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Replying To Kepak10: "With DC retiring, incredulously some punters on his thread, claiming that he was the best of this generation, got me wondering who do people really think has been the greatest player over the last 15 years. Not looking for a player like a Graham Geraghty or a David Clifford. Someone who has played the majority of 2005-2020.
So public vote, one name only.
Michael Murphy." Cluxton
Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4223 - 02/10/2020 18:20:20
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Replying To Breezy: "Got to be Henry Shefflin. Possibly the best ever never mind this generation" Tommy Walsh for me.
MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 02/10/2020 18:31:03
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Paudie Maher & Brian Fenton (both consistently 9/10, 95% of all league and cship games and rarely if ever miss a game).
tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 02/10/2020 20:24:55
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Replying To centerfield: "Carey was better" In the OPs timeline obviously not but even of all time I would disagree. Both great though so it's fine margins
Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1236 - 02/10/2020 20:49:27
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Picking one is hard. From my own county The Gooch would be up there. Graham Canty Cork Sean Kavanagh Tyrone Ml. Murphy Donegal and Dublin James Mccarthy Brian Fenton but if I had to just give one name _ Cuxton. In hurling Joe Canning
CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3675 - 02/10/2020 21:06:41
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Murphy
bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1347 - 02/10/2020 22:17:04
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Replying To CiarraiMick: "Picking one is hard. From my own county The Gooch would be up there. Graham Canty Cork Sean Kavanagh Tyrone Ml. Murphy Donegal and Dublin James Mccarthy Brian Fenton but if I had to just give one name _ Cuxton. In hurling Joe Canning" the one name thing was tricky for you then?
Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2747 - 02/10/2020 22:22:50
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Hurling: Tommy Walsh
Football: Stephen Cluxton
DUALSUPPORT (Limerick) - Posts: 1038 - 03/10/2020 08:12:25
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Replying To cavanman47: "Thats a line that gets thrown out there repeatedly and I think it's way off the mark.
I've copied the below from one of my previous posts. . .
o be honest, the notion that he "revolutionized the role" of a goalkeeper or the game is wide of the mark yet it constantly gets thrown out there by pundits.
He came into the Dublin team in 01 and was the same as any other keeper. It was a 15 v 15 game so kick it long and let the midfielders battle it out was the order of the day.
Dublin lost the 02 all ireland semi final by a point to Armagh (Ray cosgrove hit the post with a late free).
Fast forward to 05 and yes, Cluxton and Shane Ryan struck up a partnership. Ryan was playing in midfield but wasnt a traditional 6'4" fetcher. Instead, he would make a looping run across the field and then towards Cluxton. The centre back (Brian Cullen) would pull his man to one side, and Cluxton would ping the ball into Ryan's path. It was guaranteed possession.
But not everyone followed suit. In fact, nobody did. Ryan was a good player, an all star, but he wasn't a match winner. Him getting the ball inside his own 65 and facing his own goals wasnt really any great advantage to Dublin. In fact, thru 08, 09 and early 2010, Dublin suffered hammerings at the hands of Tyrone, Kerry and Meath. Remember they had lost the 02 semi final by a point. 8 years later they were no further on.
But after the Meath game, Pat Gilroy used the qualifiers to completely change Dublin's set-up. They became defensive and very tough to beat. In fact, I think they'd have won the all ireland had it not been for a Lazarus like comeback from Cork in the semi final.
Move on to 2011, Dublin won Leinster and faced Tyrone in the quarter finals. Diarmuid Connolly shot the lights out and suddenly Dublin looked the real deal. They were expected to trounce Donegal in the semi final. But Donegal and Jim Mc had other ideas.
He deployed the blanket to end all blankets. And Gilroy responded. Instead of falling into Donegal's trap, Dublin sat back too, and suddenly any time Cluxton or Paul Durkin put the ball on the tee, they had the option of a 70yard kick into a crowded midfield or a simple dink to an unmarked corner or wing back. They took the latter option each time.
Dublin eventually won out 0-08 to 0-06 in one of the worst spectacles gaelic football has offered up in recent memory.
But that game changed gaelic football for most of the decade that followed - suddenly every manager throughout the country (with the very rare exception) decided sweepers and blanket defences were the way to be competitive. The sport became like a game of chess and you worked the ball up the pitch and only shot when you had a clear sight of goal.
