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Lee Keegan Appreciation

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Replying To Rolo99:  "Says a lot about mayo when there's more comments on here about a player on a team that has made a career out of losing finals, if I was a Mayo man I'd be embarassed by it. is he retiring or what?
Not much word about Tyrone being All ireland Champions is there? no sure it's all about Mayo losing again, saddos."
I read your comment a few days ago but here goes passing a comment... I am from a poor county football wise but I would be delighted to get as far as Mayo have.
Personally I have huge respect.for Lee Keegan. He has kept at it, stayed seriously fit and continues to play exceptionally well for his county. I think he deserves massive respect. He has stayed at it.
How many Tyrome players are in their early or close to 30 and have gotten their first A I medal ?
I would not be embarrassed at all. Sport is full of hard luck stories and there can only be one winner.
When Mayo do win.. imagine the celebrations !
As for Tyrome winning, all commentators have given Tyrome their due, and stated clearly what a great team they are and totally deserving of their victory.
Relax and enjoy the win !

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1820 - 19/09/2021 22:46:43    2381734

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Replying To Rolo99:  "Says a lot about mayo when there's more comments on here about a player on a team that has made a career out of losing finals, if I was a Mayo man I'd be embarassed by it. is he retiring or what?
Not much word about Tyrone being All ireland Champions is there? no sure it's all about Mayo losing again, saddos."
Lee Keegan has nothing to be embarrassed about. He is a warrior and a genuinely great player. You might think of playing the victim a little less and enjoy your county's great success this year a little more.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 20/09/2021 10:32:36    2381789

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Best player around for about 5 or 6 years in the 2010s. Probably the best all-round player I have ever seen. He can do so many things to an elite standard, it is hard to fathom how the dublin press gang tried to paint him as a mollicker who just fouled their players.

HardCase (USA) - Posts: 64 - 20/09/2021 11:54:42    2381816

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Replying To Mailman98:  "Performed well in 7 All-Irelands. Well congratulations, there's something to tell the grandkids as they search the house for All-Ireland medals. Oh and by the way, in case anyone has been misled by an earlier post from a Mayo supporter here, Lee's All-Ireland win with Westport was at Intermediate level which I don't think too many intercounty players would crow about."
So with your analysis you have to win an AI to be a great player-very simply/incorrectly put. Some great players never won AI's. Great 'teams' win AI in any specific year. To win an AI you have to be on a good team!

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 20/09/2021 13:16:26    2381839

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Replying To HardCase:  "Best player around for about 5 or 6 years in the 2010s. Probably the best all-round player I have ever seen. He can do so many things to an elite standard, it is hard to fathom how the dublin press gang tried to paint him as a mollicker who just fouled their players."
The "Dublin press gang". Are you Ulsterman? Are you talking about the National press, headquartered in the capital, whose GAA commentators are predominantly from outside Dublin? For what it's worth, Keegan is a fabulous half back. A couple of things have probably blighted his career when playing on the edge, GPS incident etc but winners don't like losing, they want to win at all costs and do whatever it takes. A very good player but no Jack McCaffrey or James McCarthy :)

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 20/09/2021 13:26:21    2381840

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Replying To Joxer:  "The "Dublin press gang". Are you Ulsterman? Are you talking about the National press, headquartered in the capital, whose GAA commentators are predominantly from outside Dublin? For what it's worth, Keegan is a fabulous half back. A couple of things have probably blighted his career when playing on the edge, GPS incident etc but winners don't like losing, they want to win at all costs and do whatever it takes. A very good player but no Jack McCaffrey or James McCarthy :)"
Keegans a good player, but we've always been on the right side of him, Dermo got the better of him more often then not, certainly on the medal count and for my money on the head to heads and Con bamboozled him more then once (in the same game), hes done well against us on occasion, but we've always given him more to think about then he has us and we have been the bench mark up to this year.

