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Sunday Game Football Team

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Replying To mickcunningham:  "cluxton marc o se mick lyons paidi o se lee keegan kieran mcgeeney martin o connell jacko brian mullins trevor giles kieran kilkenny maurice fitz matt connor michael murphy peter canavan . just my opinion of the best players i have seen in 40 years"
Are you going to kick a bit a football with your lot Mick, or are you heading to olympic boxing trials with them!! Remarkable volume off 'pugilists' there, in that bout of 'best players' you've seen in 40 years.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3410 - 18/05/2020 12:56:53    2278598

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Greengrass, how highly would you rare Kevin Miran?"
Got sent off in the '85 cup final anyway, so I'm surprised Mick didn't list him there with his nose for 'the more physical types'.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3410 - 18/05/2020 13:01:59    2278599

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "Are you going to kick a bit a football with your lot Mick, or are you heading to olympic boxing trials with them!! Remarkable volume off 'pugilists' there, in that bout of 'best players' you've seen in 40 years."
in my heyday maybe but with only one good knee i have my doubts . men who could look after themselves i agree

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1799 - 18/05/2020 14:00:48    2278602

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He'll never be in a best 15 of the past 40 years, maybe not even the best Mayo team of the past 40 years but I wonder how Mayo since 2011 would have done without Kevin McLoughlin? One of our most underrated players outside of Mayo. Such an intelligent footballer that could play anywhere and do a very good job. Are there players inside your county that you rate highly but underrated outside the county and are there players outside your own county that you rate highly but seem not highly rated within that county?

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7335 - 18/05/2020 16:03:15    2278616

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Replying To Ollie2:  "Greengrass would our own superstar Paddy the King Keenan make the subs bench?"
I don't think so Ollie . He didn't get the chance to perform in the biggest stages . I often thought that if he had been born in Kerry or Dublin he'd have been a major star in the game . He was a genuinely great player and would have won All Irelands with either county . Bernard Brogan in an interview with THE42 said that Paddy was one of the top 5 players he ever played with . When someone of the stature of Bernard Brogan gives his imprimatur that's good enough for me . Paddy had the ability to go very close to a place on the subs bench but as I said he didn't get the chance to demonstrate that at the highest level . There are many players in the same position as Paddy . Kevin O Brien of Wicklow, Dessie Barry and Brian Kavanagh of Longford . Eamon O Hara of Sligo . Brian Murphy of Carlow. John Galvin of Limerick . John Heslin of Westmeath . Going back the years you could look at Noel Roche in Clare and Spike Fagan in Westmeath to mention just two . I think Paddy is a more complete player than most of those I have mentioned and he has his All Star but you don't get on those teams unless you play on the biggest stage .

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 18/05/2020 20:34:53    2278638

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Greengrass, how highly would you rare Kevin Miran?"
Do you mean Kevin Moran of Dublin and Man Utd ?

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 18/05/2020 20:36:14    2278640

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Replying To yew_tree:  "What about Mick O Connell...Christy Ring in hurling? Posters can only go by what players they have seen play. I've heard Matt Connor was great but he played before I was born so I wouldn't be able pick him either."
It was of the Sunday game era mick or Christy weren't playing at that time Matt Connor was. To exclude perhaps the greatest ever forward that has played the game is pointless, I had the privilege to see him play. And not one of those picked would be half as good as him. Now for those that didn't I agree it is hard. But YouTube is a great resource. Trust me u won't be disappointed

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 18/05/2020 20:50:33    2278643

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I had a look at picking a team based purely on the number of All-Stars won. However, it's not that straight-forward: only 12 players have 5 or more awards and then there is a big group of about 16 with 4 awards. So, presumably we'd have to pick all 12 (11 in fact, as 2 are goalkeepers) from the first group and then pick 5 from the second group to complete the team.
Here are the 11:
Cluxton (6),
Paudie O Sé (5),
John O Keeffe (5),
Tomás Ó Sé (5),
Ger Power (6),
Jack O Shea (6),
Sean Kavanagh (5),
Pat Spillane (9),
Michael Sheehy (7),
John Egan (5),
Colm Cooper (8).

So, from the group of 16 (those with 4 All-Stars) we need to pick 2 defenders and 2 forwards. My choices would be Lee Keegan, Jack McCaffrey, Bernard Brogan and Peter Canavan.

Ger Power did win the majority of his awards as a forward though I've placed him in defence. John O Leary, the other goalkeeper, won 5 awards.

BTW, I would have Matt Connor in my team; he had 3 AllStars even though he finished at 24.

Aibrean (Kerry) - Posts: 263 - 18/05/2020 21:20:58    2278645

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Replying To Greengrass:  "Do you mean Kevin Moran of Dublin and Man Utd ?"
Yes. I heard he was very highly rated but his soccer career shortened a promising Gaelic football career.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7335 - 18/05/2020 23:20:41    2278657

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I'll hazard a left field name a throw Declan Browne into the mix. If he'd be born in Kerry he'd have 7/8 all Ireland's and more all stars. The lad won 2 with Tipp and that's harder achieved than anything.

