Michael Murphy for me, I feel privileged to have seen him play. He has everything and is as effective out the pitch as in the full forward line. There is not a manager in the country who wouldn't have him the first name on their teamsheet. What are your thoughts?

Honourable mentions to;

Bernard Brogan
Cillian O'Connor
Paul Flynn
James Donoghue
Diarmuid Connolly
Marc O'Se
Aidan O'Shea

What about the Gooch, will he come back as good as before?
Should Kieran Donaghy be considered?

jamesjoyce (Derry) - Posts: 126 - 02/09/2014 09:52:24    1646553

James
I agree Murphy is a fine footballer and we'd gladly have him on the Kerry team but I was looking at the hoganstand football team of the week and he wasn't on , which is crazy.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 02/09/2014 10:03:21    1646563

Paul Flynn was fantastic on Sunday, no fault of his that Dublin were beaten.

fire_in_belly (Donegal) - Posts: 59 - 02/09/2014 10:12:18    1646571

The best footballer in Ireland right now is Sean Cavanagh, no one can touch him in terms of skill. His wee jinks are just fascinating to watch!

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 02/09/2014 10:29:16    1646587

Always hard to pick 1 best player e.g. Goalkeeper will never get the plaudits the rest get.
Murphy is the best full forward in the country in my eyes.
He's also no mean half forward, midfielder and placed ball kicker.
Phenomenal young man with a grounded personality to boot.
It's no surprise that Donegals most successful period in our GAA history coincides with the emergence of Michael Murphy.
We're not worthy.

DLGael (Donegal) - Posts: 111 - 02/09/2014 10:33:51    1646591

Murphy is immense! Would easily walk into any team in Ireland. Paul Flynn is probably one of the most complete footballers around at the minute. I think it would be between them two with Murphy nudging it. Can't choose between Cillian O'Connor and James Donoghue, they would be 3rd and 4th in my eyes. It's all a matter of opinion though, arguments could be made for all of the players in your list.

JP91 (Armagh) - Posts: 316 - 02/09/2014 10:42:00    1646598

Difficult to call but in my opinion the top 5 are Michael Murphy, James O' Donoghue, Paul Flynn, Dermot Connolly and Cillian O' Connor. Top heavy with forwards I know. I would give a hesitant vote to Paul Flynn but I could be accussed of being slightly bias.

Adamski (Dublin) - Posts: 339 - 02/09/2014 10:51:35    1646611

Bernard Brogan? Really? Sunday showed him to be anything but...

football_dude (Roscommon) - Posts: 34 - 02/09/2014 11:06:15    1646622

cacsmckilly
County: Tyrone
Posts: 950

1646587
The best footballer in Ireland right now is Sean Cavanagh, no one can touch him in terms of skill. His wee jinks are just fascinating to watch!

This has nothing to do with the fact you're from Tyrone...

football_dude (Roscommon) - Posts: 34 - 02/09/2014 11:06:58    1646623

Donaghy is worth a mention as is David Moran. Colm Boyle and Keith Higgins deserve a mention too.

I don't think Sean Cavanagh is in the shakeup for this season Cacsmckilly. But he's my favourite allround player to have seen. Not the best fielder, the best freetaker, the best goalscorer, the best long or short range point kicker, the best defender or the best leader but he's quality in all those areas. Long may me he continue to play football.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7373 - 02/09/2014 11:08:15    1646625

Paul Flynn , Diarmuid Connolly and Michael Murphy are the three best players IMO. They have all the attributes of the game and are just class!

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 02/09/2014 11:10:32    1646628

For me in no particular order the top 5 are:

Michael Murphy
Paul Flynn
Diarmuid Connolly
Karl Lacey
James O'Donoghue

Obviously the Gooch is in there when fully fit.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9163 - 02/09/2014 11:11:10    1646629

@ Lockjaw!
i agree with 80% of your selection chief but i would probably have aidan o shea in place of lacey but laceys a great player too!

DUBJOHN (Dublin) - Posts: 932 - 02/09/2014 11:23:30    1646636

1 Michael Murphy
Then a choice of James O Donoghue, Killian o Connor, Keith Higgins and Ross Munnelly

bryanadams (Kildare) - Posts: 733 - 02/09/2014 11:27:05    1646638

Adamski
County: Dublin
Posts: 81

1646611
Difficult to call but in my opinion the top 5 are Michael Murphy, James O' Donoghue, Paul Flynn, Dermot Connolly and Cillian O' Connor. Top heavy with forwards I know. I would give a hesitant vote to Paul Flynn but I could be accussed of being slightly bias.

Yes thats bang on, with the exception that odonoghue and connolly would be 1 and 2. Connolly was unbelievable again on sunday, he draws so many players in to mark him its crazy.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 02/09/2014 11:41:33    1646647

Surprised at O'Connor being mentioned.While he scores a lot almost all his scores are close in frees or he is on the end of a move for a handy score. He never scores from out the field or when the pressure is really on. The goal he missed against Kerry in the first game was awful.

HEREBENJI (Donegal) - Posts: 422 - 02/09/2014 11:45:01    1646650

Colm Cooper is still the best football player in Ireland.Injured or not.

Kepak10 (Meath) - Posts: 162 - 02/09/2014 11:47:34    1646653

Too often these things hinge on one off games. Murphy wasn't getting picked in any teams on this site before the weekend. Similarly, nobody has mentioned lee keegan, probably the most consistently excellent player over the last 3 years - because he had a bad game at the weekend. After last year's final Aidan O'Shea was useless, now he is in the elite again. It is daft stuff. Certain games can suit certain players. The best player on the pitch on sunday was Ryan McHugh, yet he struggled in other games this year. People get carried away with these things.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 02/09/2014 11:53:04    1646661

Murphy for me.

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 02/09/2014 11:58:01    1646665

David Moran is finally getting the chance to show his true potential.
Unreal on Saturday with 47 posessions. That must almost be a record even if there was extra time.

Superglue (Kerry) - Posts: 1283 - 02/09/2014 11:58:17    1646666