in the country as accurate as him.

gaelic_life (Down) - Posts: 286 - 03/01/2010 20:42:18    523601

Maybe I missed it on this post somewhere but has anybody thought of the great Brian Stafford of Meath, a magnificent freetaker if ever there was one.

REDROM (Offaly) - Posts: 208 - 03/01/2010 20:46:39    523605

I would have to go with, Jimmy Keavney, Maurice Fitz, as the top two. then i wuld have to start naming players such as Matty Forde, Mossie Quinn, and Brian Sheehan

FP09 (Tipperary) - Posts: 22 - 03/01/2010 21:03:47    523616

REDROM - Safford was in my original top ten at the top of this thread.

Even though a keryman I just don't rate Sheehan. Disaster 45 against Tyrone late in the game in 2008 (which he kicked illegally as he had already been substituted & the 4th official had shown his number up but he stayed on to take the kick - oh how I wish he hadn't & that he had been replaced long before).

Sheehan cost us that match plus Brosnan & also the taking off of Tommy Walsh (not to mention not starting Tommy Griffin). That game still rankles but fair play to Tyrone for taking advantage of the advantages Pat O'Shea handed them. I have just finished Mikey Harte's book and I see where he was coming from in that game & appreciate how he stuck to his guns & his team won it. O'Shea was like a pure novice in comparison & lost the plot when we could have won it. Grrrrr!!!!

dingle1 (Clare) - Posts: 805 - 04/01/2010 00:07:02    523729

Apologies dingle1.

REDROM (Offaly) - Posts: 208 - 04/01/2010 10:56:43    523847

Always thought Trevor Giles was an excelletn dead ball kicker

odoylerules (Laois) - Posts: 86 - 04/01/2010 12:27:20    523890

Best in living memory, Brian Stafford.

Honourable mention Maurice Fitzgerald & Larry Tomkins.

Best Current, Cian Ward ? Not in the same league as the fore mentioned but is there anyone better out there just now.

JammyDodger (Meath) - Posts: 306 - 04/01/2010 12:42:43    523901

colin corkery! unreal like!

rebelsrock (Cork) - Posts: 550 - 04/01/2010 13:48:33    523946

Best I've seen from memory are
Barney Rock , Jimmy Keaveney , Charlie Redmond (Dublin) , Brendan Lynch , Bryan Sheehan + Maurice Fitzgerald (Kerry) , Brian Stafford + Cian Ward (Meath) , Derek Duggan (Roscommon) , Anthony Tohill (Derry) , Eamon McInerney (Monaghan) , Ronan Carolan ( Cavan) , Michael Meehan (Galway) , Colin Corkery + James Masters (Cork) , Emlyn Mulligan (Leitrim) , Peter Canavan (from the hands) (Tyrone ), Matt Connor + Ciaran McManus (Offaly) and when he played football for Tipperary Brendan Cummins was a more than decent long range place kicker.

dubupnorth (Dublin) - Posts: 1897 - 04/01/2010 13:53:55    523952