One of the things i really like about him is he turns up on the big day and puts a preforamce, all that said though he was excellent against us this year when i thought he was done, but we are prob about 50-60% what we were.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 20/09/2021 13:47:36    2381849

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Replying To Mailman98:  "Performed well in 7 All-Irelands. Well congratulations, there's something to tell the grandkids as they search the house for All-Ireland medals. Oh and by the way, in case anyone has been misled by an earlier post from a Mayo supporter here, Lee's All-Ireland win with Westport was at Intermediate level which I don't think too many intercounty players would crow about."
Stop right there. No medal is easily won. If you had an ounce of appreciation of what it takes to win an All Ireland you wouldn't have posted your ridiculous statement. Any inter county player worth his salt values any medal won with his club as highly if not more highly than medals won with the county. Your club is number one.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 20/09/2021 14:27:41    2381864

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Replying To TheUsername:  "Keegans a good player, but we've always been on the right side of him, Dermo got the better of him more often then not, certainly on the medal count and for my money on the head to heads and Con bamboozled him more then once (in the same game), hes done well against us on occasion, but we've always given him more to think about then he has us and we have been the bench mark up to this year.

One of the things i really like about him is he turns up on the big day and puts a preforamce, all that said though he was excellent against us this year when i thought he was done, but we are prob about 50-60% what we were."
Ah now hold on a second. Connolly got the better medal wise but never on the pitch. Even their head to head scoring will show that. We won't debate the black card in 16 which gave Connolly space once Keegan was gone. Keegan also roasted Kilkenny in the 17 final. Kilkenny only touched the ball 8 times and never in a threatening position while Keegan has assists and also scored a goal.

As for the Con comment, Keegan was injured in 19 and wasn't fit, that is a fact, they couldn't play him in his usual role so he plugged a hole in the full back line. Keegan was brilliant last year and again this year. So in summary Keegan bar one game has always been excellent against Dublin.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7885 - 20/09/2021 14:41:57    2381867

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Great Player and well deserved of accolades. To be considered great one has to be talented ,committed, and prepared to work hard. Equally on the pitch and off on terms of community involvement, Business/professional life ,and family life.

Medal count is flakey as so much luck is involved. A sub on a team positioned to win medals will do better than many of our greatest players. Depends on all such thins as team strength, Team backup resources, Luck in terms of Championship path, referee decisions, and in Dublins case home advantage for all championship matches.

Ashrules (Dublin) - Posts: 518 - 20/09/2021 15:20:24    2381877

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "Ah now hold on a second. Connolly got the better medal wise but never on the pitch. Even their head to head scoring will show that. We won't debate the black card in 16 which gave Connolly space once Keegan was gone. Keegan also roasted Kilkenny in the 17 final. Kilkenny only touched the ball 8 times and never in a threatening position while Keegan has assists and also scored a goal.

As for the Con comment, Keegan was injured in 19 and wasn't fit, that is a fact, they couldn't play him in his usual role so he plugged a hole in the full back line. Keegan was brilliant last year and again this year. So in summary Keegan bar one game has always been excellent against Dublin."
We would never agree on it, i think we have the same conversation about once a year, on the points you raised Keegan got the card not being able to handle Connolly and Dermo scored the peno, such clutch moments bring home medals, personally i think Dermo shaded the head to heads, Dermo was far more than a scorer, i agree on Kilkenny, i thought it was a great bit of tactic by Rochford at the time, no one had ever put a marker on Ciaran before and when he was 11 hemade us tick and we were lucky that day it really stifled us.

Ive no beef with Lee really, i think our quality just shaded it on head to heads with him and the success we have had Vs Mayo in big days are indicative of it, whether it was Dermo or Con. Always felt a bit sad for him that he was given a man marking job against us, despite doing well enough against us offensively in the odd game, Mayos best player but relatively shackled.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 20/09/2021 17:29:42    2381916

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Replying To TheUsername:  "We would never agree on it, i think we have the same conversation about once a year, on the points you raised Keegan got the card not being able to handle Connolly and Dermo scored the peno, such clutch moments bring home medals, personally i think Dermo shaded the head to heads, Dermo was far more than a scorer, i agree on Kilkenny, i thought it was a great bit of tactic by Rochford at the time, no one had ever put a marker on Ciaran before and when he was 11 hemade us tick and we were lucky that day it really stifled us.

