The GAA is and remains a great sport.I was just wondering
what era people feel was the most glorious in its history?
For me it is the early 90s,not only was this a golden
period for Down and Ulster GAA but it was the era when
I first followed the GAA. Also the Dublin-Meath games
were a high watermark for the Association?The 70s were
great for the Dublin-Kerry rivalry also though? What
would people say was the best era is GAA history?

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1702 - 06/11/2013 11:43:32    1509773

REDANDBLACK30
County: Down
Posts: 95
Obivously you missed the epic rise or hurling teams in the nineties. like clare, Wexford and Limerick (missed out on 3 all irelands if you aks me) But ya the football was alright too but the 90's was a hurling decade. Football was most exciting in the early noughties with armagh and tyrone changing everything and pushing for honours

Fishermantom (Limerick) - Posts: 569 - 06/11/2013 11:51:34    1509775

The late seventies just a wide eyed boy and coming to terms what the Kerry v Dublin thing was all about was just fantastic , the Meath Dublin games golden period just loved going to those games more than any other , being older than most there my starryeyed memories ,
For hurling and at the time just being a passing fan Ger loughnane Nicky English etc remember really been taken with that period .
Truth is golden era,s are age related and success related , Id have no issue with someone feeling the Ulsters multiple winners ( us as losers mainly ) period being special Derry ,Down Donegal ,and later the second coming Tyrone and Armagh .
As great as being an adult and Clucko kicking that point , truth is a 10 year old saw Moran Keavney Doyle Cullen Mullins and he,s probably never grown up .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 06/11/2013 11:58:06    1509776

Your right Fisherman Tom hurling was exciting in the 90s too
I remember Wexford beating Kilkenny then DJ Carey scored a
last minute goal.I wouldnt agree with the football in the 2000s
though.Armagh and Tyrone were great teams but the football
was poor to watch.Actually I would say the 2000s were hurlings
greatest hour, great Waterford Cork match?

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1702 - 06/11/2013 12:01:29    1509781

It is funny, people talk about the 90s as being a great era, just like they say the current era has so many possible winners that they have never seen football so healthy. They also happen to be around the same time that kerry teams were in decline. Maybe we should just kick them out altogether!

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 06/11/2013 12:09:39    1509789

Ur rite Damo it definitely is age and success related.The 80s seemed to be
not so exciting, but a couple of great moments Seamus Darby, 12 apostles
etc.The 60s are noted for great teams from Down and Galway, not forgetting
Offaly who were a great team then too.The final Cavan won in the Polo
Grounds also?? Kerrys 8 in 12 years was a great achievement.

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1702 - 06/11/2013 12:35:52    1509808

Def the 50s when you had 4 great teams Louth, Meath, Cavan and Mayo.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 06/11/2013 13:12:54    1509849

Definitely the 90s for me. Down's breakthrough in 1991 was a breath of fresh air and paved the way for Donegal and Derry to win their first ever all-Irelands. The hurling championship from '94 to '98 was remarkable as the big 3 were brushed aside and Clare, Offaly, Limerick and Wexford were the teams to beat. Cork, Tipp and KK won no all-Irelands and just one provincial championship (KK in '98) between them in those 5 years. Cork did not reach a Munster final - did they even win one championship match? There has never been another era like it, although this year's hurling championship reminded me of those days.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 1034 - 06/11/2013 13:18:09    1509856

I must admit I enjoyed Ulsters run of success in the 90's, it really upset the status quo at the time, its just a shame Tyrone couldn't keep the sequence going in 95.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 06/11/2013 13:21:51    1509862

Ollie, I think you might find that Kerry, Galway and Dubs had a say in the 50s as well! But it was most open decade ever I think for football in terms of counties winning the All Ireland. 7/8 different winners?

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 06/11/2013 13:31:15    1509868

I was born in the 70s so I'd say my favorite era was mid 70s to 1990.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 06/11/2013 14:12:52    1509906

Enjoyed most era's of our great game. Kerry getting to 6 All-Ireland finals in a row was very special i have to say. I doubt it will ever be done in again modern times but never say never.

kerry74 (Kerry) - Posts: 1354 - 06/11/2013 14:25:17    1509919

This year has been my best year following the Dubs in both games. If it gets any better I might not survive!

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 06/11/2013 14:35:20    1509926

kerry74
County: Kerry
Posts: 1088

1509919
Enjoyed most era's of our great game. Kerry getting to 6 All-Ireland finals in a row was very special i have to say. I doubt it will ever be done in again modern times but never say never.


Dublin also achieved this in the 70's and this is what submerged me in what I still love today!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8754 - 06/11/2013 16:06:51    1509979

Can't remember much of the 90s at all but having watched a lot of videos in the house there's no doubt that the 90s football was the best by far. Not even being biased about Down but Derry, Donegal, Galway, Kerry etc all played lovely lovely football in the 90s. Good hard hitting real man stuff

MissDownFanatic (Down) - Posts: 411 - 06/11/2013 16:36:20    1509995

2013 was as good a year as there ever was

stmunn (Wexford) - Posts: 181 - 06/11/2013 17:26:19    1510018

probably the most enjoyable that I have witnessed was about 98-2002.
This was when football was football, obviously there was some element of tactics but by and large players who made the intercounty teams.
A corner back lived and died on his duel with the corner forward, there was no 3 or 4 forwards covering back to help a corner back keep his man scoreless! Footballers could kick a ball and if a forward was not able to assist in scoring or setting up scores he was not much value!

We had Meath,Galway,Kerry & Armagh playing exciting football to win All Irelands. Cork and Kildare played some great stuff too but unluckily were bridesmaids during that period.
2002 was probably the most exciting I have ever saw kerry play yet we lsot that year's all Ireland.

Football has moved on a lot since then but to me that was my golden period of football

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 06/11/2013 17:36:45    1510025

Whatever era that your county is most successful is your golden era!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13799 - 06/11/2013 17:48:50    1510033

1935 - 1952

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5520 - 06/11/2013 19:27:01    1510081

from 54 to 68 I suppose but the 90s were pretty incredible for hurling over all and we didn't go without our glory days in that decade.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3604 - 06/11/2013 19:55:05    1510099