http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/cooper-picks-three-toughest-defenders-hes-played-against-630976.html

With all due respect to the 3 players that he named,does anyone else not think that it's a bit convenient that he mentions 2 guys from 2 teams (naming Mark O'Se made it easier too) that Kerry were invariably able to get the better of (and by big score-lines at times, too) in AI finals?

I'd have no prob (some enjoyment even), telling Gooch that the best player that I've seen mark him was Conor Gormley! Oh wait! Was the Gooch not ever on a Kerry team that turned Tyrone over in an AI final!

I'm no Gooch! 10,000 miles away from his class even. But when I was playing, I always rated the toughest hoors that I played against as those whom I couldn't get the better of; those whom I invariably couldn't beat!

To me, it's a pseudo-answer from Cooper, and not the one that deep down in his heart of hearts that he knows only to be too real to reveal!

Some other panelist should bring this to Gooch's attention too, and then we might have a juicy, but real topic of discussion on the show!

shoulderghost (Limerick) - Posts: 863 - 19/05/2014 14:47:25    1590117

Let me get this straight. So YOU think YOU know better who THE GOOCH thinks was HIS toughest opponents. Thats some gift, looking in others minds. You wouldn't mind telling me what game plan Mc Ivor has planned for Donegal this Sunday. Cheers lad.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 19/05/2014 15:17:32    1590157

Did he not finish as top scorer in both the 05 and 08 finals?

That might suggest that he faired well enough against his marker on both those occasions.

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3692 - 19/05/2014 15:21:51    1590162

Did he not finish as top scorer in both the 05 and 08 finals?

That might suggest that he faired well enough against his marker on both those occasions.

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3692 - 19/05/2014 15:21:52    1590163

"Speaking of toughness, and the rough and tumble of being the marquée forward of a generation, who is the toughest defender Cooper has faced over the years?

"Oh Jesus! Where do I start?!?" laughs Cooper

"I've had great battles down the years with certain players…with Anthony Lynch in Cork and a few with Ryan McMenamin from Tyrone."

He said that in an interview a while ago. Maybe he just didn't want to bum Ricey up (pardon the expression) on tv which is understandable enough.

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 19/05/2014 15:29:09    1590167

That is the thing though, is it gormley that made it difficult or him and his 2 teammates? He was asked for his toughest opponent, i.e. individual. Now I rate gormley, he is a player I like, but 1 on 1 gooch would do to him what he did to ger brennan in a similar matchup last year. Lynch was always a class marker, he had a really natural nose for it and although well regarded was still underrated for my money. I know all too well from within my own county and beyond, Higgins is just a complete and utter nightmare of an opponent. O'Se is well warranted on the list too. I am surprised Karl Lacey didn't get a mention though.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 19/05/2014 15:36:44    1590173

Now I rate gormley, he is a player I like, but 1 on 1 gooch would do to him what he did to ger brennan in a similar matchup last year.

You might be right. I remember Gormley saying something like Cooper was easily his toughest opponent. Gormley did well all things considering in the 2008 final though it probably helped that Kerry were reliant on the long ball that day.

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 19/05/2014 15:49:50    1590190

You are right The Master, he has picked probably the 3 finest corner-backs in the game in the last 10-12 years there, it is hardly controversial. Not sure how many times himself and Lacey would have faced each other though, in direct opposition.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 19/05/2014 15:50:09    1590192

shoulderghose telling Gooch who his toughest opponents were
ha ha
u have to love it!
Shoulderghost, who was my fav teacher???

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8170 - 19/05/2014 16:08:34    1590206

The gooch only marked Gormley once, in the 2008 final, and he roasted him. I do think however that if the gooch was being honest he would have put ricey in there.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 21/05/2014 08:37:30    1591092

joncarter, I would again ask the question, was it RMcM that gave him a tough time, or him and his 2 team mates? There was another quote from cooper posted here as regards mcmenamin and there is a noticeable difference in tone. The one with RMcM was regarded as a rough and tumble battle and spoken of in those terms, but o'se, lynch and higgins were just his toughest opponents that tested him. That says to me that RMcM might have given him a real war as regards skelps flying etc, but the other lads gave him his biggest test 'within the rules' shall we say.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 21/05/2014 09:55:33    1591126