Ive no beef with Lee really, i think our quality just shaded it on head to heads with him and the success we have had Vs Mayo in big days are indicative of it, whether it was Dermo or Con. Always felt a bit sad for him that he was given a man marking job against us, despite doing well enough against us offensively in the odd game, Mayos best player but relatively shackled."
Hmmmm a post that is a little self serving to say the least. You "always felt a little sad for him." Really?

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 21/09/2021 11:45:32    2382013

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Replying To Greengrass:  "Hmmmm a post that is a little self serving to say the least. You "always felt a little sad for him." Really?"
Self serving in what way? We won the big games, they are history, while Mayo deservedly beat us this year, how does it serve any actual purpose, the season is over.

I did feel actually feel a bit sorry for him. For me he was Mayos highest quality natural player, i think he even won player of the year one year, i think he had more to give to the games he certainly played against us then the role management gave him in the shackling job, or leaving Croke Park with a fistful of Dermos jersey. You use your best player, to stop the other teams best player - that doesn't make sense to me, especially with the quality of defender Mayo had at the time. I think he was that good and i thought he could have had a more expansive role in the games as opposed to just standing on lads toes, I think he even proved it with a couple of goals against us, its like giving Jack McCaffery a man marking spoiler role. Maybe they are key clutch decisions that make up the margins between winning and looseing for Mayo.

To be fair Paddy Durcan i think over took Lee the past coupe of years, but Lee had a bit of renaissance this year and got his nose out in front again this year - a testament to the lad.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 21/09/2021 13:58:34    2382066

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Replying To TheUsername:  "We would never agree on it, i think we have the same conversation about once a year, on the points you raised Keegan got the card not being able to handle Connolly and Dermo scored the peno, such clutch moments bring home medals, personally i think Dermo shaded the head to heads, Dermo was far more than a scorer, i agree on Kilkenny, i thought it was a great bit of tactic by Rochford at the time, no one had ever put a marker on Ciaran before and when he was 11 hemade us tick and we were lucky that day it really stifled us.

Ive no beef with Lee really, i think our quality just shaded it on head to heads with him and the success we have had Vs Mayo in big days are indicative of it, whether it was Dermo or Con. Always felt a bit sad for him that he was given a man marking job against us, despite doing well enough against us offensively in the odd game, Mayos best player but relatively shackled."
sorry but this is madness. Lee Keegan always won his head to head with Connolly. Always. Connolly was class and has finished up too soon, but Keegan always had his number. Plain for all to see.
Even going back to the 2013 final. Connolly was in player of the year contention having just unofficially retired Tomas O'Se with his performance against Kerry in the Semi Final. Onto the final and he came up against Keegan who gave him nothing, scored at the other end and ended up getting nominated for player of the year in place of Dermo. This continued every time they came up against each other.

Offtheball10 (Meath) - Posts: 60 - 21/09/2021 15:15:10    2382088

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Replying To TheUsername:  "Self serving in what way? We won the big games, they are history, while Mayo deservedly beat us this year, how does it serve any actual purpose, the season is over.

I did feel actually feel a bit sorry for him. For me he was Mayos highest quality natural player, i think he even won player of the year one year, i think he had more to give to the games he certainly played against us then the role management gave him in the shackling job, or leaving Croke Park with a fistful of Dermos jersey. You use your best player, to stop the other teams best player - that doesn't make sense to me, especially with the quality of defender Mayo had at the time. I think he was that good and i thought he could have had a more expansive role in the games as opposed to just standing on lads toes, I think he even proved it with a couple of goals against us, its like giving Jack McCaffery a man marking spoiler role. Maybe they are key clutch decisions that make up the margins between winning and looseing for Mayo.

To be fair Paddy Durcan i think over took Lee the past coupe of years, but Lee had a bit of renaissance this year and got his nose out in front again this year - a testament to the lad."
You can debate if he got the better of your hero if you want but your analysis of tactics is a bit laughable to be honest. He stopped your best players having a big impact and at the same time outscored them. What you are saying is nonsense.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7885 - 21/09/2021 15:44:00    2382095

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Replying To TheUsername:  "Keegans a good player, but we've always been on the right side of him, Dermo got the better of him more often then not, certainly on the medal count and for my money on the head to heads and Con bamboozled him more then once (in the same game), hes done well against us on occasion, but we've always given him more to think about then he has us and we have been the bench mark up to this year.

