I wouldn't describe Nadal as a genius. He was more of a hard worker, grinding out results mainly due to his physicality. I'd say McGeeney is his closest comparison in GAA terms. The real tennis genius is Federer and I think he's up there with Messi as one of the top sporting geniuses of all-time.

In soccer Zidane, Roberto Baggio, Michael Laudrup and Romario also stand out as geniuses for me.

Golf you're looking at Seve Ballesteros, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson as potential geniuses. Tiger and Jordan Spieth are more winning machines and are definitely less exciting than those first three mentioned.

I wasn't really into basketball but have started watching Golden State highlights now for Steph Curry, that guy's unreal.

In our own game I'd say Tyrone's Steven O'Neill is as much of a genius as anybody. Some of the points he got were unbelievable, I always felt he never really fulfilled his potential. That's a bold statement considering he won 3 All-stars and 3 All-Ireland but I feel he was ridiculously talented. Padraig Joyce and Trevor Giles are potential geniuses also. Jim McGuinness is the closest thing I'd say we've had to a management genius, although I'd rate Jim Gavin, James Horan and Mickey Harte highly also. I think the game was a good bit less innovative before 2000.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4611 - 21/02/2016 18:52:10    1827016

Whammo Antrim - James Horan- If he was a Genius he would have won an All Ireland with Mayo end of..

smokeygaa (Galway) - Posts: 420 - 21/02/2016 19:28:12    1827028

Hey Liam just wondering was the new kick out strategy actually down to Cluxton or was he just implementing managements tactics?
Agreed it transformed the position

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4663 - 21/02/2016 19:41:45    1827032

Wham

Not arguing that Federer is not a great player but to say Nadal simply ground out results due to being physical is disingenuous in the extreme. Federer could not be the genius you claim if he lost 66% of head to head matches against the physical oaf that is Nadal

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 21/02/2016 19:47:54    1827034

"Genius Alert" - Ronnie O Sullivan wins his fourth Welsh Open title tonight,coming from 5-2 behind to win seven successive frames and beat Neil Robertson 9-5,finishing off with his 10th century break of the week.Aghhh,i'll sleep well tonight.Simply the best!

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 21/02/2016 20:44:24    1827055

Jaysus, Ronnie is getting better, is that actually possible???

KerryKillers (Dublin) - Posts: 711 - 21/02/2016 20:52:56    1827059

Jaysus, Ronnie is getting better, is that actually possible???

KerryKillers (Dublin) - Posts: 711 - 21/02/2016 21:00:54    1827063

Whammo Antrim - James Horan- If he was a Genius he would have won an All Ireland with Mayo end of..

smokeygaa (Galway) - Posts:387 - 21/02/2016 19:28:12 1827028

Yeah sure, I've no problem with that.

If you read my post properly you'll see that I never said he was a genius, I just said I rate him highly as a manager. I didn't even call Jim McGuinness a genius either, I said he was the closest thing we've had to a genius in management. That would actually imply that I don't believe he is a genius either. In my opinion he probably wasn't in management long enough to truly be considered a genius, although in the short time he spent with Donegal he'd a huge impact on the game.

I'd suggest in future if you're intending to be obnoxious you should probably try to be somewhat factually accurate. It gives you a much stronger position making you less exposed to having your comment mercilessly ripped to shreds.

@bennybunny
As for Nadal he truly is a great player and he definitely had Federer's number in head to head meetings, but we're not talking about who's the best here. We're talking about genius. Nadal's greatest relative competitive advantage was his stamina, that's why he won so much on clay where the rallies tend to be longer. Federer's greatest competitive advantage was his shot making ability, he was a higher level technically than any tennis player ever. It's that attribute that I'd associate with genius. I also don't see how Federer losing so many matches against Nadal disqualifies him from being a genius?

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4611 - 21/02/2016 21:11:17    1827070

I can only think of two names who would fit that description: Peter Canavan and Maurice Fitzgerald.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9837 - 21/02/2016 21:29:32    1827082

I'm surprised to see a few posters naming Diarmuid Connolly in the genius category. A nice footballer no doubt who will get you a few scores off either foot (especially in the earlier rounds of the championship), and a brilliant penalty taker. He would get on most of the really good teams over the decades but he wouldn't in my opinion be the main man on those teams. Now he may well win a couple of player of the year awards and another five All Irelands and go on to become a legend, but at the minute, I don't think so. Bernard Brogan on the other hand, now there's a real genius.