There was a reason micko begged the lad to transfer to Kildare in the late 90's.

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 19/05/2020 02:04:47    2278660

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Replying To Greengrass:  "I don't think so Ollie . He didn't get the chance to perform in the biggest stages . I often thought that if he had been born in Kerry or Dublin he'd have been a major star in the game . He was a genuinely great player and would have won All Irelands with either county . Bernard Brogan in an interview with THE42 said that Paddy was one of the top 5 players he ever played with . When someone of the stature of Bernard Brogan gives his imprimatur that's good enough for me . Paddy had the ability to go very close to a place on the subs bench but as I said he didn't get the chance to demonstrate that at the highest level . There are many players in the same position as Paddy . Kevin O Brien of Wicklow, Dessie Barry and Brian Kavanagh of Longford . Eamon O Hara of Sligo . Brian Murphy of Carlow. John Galvin of Limerick . John Heslin of Westmeath . Going back the years you could look at Noel Roche in Clare and Spike Fagan in Westmeath to mention just two . I think Paddy is a more complete player than most of those I have mentioned and he has his All Star but you don't get on those teams unless you play on the biggest stage ."
Fair enough Greengrass. John Heaslin is some player. He had many great battles with Paddy Keenan down through the years. Do you mean Brendan Murphy from Carlow?

Ollie2 (Louth) - Posts: 781 - 19/05/2020 11:15:32    2278681

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Replying To Aibrean:  "I had a look at picking a team based purely on the number of All-Stars won. However, it's not that straight-forward: only 12 players have 5 or more awards and then there is a big group of about 16 with 4 awards. So, presumably we'd have to pick all 12 (11 in fact, as 2 are goalkeepers) from the first group and then pick 5 from the second group to complete the team.
Here are the 11:
Cluxton (6),
Paudie O Sé (5),
John O Keeffe (5),
Tomás Ó Sé (5),
Ger Power (6),
Jack O Shea (6),
Sean Kavanagh (5),
Pat Spillane (9),
Michael Sheehy (7),
John Egan (5),
Colm Cooper (8).

So, from the group of 16 (those with 4 All-Stars) we need to pick 2 defenders and 2 forwards. My choices would be Lee Keegan, Jack McCaffrey, Bernard Brogan and Peter Canavan.

Ger Power did win the majority of his awards as a forward though I've placed him in defence. John O Leary, the other goalkeeper, won 5 awards.

BTW, I would have Matt Connor in my team; he had 3 AllStars even though he finished at 24."
You're off on a tangent there, Aibrean. The thread is about 'the Sunday Game team 1979-2010'. It's not a timesheet for a Kerry '75-'86 golf outing, with a few 'guests'.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3410 - 19/05/2020 11:34:54    2278683

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Replying To brian:  "I'll hazard a left field name a throw Declan Browne into the mix. If he'd be born in Kerry he'd have 7/8 all Ireland's and more all stars. The lad won 2 with Tipp and that's harder achieved than anything.

There was a reason micko begged the lad to transfer to Kildare in the late 90's."
Looking at the KE forward line of the 1998-2000 era, I wouldn't be surprised if he had SIX reasons to be looking at Declan Browne.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3410 - 19/05/2020 11:36:55    2278684

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Right here's a quick list of the best 15 players I've seen play who have not won a Senior All-Ireland:

1. Fergal Byron (hard luck David Clarke)

2. Donal Keogan
3. Barry Owens
4. Keith Higgins
5. Kevin Cassidy
6. Colm Boyle
7. Lee Keegan

8. Ciaran Whelan
9. Paddy Keenan

10. Johnny Doyle
11. Leighton Glynn
12. Stephen Bray
13. Conor McManus (Dessie Dolan just edged out)
14. Declan Browne
15. Mattie Forde

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 19/05/2020 13:11:01    2278694

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Replying To Htaem:  "Right here's a quick list of the best 15 players I've seen play who have not won a Senior All-Ireland:

1. Fergal Byron (hard luck David Clarke)

2. Donal Keogan
3. Barry Owens
4. Keith Higgins
5. Kevin Cassidy
6. Colm Boyle
7. Lee Keegan

8. Ciaran Whelan
9. Paddy Keenan

10. Johnny Doyle
11. Leighton Glynn
12. Stephen Bray
13. Conor McManus (Dessie Dolan just edged out)
14. Declan Browne
15. Mattie Forde"
Good team Htaem. It's great to see Paddy Keenan in it.