One of the things i really like about him is he turns up on the big day and puts a preforamce, all that said though he was excellent against us this year when i thought he was done, but we are prob about 50-60% what we were."
You have shown yourself up again, 2011 band wagoner, you haven't a clue.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 21/09/2021 16:21:29    2382106

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "You can debate if he got the better of your hero if you want but your analysis of tactics is a bit laughable to be honest. He stopped your best players having a big impact and at the same time outscored them. What you are saying is nonsense."
Im not debating i was at every single game and not to stressed as the trophies and medals are in the back pocket. Keegan job on Dermo was to rip his jersey, rile him and pull him down. id love to know when he got the better of him, 2016 resulted resulted in a black card - is another critical All Ireland final. F i think the black in 2016 sums it up the "duels" really, Keegan gets the line, Connolly the match winner, winning and scoring a penalty..

The year after Keegan was on a shackling job on Kilkenny, Dermo came on in the second half and ran riot providing the playmaking foundation for Dublin to win, Keegan didnt know what to do, stick or twist and Dermo won the game for us.

From memory Dermo for his part got riled by Keegans antics once and kicked out after a deliberate pull down off the ball - that semi final sticks out,

2019, Con destroyed him - twice.

Ultimately Mayo best players, was a dedicated stopper of Dublins most expansive players.

Point being Keegan was/is a fine player, certainly, i think more could have been made of his talents really in those years/games, especially considering the quality defenders Mayo had, The shackling jobs he got didnt bring much joy, i think he was a better expansive player then a man marker, though he had/has a bit of the dival - as we saw a couple of weeks ago. I wonder how he would have got on if he played his own natural game. All history i guess though!

All opinions mind.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 21/09/2021 17:54:58    2382124

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Replying To TheUsername:  "Im not debating i was at every single game and not to stressed as the trophies and medals are in the back pocket. Keegan job on Dermo was to rip his jersey, rile him and pull him down. id love to know when he got the better of him, 2016 resulted resulted in a black card - is another critical All Ireland final. F i think the black in 2016 sums it up the "duels" really, Keegan gets the line, Connolly the match winner, winning and scoring a penalty..

The year after Keegan was on a shackling job on Kilkenny, Dermo came on in the second half and ran riot providing the playmaking foundation for Dublin to win, Keegan didnt know what to do, stick or twist and Dermo won the game for us.

From memory Dermo for his part got riled by Keegans antics once and kicked out after a deliberate pull down off the ball - that semi final sticks out,

2019, Con destroyed him - twice.

Ultimately Mayo best players, was a dedicated stopper of Dublins most expansive players.

Point being Keegan was/is a fine player, certainly, i think more could have been made of his talents really in those years/games, especially considering the quality defenders Mayo had, The shackling jobs he got didnt bring much joy, i think he was a better expansive player then a man marker, though he had/has a bit of the dival - as we saw a couple of weeks ago. I wonder how he would have got on if he played his own natural game. All history i guess though!

All opinions mind."
Opinions indeed. But to be honest a debatable black card in 16 hardly means it sums up the battle. And a shackling job on Kilkenny you say? Keegan was involved in multiple attacks and also kept his man scoreless and he only touched the ball 8 times. You are literally blind to what actually happened.

And no offence but you seem to idolise Dermo as you call him. Not even in the top 3 most important Dubs in the past 10 years. An amazing talent and athlete but you seem to have him at the top which is wrong.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7885 - 21/09/2021 18:18:15    2382128

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "Opinions indeed. But to be honest a debatable black card in 16 hardly means it sums up the battle. And a shackling job on Kilkenny you say? Keegan was involved in multiple attacks and also kept his man scoreless and he only touched the ball 8 times. You are literally blind to what actually happened.

And no offence but you seem to idolise Dermo as you call him. Not even in the top 3 most important Dubs in the past 10 years. An amazing talent and athlete but you seem to have him at the top which is wrong."
Kept Kilkenny scoreless alright however my recollection is he did well on him in the first half, the second half he brought him of a tour of the sidelines of the Hogan and Cusach, Dermo exploited the gaps and space left and was the catalyst and provided the creative foundation for the Dublin win. To encapsulate Dermo wins the free (only way to stop him) with a big cheeky grin for the Rock winner, which results in the Keegan desperate GPS thing, thus the sceal ended.

