HoganStand GAA Football and Hurling

National Forum

Larry Tompkins

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post

You need to Login to Post

Most people would acknowledge Tompkins was a great player and for a few years was the best player in Ireland but does he get he credit he deserves? I think he's overlooked when great players are mentioned and its probably down to his Kildare roots. TheWestIsAwake (UK) - Posts: 529 - 02/03/2017 11:14:16 1962742 Link
Replying To TheWestIsAwake: "Most people would acknowledge Tompkins was a great player and for a few years was the best player in Ireland but does he get he credit he deserves? I think he's overlooked when great players are mentioned and its probably down to his Kildare roots." He left his own county to go and play for Cork or all places: he's pushing a boulder up a mountain from the start :D TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 02/03/2017 11:55:15 1962754 Link
Replying To TheHermit: "He left his own county to go and play for Cork or all places: he's pushing a boulder up a mountain from the start :D" Didn't he win an All Ireland football medal with Cork in 1989 and 1990? thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1741 - 02/03/2017 13:14:08 1962781 Link
Yeh he was a powerhouse, raw toughness and great footballer, he deserves a mention! realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8589 - 02/03/2017 13:59:09 1962802 Link
Replying To thelongridge: "Didn't he win an All Ireland football medal with Cork in 1989 and 1990?" I meant in the sense that playing for Cork isn't going to predispose people to like or rate you ;D TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 02/03/2017 14:46:12 1962833 Link
Outstanding free taker. He was so good that during the 80s and early 90s, anytime a Meath player gave away a free in training matches, "well done Larry" was heard as any free given away meant a point for Cork from Tompkin's boot. Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1318 - 02/03/2017 14:53:31 1962839 Link
Replying To TheHermit: "He left his own county to go and play for Cork or all places: he's pushing a boulder up a mountain from the start :D" Hard to believe looking back that Kerry only one Munster Championship in a 9 year period back then, its no coincidence that Tompkins first game for Cork was in 87 at the start of it. TheWestIsAwake (UK) - Posts: 529 - 02/03/2017 14:57:51 1962842 Link
Replying To TheWestIsAwake: "Most people would acknowledge Tompkins was a great player and for a few years was the best player in Ireland but does he get he credit he deserves? I think he's overlooked when great players are mentioned and its probably down to his Kildare roots." In 2009, the Independent ranked him as their 12th greatest gaelic footballer of all time. Hardly under-appreciated... http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/henry-shefflin-and-jack-oshea-reign-supreme-as-our-search-for-the-top-hurler-and-footballer-of-the-past-125-years-concludes-26583013.html Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 02/03/2017 15:14:12 1962851 Link
Replying To TheWestIsAwake: "Hard to believe looking back that Kerry only one Munster Championship in a 9 year period back then, its no coincidence that Tompkins first game for Cork was in 87 at the start of it." Cork needed two outsider to do anything back then! TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 02/03/2017 15:16:02 1962852 Link
He played Vocational Schools for Wicklow. keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 02/03/2017 15:20:59 1962853 Link
Larry Tompkins was as good a footballer that I ever seen, great free taker, as was Brian Stafford of Meath (one of the best I seen)...Colin Corkery too was exceptional on his day..the free takers now miss alot of frees compared to Stafford and Co.....Bernard Flynn was another..Colm O'Neill senior of Cork..we all have our favourites... Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 02/03/2017 15:24:24 1962856 Link
Great player & freetaker. I still think the most accurate way of taking a free is by placing it on the ground. A forgotten art, nowadays almost the only player capable of doing this is the goalkeeper. keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 02/03/2017 15:32:25 1962860 Link
My first game at Croke Park was the 1987 All Ireland Semi-Final between Galway and Cork. Larry Tompkins scored an outrageous equalizing free with the last kick of the game. The free must have been 45 yards out at least . Incredible talent. . mon (Galway) - Posts: 675 - 02/03/2017 15:49:42 1962866 Link
In fairness to him is was a great all round player had all the skills seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2142 - 02/03/2017 21:21:37 1962967 Link
Replying To mon: "My first game at Croke Park was the 1987 All Ireland Semi-Final between Galway and Cork. Larry Tompkins scored an outrageous equalizing free with the last kick of the game. The free must have been 45 yards out at least . Incredible talent. ." I remember it well.must have cleared crossbar by 10feet. pennypincher (Carlow) - Posts: 777 - 02/03/2017 22:31:29 1963002 Link
Replying To Fairplayalways: "Larry Tompkins was as good a footballer that I ever seen, great free taker, as was Brian Stafford of Meath (one of the best I seen)...Colin Corkery too was exceptional on his day..the free takers now miss alot of frees compared to Stafford and Co.....Bernard Flynn was another..Colm O'Neill senior of Cork..we all have our favourites..." Agree with all of those, Trevor Giles was a great free taker and all round player too. Brian Sheehan is probably the best modern day free taker. county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1102 - 02/03/2017 22:36:15 1963007 Link
Replying To TheHermit: "Cork needed two outsider to do anything back then!" Who came to cork first Shay Fahd or Larry both were Kildare men and being honest Cork would have won nothing without either - in all honesty was never a fan of Larry but did admire his desire and raw ability and in fairness to him even though he was not a Cork man he is a true rebel to this day and heart is very much in the right place similar treat that way to Billy now there's a Corkman I genuinely admire Horsebox77 (Kerry) - Posts: 5491 - 02/03/2017 23:08:41 1963018 Link
Wasn't there a yank on that team too? Danny Culloty. realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8589 - 03/03/2017 00:27:48 1963030 Link
i do often wonder what could have been if Larry Tompkins and Shea Fahy had stayed with Kildare. Could we have lifted Sam? we will never know 11jm11 (Kildare) - Posts: 365 - 03/03/2017 01:43:08 1963033 Link
I know all about how Tompkins ended up in Cork but whats Shay Fahy's story? Fahy had some game in 1990, one of the all time great performances from a midfielder kicking 4 points from play. TheWestIsAwake (UK) - Posts: 529 - 03/03/2017 16:43:54 1963238 Link