Ollie2 (Louth) - Posts: 781 - 19/05/2020 14:09:53    2278699

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Replying To Htaem:  "Right here's a quick list of the best 15 players I've seen play who have not won a Senior All-Ireland:

1. Fergal Byron (hard luck David Clarke)

2. Donal Keogan
3. Barry Owens
4. Keith Higgins
5. Kevin Cassidy
6. Colm Boyle
7. Lee Keegan

8. Ciaran Whelan
9. Paddy Keenan

10. Johnny Doyle
11. Leighton Glynn
12. Stephen Bray
13. Conor McManus (Dessie Dolan just edged out)
14. Declan Browne
15. Mattie Forde"
Good team, Htaem but while he was a very good player I wouldn't consider Stephen Bray in that category. Why not place Declan Browne or Dessie Dolan at half forward, where I think they both won All-Stars? Niall McNamee, Michael Meehan, Cillian O'Connor and probably several others would also be ahead of Bray in my opinion. More recently David Clifford, Shane Walsh and Cathal McShane would surely come into the picture even if we may not have seen the best of them yet. Your midfield is strong but I would rate Limerick's John Galvin ahead of both. He was consistently outstanding over several years and held his own against the likes of Dara O'Se on a number of occasions. He's probably the best footballer never to have won an All-Star.

midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 541 - 19/05/2020 14:18:02    2278700

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Replying To Ollie2:  "Good team Htaem. It's great to see Paddy Keenan in it."
Great player Ollie, was delighted he won an All-star, pity things went the way they did in 2010 but sure look, that's long gone now and it doesn't take away from the fact that he was a brilliant player.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 19/05/2020 14:43:16    2278701

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Replying To midlands:  "Good team, Htaem but while he was a very good player I wouldn't consider Stephen Bray in that category. Why not place Declan Browne or Dessie Dolan at half forward, where I think they both won All-Stars? Niall McNamee, Michael Meehan, Cillian O'Connor and probably several others would also be ahead of Bray in my opinion. More recently David Clifford, Shane Walsh and Cathal McShane would surely come into the picture even if we may not have seen the best of them yet. Your midfield is strong but I would rate Limerick's John Galvin ahead of both. He was consistently outstanding over several years and held his own against the likes of Dara O'Se on a number of occasions. He's probably the best footballer never to have won an All-Star."
Thanks midlands, and you can certainly make a strong argument for all the players you mentioned. Dessie Dolan, Cillian O'Connor, Niall McNamee and Michael Meehan etc could form an equally deadly forward line to the one I picked but when you only have 6 spots, unfortunately plenty of good players will be left out.

I would disagree regarding Bray though, he was an exceptional player and I believe he does belong in the conversation (although naturally I will admit some Meath bias, however I try to be as objective as possible). Don't forget Bray did win an all-star at wing forward as well.

What would be your best 15 never to win the AI?

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 19/05/2020 14:54:36    2278703

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Replying To Kerry15:  "The Sunday Game Football team of the last 40 years as decided by a public vote:

1. Stephen Cluxton
2. Marc O'Sé
3. Seamus Moynihan
4. Paidí O'Sé
5. Tomas O'Sé
6. Lee Keegan
7. Jack McCaffrey
8. Jack O'Shea
9. Brian Fenton
10. Diarmuid Connolly
11. Peter Canavan
12. Pat Spillane
13. Colm Cooper
14. Michael Murphy
15. Maurice Fitzgerald

Thoughts?"
Initial thoughts were surprise, as thinking back I would have thought quiet a few Meath players would be in the conversation for various positions and therefore thought most likely at least 1 would get in.
2 time footballer of the year Trevor Giles not getting in reminds me of Graham Geraghty not getting an all star in 1996 despite being man of the match in 2 games that year.
But looking at it again it was obviously hard to pick as you are often deciding between exceptional players and, apart from Connelly, whoes selection is completely ridiculous, these players are amongst the best to play the game.
Outside of Meath players few players I think are unlucky
Brian Mullins (mainly remember watching All Ireland gold matches on TnaG and thinking he was great),
Mattie Ford (great talent and had a bit of an edge which many top players have),
Larry Tompkins (not very popular figure in Meath in the late 1980's but looking back now he made that Cork team).

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1337 - 19/05/2020 15:25:56    2278710

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Replying To Htaem:  "Thanks midlands, and you can certainly make a strong argument for all the players you mentioned. Dessie Dolan, Cillian O'Connor, Niall McNamee and Michael Meehan etc could form an equally deadly forward line to the one I picked but when you only have 6 spots, unfortunately plenty of good players will be left out.

I would disagree regarding Bray though, he was an exceptional player and I believe he does belong in the conversation (although naturally I will admit some Meath bias, however I try to be as objective as possible). Don't forget Bray did win an all-star at wing forward as well.

What would be your best 15 never to win the AI?"
Ryan McHugh and Andy moran another 2 not far away

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 19/05/2020 15:32:36    2278713

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