It's easy to say Higgins and Lynch when Kerry hammered those teams (Mayo and Cork ) anytime they met. The Gooch either making the scores or taking them and causing havoc all day long. I think he was kept well in check against Tyrone on a few occasions, against Armagh and even against Donegal in 2012 The one really class display I saw him give over the last couple of years was against Dublin in AI semi last year. To settle the argument you would have to review a host of games over the years,especially the later stages of the championship when Kerry would have been facing better teams. But over the years I thought Gooch would not have been as effective without the help of K Donaghy as I though Donaghy won a lot of high ball and set the Gooch up for scores.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 21/05/2014 10:39:32    1591149

SamOnErrigal
County: Donegal
Posts: 205

1591149
It's easy to say Higgins and Lynch when Kerry hammered those teams (Mayo and Cork ) anytime they met. The Gooch either making the scores or taking them and causing havoc all day long. I think he was kept well in check against Tyrone on a few occasions, against Armagh and even against Donegal in 2012 The one really class display I saw him give over the last couple of years was against Dublin in AI semi last year. To settle the argument you would have to review a host of games over the years,especially the later stages of the championship when Kerry would have been facing better teams. But over the years I thought Gooch would not have been as effective without the help of K Donaghy as I though Donaghy won a lot of high ball and set the Gooch up for scores.

You should make a start on that yourself

Superglue (Kerry) - Posts: 1283 - 21/05/2014 11:09:07    1591165

Master hit the nail on the head. He may have come up against tougher defensive units (e.g. Gormley, McMenamen and the Tyrone lads or Neil, Eamonn Mcgee in Donegals defence) but that doesn't mean they are the best or toughest individual defenders. Probably the toughest defence, but not the toughest individuals.

Marc O Se is the best corner back I've ever seen, Lynch similarly was brilliant and they both marked forwards 1 v 1. I remember Lynch giving Cooper a tough time on one or two occasions in Munster. Higgins is an outstanding player but now as good a man marker as the other two IMO, more of an all rounder/jack of all trades.

CaisleanCnucha (Dublin) - Posts: 1379 - 21/05/2014 13:24:45    1591304

Gooch was sincere.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13655 - 21/05/2014 13:28:01    1591308

Cooper appreciates a ball player. The three guys he named were all quick and comfortable on the ball. He broke Keith Higgins' ankles twisting and turning him in 06, last few big games they've played Mayo have put Ger Cafferky on him. Surprised there was no Tyrone man picked but I think it's where Cooper puts the emphasis rather than anti-Tyrone bias.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 21/05/2014 14:03:18    1591343

Spot on shoulderghost. The begrudgers and revisionists still can't give that great Tyrone team any credit. Thankfully we know the real truth as pointed out recently by Tomas O Se :)

seanie_boy (Tyrone) - Posts: 4235 - 21/05/2014 15:50:43    1591433

Who was marking Gooch in the 2011 match against Mayo? He ran riot that day.

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 21/05/2014 16:03:25    1591444

seanie_boy
Spot on shoulderghost. The begrudgers and revisionists still can't give that great Tyrone team any credit. Thankfully we know the real truth as pointed out recently by Tomas O Se :)

On the contrary, it appears to be yourself who cannot give anyone else any credit. He was asked and he answered. Take off the tyrone glasses. Also, 'the real truth' T O'Se stated was that it was harder to win ulster than munster, not what it was portrayed as on this forum. Real truth indeed. As for revisionists, gooch was consistently Kerry's main scorer against tyrone, yet in your version he got the marking of his lifetime...


MichaelO
Who was marking Gooch in the 2011 match against Mayo? He ran riot that day.

Tom Cunniffe. Higgins was marking darran o'sullivan. Who was marking him in the 05 and 08 finals by the way? When he was the games top scorer on both occasions, despite being on the losing side on both occasions...

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 21/05/2014 16:57:34    1591480

Tom Cunniffe. Higgins was marking darran o'sullivan. Who was marking him in the 05 and 08 finals by the way? When he was the games top scorer on both occasions, despite being on the losing side on both occasions...

I was just curious, I wasn't being sarcastic. He had a good game in those matches but so did McMenamin and Gormley, particularly McMenamin in the '05 match. I mean that as a compliment to Cooper - holding him in his prime to a few points is an achievement. Cooper scores an awful lot of goals too so Tyrone did well to limit him in that aspect as well (four goals in four all-ireland finals I think). Ricey also did well on him in the '03 semi though the Gooch hit a lot of wides that day which was uncharacteristic.

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 21/05/2014 17:31:25    1591498