Now goalkeepers faced less shots on goal and less dropping balls. And when they put the ball on the tee, they suddenly had 7 backs in front of them being marked by 5 forwards (sometimes less). The keeper's main job now was to pick out the free corner or wing back standing unmarked on the wing.
Cluxton, of course, was well able to do this, as was Durkin and a few others. And any new keeper coming into a county team had to be able to do the same. But it wasn't the 2005 Cluxton that people were emulating - every keeper, Cluxton included, were adjusting to the new era of defence first, possession play." You're 100% correct and that's how legends are formed and people from outside are usually afraid to go against the narrative incase they're accused of being bitter.
I think a lot of people equate longevity to being brilliant or being able to kick a ball 20/30 meters to an unmarked defender as godly.
It would be great if someone could do his stats and put them up against the other top keepers in the game and see how he'd fair out.
KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 03/10/2020 08:28:36
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Definitely biased here, but Michael Murphy simply has it all. To sum up: we had 5 Ulster titles and 1 All Ireland in 2010 in our entire history, a poor return really. We now have 2 All Irelands and 10 Ulster titles, doubled in a decade chiefly down to Michael Murphy. Clearly this is a big debate with so many wonderful players, but it comes down to one thing for me, is there a better player than Michael Murphy in this era? There isn't.
Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 03/10/2020 09:51:15
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Replying To cavanman47: "Thats a line that gets thrown out there repeatedly and I think it's way off the mark.
I've copied the below from one of my previous posts. . .
o be honest, the notion that he "revolutionized the role" of a goalkeeper or the game is wide of the mark yet it constantly gets thrown out there by pundits.
He came into the Dublin team in 01 and was the same as any other keeper. It was a 15 v 15 game so kick it long and let the midfielders battle it out was the order of the day.
Dublin lost the 02 all ireland semi final by a point to Armagh (Ray cosgrove hit the post with a late free).
Fast forward to 05 and yes, Cluxton and Shane Ryan struck up a partnership. Ryan was playing in midfield but wasnt a traditional 6'4" fetcher. Instead, he would make a looping run across the field and then towards Cluxton. The centre back (Brian Cullen) would pull his man to one side, and Cluxton would ping the ball into Ryan's path. It was guaranteed possession.
But not everyone followed suit. In fact, nobody did. Ryan was a good player, an all star, but he wasn't a match winner. Him getting the ball inside his own 65 and facing his own goals wasnt really any great advantage to Dublin. In fact, thru 08, 09 and early 2010, Dublin suffered hammerings at the hands of Tyrone, Kerry and Meath. Remember they had lost the 02 semi final by a point. 8 years later they were no further on.
But after the Meath game, Pat Gilroy used the qualifiers to completely change Dublin's set-up. They became defensive and very tough to beat. In fact, I think they'd have won the all ireland had it not been for a Lazarus like comeback from Cork in the semi final.
Move on to 2011, Dublin won Leinster and faced Tyrone in the quarter finals. Diarmuid Connolly shot the lights out and suddenly Dublin looked the real deal. They were expected to trounce Donegal in the semi final. But Donegal and Jim Mc had other ideas.
He deployed the blanket to end all blankets. And Gilroy responded. Instead of falling into Donegal's trap, Dublin sat back too, and suddenly any time Cluxton or Paul Durkin put the ball on the tee, they had the option of a 70yard kick into a crowded midfield or a simple dink to an unmarked corner or wing back. They took the latter option each time.
Dublin eventually won out 0-08 to 0-06 in one of the worst spectacles gaelic football has offered up in recent memory.
But that game changed gaelic football for most of the decade that followed - suddenly every manager throughout the country (with the very rare exception) decided sweepers and blanket defences were the way to be competitive. The sport became like a game of chess and you worked the ball up the pitch and only shot when you had a clear sight of goal.
Now goalkeepers faced less shots on goal and less dropping balls. And when they put the ball on the tee, they suddenly had 7 backs in front of them being marked by 5 forwards (sometimes less). The keeper's main job now was to pick out the free corner or wing back standing unmarked on the wing.
Cluxton, of course, was well able to do this, as was Durkin and a few others. And any new keeper coming into a county team had to be able to do the same. But it wasn't the 2005 Cluxton that people were emulating - every keeper, Cluxton included, were adjusting to the new era of defence first, possession play." Really interesting post
Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4223 - 03/10/2020 10:59:42
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Replying To cavanman47: "Thats a line that gets thrown out there repeatedly and I think it's way off the mark.
