I was talking to a few idiots lastnight and this argument came up. For me it's a no brainer but then again I did say I was talking to a few idiots. Won't say what side I'm on but would like to know what folks think about it. Who was better? They both have the same honours nearly, apart from Fitzgerald having just the extra League medal . They both have 3 all stars, 2 All Ireland medals and 6 provincial titles each.

SmerwickMan (Kerry) - Posts: 20 - 18/01/2010 13:59:01    535968

SmerwickMan, although im from galway, id have to say joyce, but only by a small margin. as you say, there aint much between them credantials wise, and although fitxgerald is very skillful, it could be said he was on better teams than joyce, even though the two all-ireland 1998 and 2001 galways teams werent bad, but joyce has been so emence for galway throughout his career, sometimes winning games for us we shouldnt have won, so id have to marginally say joyce, although the dublin sideline point was unreal....

pridengalway (Galway) - Posts: 327 - 18/01/2010 15:02:40    536066

Not much between them but if i had to make the choice id pick joyce .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 18/01/2010 15:06:07    536075

Ah lads, comparing players like this is difficult. Fitz was a class player, and Joyce was unreal also. Their value to each of their teams is what counts and both were immeasurable in this regard.
Joyce in my view would just shade it, but tis only my view. Anyway the sooner the season kicks off in earnest the better, these arguments are grand carried out over a few pints but thats it.

curious George (Offaly) - Posts: 861 - 18/01/2010 15:09:58    536083

I think I would have to for M.F. by a comfortable margin. He was more of a complete footballer and could be used anywhere from midfield up. The only lingering doubt I have is why did Paddi O Se not play him for 70 mins if he was that good? It was'nt as if Kerry had that many special players during his era.

John Boss (Tyrone) - Posts: 865 - 18/01/2010 15:14:12    536097

I'd pick Joyce.

Puddersthecat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1692 - 18/01/2010 15:15:12    536099

Have to say Maurice Fitz. Always thought Joyce was that little bit over-rated although to be fair my judgement is clouded by a number of immensely frustrating performances for Ireland in the compromise rules.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12483 - 18/01/2010 15:19:16    536107

SmerwickMan everyone has an opinion in cases like this, I would be inclined to agree with the Galwayman and Dell. Branding someone an idiot for not sharing your opinion......behave.......besides what age is Joyce now and what age was Fitz when Kerry management decided that he was surplus......

JammyDodger (Meath) - Posts: 306 - 18/01/2010 15:20:08    536108

Fitzgerald all day long, Joyce was a great player alright but come on Maurice was one of the all time greats and certainly the best footballer ive ever seen in my lifetime. Nobody around over the last 20 years has had as much style and grace on the pitch as Maurice, remember his point against Dublin in 01, his goal against Armagh in 00 and the way he completely dominated Mayo in the 97 final, kicking some fantastic scores off the ground on both feet. This is a no brainer lads, like i said Fitzgerald all day long.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 18/01/2010 15:20:18    536109

Joyce for longevity, consistency, and vision in open play. Fitzgearld for free taking and his scoring threat. At their very best eg: Fitz 97, Joyce 01, then Fitz just shades it. Bit overall Joyce gets my vote beacause he has been top class for nearly 12 straight years now.

jafallon (Galway) - Posts: 489 - 18/01/2010 15:39:43    536135

OK let me rephrase it some other way, not looking for a change of answer as a few mentions of what each meant to their team has come up and that's not relevant for this one.

If you were picking a team tomorrow and these two players were at their peak who would you choose? The only reason I put it this way is to eliminate the role they played for their teams and to get a clear one way or other answer.

SmerwickMan (Kerry) - Posts: 20 - 18/01/2010 15:44:22    536136

For me itd be Maurice Fitz. Joyce is a class act but for me Fitz had that little something more!

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6347 - 18/01/2010 15:48:55    536143

john boss i always got the feeling paidi never liked him too much. i remember an interview with him straight after the 01 match v dublin and the interviewer asked him about the point fitzgerald scored and he almost immediately changed the subject

32_4_1 (Meath) - Posts: 4201 - 18/01/2010 15:49:25    536144

I'm very surprised at so many picking Joyce, for me it's no contest. Fitzgerald was the best footballer I have seen play in my lifetime. Joyce wouldn't even be in the top 10.

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 18/01/2010 15:55:53    536154

Tough call but i'd have to go with Joyce....

bangedupabroad (Roscommon) - Posts: 126 - 18/01/2010 16:04:36    536165

Very tough call but i would have to go for maurice fitz. He was an outstanding player and had unreal skill

zidane (Galway) - Posts: 272 - 18/01/2010 16:28:03    536199

Joyce not in your top ten nocky ? You definitely need to get out more !

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6192 - 18/01/2010 16:30:05    536203

As a Galway man I always thought Padraig Joyce was somewhat underrated by a lot of people outside Connacht. He's rarely ever spoken off as being up there with your Maurice Fitz's or Peter Canavan's who are worshipped like minor deity's on this site. Especially Maurice Fitz who has assumed God like status in recent years. In fact it often seems to be Mayo men or Roscommon men who rate Joyce the highest probably as they actually saw him in action against their own county so often.

They are two different players though. Maurice Fitz was probably more versatile as you could have probably played him in midfield as well as up front due to his size. Joyce could play anywhere in the forwards but probably not in midfield. For many years Joyce was always thought of as a finisher but in recent years when the legs slowed down he moved out the field and became a creator. The pace might be gone but the head worked as quick as ever.

I assumed Maurice Fitz would win this easily as he has become wildly popular in recent years while as I said I have always felt Joyce has never quite got the credit he deserved outside Connacht. So I'm actually surprised he's picked up a few votes. It must be remembered how Joyce performed on the big occasion. Scored the goal that got Galway back in the game in the 98 All-Ireland final when he dummied and went around the Kildare keeper. Dragged Galway back from 7 points down in the 2000 final and had Derek Savage spotted him running free in injury time that day he almost certainly would have kicked the winning score against Kerry. And obviously the 0-10 against Meath in the 2001 final.

But obviously Maurice Fitz had his great days as well. None better than the 97 final against Mayo. The equalising point against Dublin below in Thurles, etc.

Just to be unbiased I'll say Maurice Fitz but the comparison isn't as crazy as some would think. As far as I'm concerned Joyce is well worthy of being up there in that company.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2409 - 18/01/2010 16:35:16    536214

Both players had talents and I have to admit being an admirer of Joyce but at the same time Fitz was a class act also - DEAD HEAT!

traleeexile (Kerry) - Posts: 732 - 18/01/2010 17:29:04    536295

I don't even think this one is debatable, Maurice Fitz by a long long way, totall football genious the man was.

PJ (None) - Posts: 2288 - 18/01/2010 19:01:51    536399