Maybe we're both guilty at looking at it through are respective county coloured specs, guess we will have to agree to differ, maybe we weigh or judge success differently.

As I go through the years it's only the semi in 15 I think Dermo let himself down really and reacted to a deliberate pull down, 16/17 with the rival at its most even, which were the key games in the rivalry, he topped out, playing a leading role as protagonist and change agent in both results and ultimately Sams. We won't agree of course.

Oh I love Dermo alright, elite among the elites, amazing footballer, the only way to stop him is what Keegan tried to do and still didn't work, did it all and owned it, even has a Leinster minor in hurling, thankfully I'd have seen him more then most! Funnily enough he's of Western stock, his brother played for the Leitrim hurlers.

Both super players. I think we have to take it as a compliment that Mayo sacrificed the expansiveness of one of their best ever players, for trying to shackle a player not in Dublins top three of the last 10 years. ;)

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 21/09/2021 19:49:12    2382143

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Replying To TheUsername:  "Kept Kilkenny scoreless alright however my recollection is he did well on him in the first half, the second half he brought him of a tour of the sidelines of the Hogan and Cusach, Dermo exploited the gaps and space left and was the catalyst and provided the creative foundation for the Dublin win. To encapsulate Dermo wins the free (only way to stop him) with a big cheeky grin for the Rock winner, which results in the Keegan desperate GPS thing, thus the sceal ended.

Maybe we're both guilty at looking at it through are respective county coloured specs, guess we will have to agree to differ, maybe we weigh or judge success differently.

As I go through the years it's only the semi in 15 I think Dermo let himself down really and reacted to a deliberate pull down, 16/17 with the rival at its most even, which were the key games in the rivalry, he topped out, playing a leading role as protagonist and change agent in both results and ultimately Sams. We won't agree of course.

Oh I love Dermo alright, elite among the elites, amazing footballer, the only way to stop him is what Keegan tried to do and still didn't work, did it all and owned it, even has a Leinster minor in hurling, thankfully I'd have seen him more then most! Funnily enough he's of Western stock, his brother played for the Leitrim hurlers.

Both super players. I think we have to take it as a compliment that Mayo sacrificed the expansiveness of one of their best ever players, for trying to shackle a player not in Dublins top three of the last 10 years. ;)"
For when you wear out the one you're using:

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GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7337 - 21/09/2021 20:01:32    2382155

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Replying To TheUsername:  "Kept Kilkenny scoreless alright however my recollection is he did well on him in the first half, the second half he brought him of a tour of the sidelines of the Hogan and Cusach, Dermo exploited the gaps and space left and was the catalyst and provided the creative foundation for the Dublin win. To encapsulate Dermo wins the free (only way to stop him) with a big cheeky grin for the Rock winner, which results in the Keegan desperate GPS thing, thus the sceal ended.

Maybe we're both guilty at looking at it through are respective county coloured specs, guess we will have to agree to differ, maybe we weigh or judge success differently.

As I go through the years it's only the semi in 15 I think Dermo let himself down really and reacted to a deliberate pull down, 16/17 with the rival at its most even, which were the key games in the rivalry, he topped out, playing a leading role as protagonist and change agent in both results and ultimately Sams. We won't agree of course.

Oh I love Dermo alright, elite among the elites, amazing footballer, the only way to stop him is what Keegan tried to do and still didn't work, did it all and owned it, even has a Leinster minor in hurling, thankfully I'd have seen him more then most! Funnily enough he's of Western stock, his brother played for the Leitrim hurlers.

Both super players. I think we have to take it as a compliment that Mayo sacrificed the expansiveness of one of their best ever players, for trying to shackle a player not in Dublins top three of the last 10 years. ;)"
Did Lee not score a cracking goal in the second half of that game during that tour of the sidelines in 2017? Also I think it is fairly widely accepted from a neutral view that Keegan has gotten the better of Connolly in their battles over the years. Con did a job on Lee in 2019 but Lee destroyed him this year. Con should have gotten a black card.

maximus02 (Longford) - Posts: 168 - 21/09/2021 20:08:00    2382156

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