I've copied the below from one of my previous posts. . .
o be honest, the notion that he "revolutionized the role" of a goalkeeper or the game is wide of the mark yet it constantly gets thrown out there by pundits.
He came into the Dublin team in 01 and was the same as any other keeper. It was a 15 v 15 game so kick it long and let the midfielders battle it out was the order of the day.
Dublin lost the 02 all ireland semi final by a point to Armagh (Ray cosgrove hit the post with a late free).
Fast forward to 05 and yes, Cluxton and Shane Ryan struck up a partnership. Ryan was playing in midfield but wasnt a traditional 6'4" fetcher. Instead, he would make a looping run across the field and then towards Cluxton. The centre back (Brian Cullen) would pull his man to one side, and Cluxton would ping the ball into Ryan's path. It was guaranteed possession.
But not everyone followed suit. In fact, nobody did. Ryan was a good player, an all star, but he wasn't a match winner. Him getting the ball inside his own 65 and facing his own goals wasnt really any great advantage to Dublin. In fact, thru 08, 09 and early 2010, Dublin suffered hammerings at the hands of Tyrone, Kerry and Meath. Remember they had lost the 02 semi final by a point. 8 years later they were no further on.
But after the Meath game, Pat Gilroy used the qualifiers to completely change Dublin's set-up. They became defensive and very tough to beat. In fact, I think they'd have won the all ireland had it not been for a Lazarus like comeback from Cork in the semi final.
Move on to 2011, Dublin won Leinster and faced Tyrone in the quarter finals. Diarmuid Connolly shot the lights out and suddenly Dublin looked the real deal. They were expected to trounce Donegal in the semi final. But Donegal and Jim Mc had other ideas.
He deployed the blanket to end all blankets. And Gilroy responded. Instead of falling into Donegal's trap, Dublin sat back too, and suddenly any time Cluxton or Paul Durkin put the ball on the tee, they had the option of a 70yard kick into a crowded midfield or a simple dink to an unmarked corner or wing back. They took the latter option each time.
Dublin eventually won out 0-08 to 0-06 in one of the worst spectacles gaelic football has offered up in recent memory.
But that game changed gaelic football for most of the decade that followed - suddenly every manager throughout the country (with the very rare exception) decided sweepers and blanket defences were the way to be competitive. The sport became like a game of chess and you worked the ball up the pitch and only shot when you had a clear sight of goal.
Now goalkeepers faced less shots on goal and less dropping balls. And when they put the ball on the tee, they suddenly had 7 backs in front of them being marked by 5 forwards (sometimes less). The keeper's main job now was to pick out the free corner or wing back standing unmarked on the wing.
Cluxton, of course, was well able to do this, as was Durkin and a few others. And any new keeper coming into a county team had to be able to do the same. But it wasn't the 2005 Cluxton that people were emulating - every keeper, Cluxton included, were adjusting to the new era of defence first, possession play." Can't remember the specifics and maybe I'm wrong but from memory Dublin were the innovators who took kickouts to a different place about 10 to 15 years ago. It wasn't just a case of kicking the ball 20 m to a free back.
The kickout often happened much quicker (there was controversy that even ball boys at suspossedly netural Croke Park being drilled to getting a ball back to Cluxton immediately after wide/ score so the kickout could happen before the opposition expected it), players making runs to leave the right man in position and Cluxton being able to kick accurately long to where the man would be. It might be normal now but from memory when Dublin started doing it it wasn't.
Whether Cluxton should get all the credit for this I don't know, the guys running into position played a part and I don't know did Dublin back room come up with this strategy or Cluxton.
Had the kicking tee not come in for kickouts I don't think it could have been done.
Remember seeing a guy playing goal keeper at a local club who often used to scuff kickouts become great at kickouts after the tee was brought in.
bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1347 - 03/10/2020 11:14:57
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Replying To cavanman47: "Thats a line that gets thrown out there repeatedly and I think it's way off the mark.
I've copied the below from one of my previous posts. . .
o be honest, the notion that he "revolutionized the role" of a goalkeeper or the game is wide of the mark yet it constantly gets thrown out there by pundits.
He came into the Dublin team in 01 and was the same as any other keeper. It was a 15 v 15 game so kick it long and let the midfielders battle it out was the order of the day.
Dublin lost the 02 all ireland semi final by a point to Armagh (Ray cosgrove hit the post with a late free).