Llaw_Gyffes (Mayo) - Posts: 1113 - 22/02/2016 20:28:56    1827339

Wham

I didn't say that it disqualifies him. I was asking you a question. You claim that Nadals strength was his physicality. You claim that Federer was the real genius. Would that genius (in terms of shot selection) not be able to outsmart somebody whose main trait is just physicality (as you claim)? Or could it be that there is much more to Nadal then just physicality? Is stamina enough to win 14 grand slams in 10 years?

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 22/02/2016 21:31:32    1827350

Gooch = genius

Canavan = genius


The two best footballers I've ever seen play.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 23/02/2016 09:57:06    1827379

Joe Canning can definitely be described as a genius. He does things on the field that can take your breath away, Tony Kelly and DJ are in the same bracket. They are consistent in producing outrageous pieces of skill that has the crowd in awe.

Shefflin for me can't be described as a genius, he's probably been the hurler of this century but in terms of doing something that would make your jaw drop it's just not his game. He's been so consistent at the simple things, a real leader and motivator.

Grahan Gerathy, Owen Mulligan and Gooch would be of similar caliber in the football.. Mulligans goal against Dublin is one of the great GAA scores of all time.

begining (UK) - Posts: 323 - 23/02/2016 11:12:26    1827408

I agree with whammo regards the tennis.Federer is an artist on court who glides along and is as graceful as a swan.I'm not a massive fan of tennis but when i watch Federer if is a thing of beauty.
Nadal,while his record and titles speak for themselves,will never have that sprinkling of stardust that Federer has.A bit like Messi and Ronaldo for me.Ronaldo is a goal machine with a ridiculously powerful physique,while Messi is like something from another planet.Ronaldo rarely puts a smile on my face while Messi has the ability to make Pep Guardiola cover his face with his hands in absolute awe when he nutmegged James Milner and put him on the seat of his pants.Nearly every game Messi will do something outrageous.A selfless,humble,gifted genius,who it's been a privilege to be alive to see.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 23/02/2016 11:30:32    1827416

From a Dublin perspective that Mulligan goal was gift wrapped with a bow tie on.it The couple of missed tackles in response to Mulligans dummies were embarrassing.Not surprising as one of the protagonists was the distinctly average Paul Casey who Oisin McConville described in his autobiography as being "not the best".Talk about an understatement.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 23/02/2016 11:36:03    1827419

Some guys would have a touch of genius about them on occasion, but wouldn't be classed as genius, most gaa guys named on here would fall into that category. Far too many guys are being named here. I mean we have about 25 gaa players suggested, yet only one tennis player - a worldwide sport!

I think the gooch is the only genuine one we have seen in recent times. Honourable mention to Matt Connor and Mikey Sheehy also.

The best examples of sporting genius I can think of would be Floyd Mayweather and Diego Maradona.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 23/02/2016 11:38:10    1827420

Larry Reilly

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12483 - 23/02/2016 11:45:48    1827421

Your still not rating Messi cause he'd a bad game against Celtic?

Peter Canvan is 100% a genius over the last 30 years him and Gooch out there on there own as the two greatest without a doubt.

The Gooch's goal against Mayo in the '11 semi final was one of them "awe" moments, unbelievable goal out of nothing.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 23/02/2016 11:55:12    1827427

Peter Canavan was a real genius over all the years but as a Tyrone fan I thought nothing matched Frank McGuiggan's 11 points from play in the 1984 Ulster Final. Pure genius.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1792 - 23/02/2016 12:07:16    1827433

Peter the great

Maurice Fitz...

Connolly is close but not quiet there yet his antics on the pitch make him a less popular choice....

Didn't see enough of Mikey Sheedy

Pauric Joyce would be close....

Declan Browne of Tipp was another...

They was a guy called Beano McDonald they talk about here in Laois I remember bits of him but not enough

Mattie Ford was exceptional aswell

BigJohn.6_8 (Galway) - Posts: 704 - 23/02/2016 17:07:34    1827563