Fast forward to 05 and yes, Cluxton and Shane Ryan struck up a partnership. Ryan was playing in midfield but wasnt a traditional 6'4" fetcher. Instead, he would make a looping run across the field and then towards Cluxton. The centre back (Brian Cullen) would pull his man to one side, and Cluxton would ping the ball into Ryan's path. It was guaranteed possession.
But not everyone followed suit. In fact, nobody did. Ryan was a good player, an all star, but he wasn't a match winner. Him getting the ball inside his own 65 and facing his own goals wasnt really any great advantage to Dublin. In fact, thru 08, 09 and early 2010, Dublin suffered hammerings at the hands of Tyrone, Kerry and Meath. Remember they had lost the 02 semi final by a point. 8 years later they were no further on.
But after the Meath game, Pat Gilroy used the qualifiers to completely change Dublin's set-up. They became defensive and very tough to beat. In fact, I think they'd have won the all ireland had it not been for a Lazarus like comeback from Cork in the semi final.
Move on to 2011, Dublin won Leinster and faced Tyrone in the quarter finals. Diarmuid Connolly shot the lights out and suddenly Dublin looked the real deal. They were expected to trounce Donegal in the semi final. But Donegal and Jim Mc had other ideas.
He deployed the blanket to end all blankets. And Gilroy responded. Instead of falling into Donegal's trap, Dublin sat back too, and suddenly any time Cluxton or Paul Durkin put the ball on the tee, they had the option of a 70yard kick into a crowded midfield or a simple dink to an unmarked corner or wing back. They took the latter option each time.
Dublin eventually won out 0-08 to 0-06 in one of the worst spectacles gaelic football has offered up in recent memory.
But that game changed gaelic football for most of the decade that followed - suddenly every manager throughout the country (with the very rare exception) decided sweepers and blanket defences were the way to be competitive. The sport became like a game of chess and you worked the ball up the pitch and only shot when you had a clear sight of goal.
Now goalkeepers faced less shots on goal and less dropping balls. And when they put the ball on the tee, they suddenly had 7 backs in front of them being marked by 5 forwards (sometimes less). The keeper's main job now was to pick out the free corner or wing back standing unmarked on the wing.
Cluxton, of course, was well able to do this, as was Durkin and a few others. And any new keeper coming into a county team had to be able to do the same. But it wasn't the 2005 Cluxton that people were emulating - every keeper, Cluxton included, were adjusting to the new era of defence first, possession play." Yes teams were adjusting to the new defensive systems that were being deployed but as Jim Mc said they spent more time on Cluxton than anyone trying to figure out what was going on and was there a system. There wasn't it was simply his ability to hit his men wherever they were consistently and the very fact that teams were now recognising that he was such an important part of the Dublin attack that was the difference. Teams weren't putting as much thought and effort into nullifying a goalkeeper before as with Cluxton as he had so much of an impact on what was happening out the field and putting Dublin on the front foot and it wasn't simply 20 yard tap outs every time it was the unpredictability and variety that bamboozled the opposition.
catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 03/10/2020 11:41:26
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Replying To catch22: "Yes teams were adjusting to the new defensive systems that were being deployed but as Jim Mc said they spent more time on Cluxton than anyone trying to figure out what was going on and was there a system. There wasn't it was simply his ability to hit his men wherever they were consistently and the very fact that teams were now recognising that he was such an important part of the Dublin attack that was the difference. Teams weren't putting as much thought and effort into nullifying a goalkeeper before as with Cluxton as he had so much of an impact on what was happening out the field and putting Dublin on the front foot and it wasn't simply 20 yard tap outs every time it was the unpredictability and variety that bamboozled the opposition." Nail on head....
I suggest everyone go and look back at the 2013 final v Mayo. Bernard Brogan got all the plaudits for his two goals. But for me Cluxton was the man that day.
For me his kickouts that day were the winning and losing of the game. And not just little 15 yard tap outs like some would lead you to believe. He literally cleaned out the Mayo midfield with 50 yard passes straight into Dublin players chest time and time again. And yes a lot of credit has to go to the runs that were being made out the field. But there's no other keeper that could have done what he done that day. IMO.
Also, whenever Cluxton fails to find a Dublin player with a kickout, people go mad....''oh look Cluxton is having a wobbler'' ... Why? Cause it is so rare for him not to find a man with a kickout. That's how high he has set his standards. That's how high he has raised the bar!!
ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 03/10/2020 12:31:29
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Replying To bdbuddah: "Can't remember the specifics and maybe I'm wrong but from memory Dublin were the innovators who took kickouts to a different place about 10 to 15 years ago. It wasn't just a case of kicking the ball 20 m to a free back.
The kickout often happened much quicker (there was controversy that even ball boys at suspossedly netural Croke Park being drilled to getting a ball back to Cluxton immediately after wide/ score so the kickout could happen before the opposition expected it), players making runs to leave the right man in position and Cluxton being able to kick accurately long to where the man would be. It might be normal now but from memory when Dublin started doing it it wasn't.
Whether Cluxton should get all the credit for this I don't know, the guys running into position played a part and I don't know did Dublin back room come up with this strategy or Cluxton.
Had the kicking tee not come in for kickouts I don't think it could have been done.
Remember seeing a guy playing goal keeper at a local club who often used to scuff kickouts become great at kickouts after the tee was brought in." Did you read my post? I did say that Dublin started it about 15 years ago. But that it didn't really help them and that Kerry or Tyrone etc didn't need to follow suit.
It was only when the blanket defence became so widely used that the keeper's role changed, as I described.
cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5012 - 03/10/2020 12:42:39
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Replying To ConnollyDub: "Nail on head....
I suggest everyone go and look back at the 2013 final v Mayo. Bernard Brogan got all the plaudits for his two goals. But for me Cluxton was the man that day.
For me his kickouts that day were the winning and losing of the game. And not just little 15 yard tap outs like some would lead you to believe. He literally cleaned out the Mayo midfield with 50 yard passes straight into Dublin players chest time and time again. And yes a lot of credit has to go to the runs that were being made out the field. But there's no other keeper that could have done what he done that day. IMO.
Also, whenever Cluxton fails to find a Dublin player with a kickout, people go mad....''oh look Cluxton is having a wobbler'' ... Why? Cause it is so rare for him not to find a man with a kickout. That's how high he has set his standards. That's how high he has raised the bar!!" Ya i agree the 2 OSheas were dominating all through that season and he took them out of the match with the accuracy of his kickouts.
It isnt just his kickouts either he's the best stopper and the best on the big day under pressure.
Then there's the winning free in the 11 final that only a couple of players in the country would have had the range to kick over.
centerfield (Mayo) - Posts: 360 - 03/10/2020 13:44:25
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In order:
1. Stephen Cluxton
2. Sean Cavanagh
3. Michael Murphy
4. Colm Cooper
5. Jack McCaffrey
Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 03/10/2020 15:35:48
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One name, Michael Murphy.
Even if he was a goalkeeper I think he'd still be the name. The best and most versatile footballer of the century. Without him, Donegal wouldn't have won anything in the last 10 years and the likes of Ryan McHugh, Frank McGlynn, and Neil McGee would be remembered as nothing other than second-tier footballers who could have won something had they been from Tyrone.
It's unlikely that anyone reading this ever has or ever will watch a better footballer play in a Donegal shirt.
SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 377 - 03/10/2020 16:27:43
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A lot has been said on DC this week and rightly so; but this is a good thread to sit back, forget about retirements and analyse the best players.
Dublin had an awful record after their All Ireland win in 1995; until around 2002 when it was clear they were going on an upward direction! Whilst they improved in the 00's in reality they were not good enough to beat Kerry, Tyrone or Armagh in that era and certainly had no hope of beating two of them to win an All Ireland.
Cluxton was part of that era and you could go through some big defeats for them from those three teams. Did Cluxton burst onto the scene and start the charge to Sam! During the era of 2001 to around 2010 there were better goalkeepers in the country than Cluxton; Tyrone might have had two GK's who would have started for Dublin.
Cluxton was in place for the transformation of Dublin; which was started by Gilroy. Dublin had good players but they needed someone to burst onto the scene and change the whole mentality of the team; to stop those big defeats and to take the game to the opposition. That player was DC; his performances in his initial couple of years raised the bar for Dublin footballers; his introducation went a long way to putting Dublin on the road they went on and brought Dublin back to their traditional style of football; attack not defend.
Cluxton benefited from the t, more mobile players and an attacking mindset and as a result became the best GK in the country from 2010 to now. In truth the top 5 should all be Dublin players but it's good to debate the rest.
People forget how close and how good Mayo have been in the last 15 years because they never got over the line. More than any other era from 2015 they'll be cursing their luck. That Mayo team has to be the best never to win Sam; the only reason they didn't win it is due to the greatest team to play the game; yet they came so close. That and being robbed in Limerick; I'm convinced they'd have hammered Donegal in the 2014 final. Keegan was the main contributor of that team and the only player to stop Connolly at his peak.
Murphy for his contribution to Donegal football has to be up there; I don't agree their success is solely down to him though. He benefited from a very talented Donegal era and the great JMcG. Ulster football was at it's weakest in 20 years from 2015 so winning it give no relevance to All Ireland's post McGuiness era. Tyrone won a few and didn't beat one of the big hitters in the AL series and Monaghan whilst winning it never got to an AL final; big difference from the 90's and 00's eras when Ulster titles were very hard won.
If we're going back to 2005 though of course Cavanagh was key to Tyrone but whilst they won in 05 and 08; the other 13 years have been fairly poor from Tyrone is terms of genuinely competing at the top level so it's hard to put their players in the top 5.
Kerry somehow managed to win an All Ireland in 2009 (throw up had a big bearing) and 2014 (crazy piece of luck in Limerick and the final) yet had big defeats in 05 and 08. They had decent teams but for me none of their players would push past the best in this generation for their contributions in the biggest games.
So my top 5
1) Connolly
2) Cluxton mainly from 2010
3) Keegan
4) McCaffrey - coming back pushed Dubs to the 5
5) Murphy
sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 03/10/2020 16:54:41
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Replying To sam1884: "A lot has been said on DC this week and rightly so; but this is a good thread to sit back, forget about retirements and analyse the best players.
Dublin had an awful record after their All Ireland win in 1995; until around 2002 when it was clear they were going on an upward direction! Whilst they improved in the 00's in reality they were not good enough to beat Kerry, Tyrone or Armagh in that era and certainly had no hope of beating two of them to win an All Ireland.
Cluxton was part of that era and you could go through some big defeats for them from those three teams. Did Cluxton burst onto the scene and start the charge to Sam! During the era of 2001 to around 2010 there were better goalkeepers in the country than Cluxton; Tyrone might have had two GK's who would have started for Dublin.
Cluxton was in place for the transformation of Dublin; which was started by Gilroy. Dublin had good players but they needed someone to burst onto the scene and change the whole mentality of the team; to stop those big defeats and to take the game to the opposition. That player was DC; his performances in his initial couple of years raised the bar for Dublin footballers; his introducation went a long way to putting Dublin on the road they went on and brought Dublin back to their traditional style of football; attack not defend.
Cluxton benefited from the t, more mobile players and an attacking mindset and as a result became the best GK in the country from 2010 to now. In truth the top 5 should all be Dublin players but it's good to debate the rest.
People forget how close and how good Mayo have been in the last 15 years because they never got over the line. More than any other era from 2015 they'll be cursing their luck. That Mayo team has to be the best never to win Sam; the only reason they didn't win it is due to the greatest team to play the game; yet they came so close. That and being robbed in Limerick; I'm convinced they'd have hammered Donegal in the 2014 final. Keegan was the main contributor of that team and the only player to stop Connolly at his peak.
Murphy for his contribution to Donegal football has to be up there; I don't agree their success is solely down to him though. He benefited from a very talented Donegal era and the great JMcG. Ulster football was at it's weakest in 20 years from 2015 so winning it give no relevance to All Ireland's post McGuiness era. Tyrone won a few and didn't beat one of the big hitters in the AL series and Monaghan whilst winning it never got to an AL final; big difference from the 90's and 00's eras when Ulster titles were very hard won.
If we're going back to 2005 though of course Cavanagh was key to Tyrone but whilst they won in 05 and 08; the other 13 years have been fairly poor from Tyrone is terms of genuinely competing at the top level so it's hard to put their players in the top 5.
Kerry somehow managed to win an All Ireland in 2009 (throw up had a big bearing) and 2014 (crazy piece of luck in Limerick and the final) yet had big defeats in 05 and 08. They had decent teams but for me none of their players would push past the best in this generation for their contributions in the biggest games.
So my top 5
1) Connolly
2) Cluxton mainly from 2010
3) Keegan
4) McCaffrey - coming back pushed Dubs to the 5
5) Murphy" Fantastic post and spot on!
lilylanger (Kildare) - Posts: 758 - 03/10/2020 17:39:05
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