Roy Keane should not even be considered. Did he not intentionally injure another player. Did he not desert his country's team in Saipan. I dont like soccer anyway.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 16/10/2008 22:58:32    120846

He wasn't that good a footballer either, not a bad player, but not a good footballer. Work horse, bit like that other vastly over rated player Gerard.

And not the bravest individual either.

Brady, Giles, McGrath of recent memory were better players.

In my humble opinion.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 16/10/2008 23:02:10    120850

I'm in complete agreement with the poster regarding Kelly/Roche comment. It must be remembered ,that in the era of Fignón. Roche, Delgado etc., Kelly was ranked No.1 in the world ratings for 10 successive years.
That should answer that question.
I also think that Kelly is the greatest sports person to have worn the green and a gentleman to boot.

Boxtyeater (Leitrim) - Posts: 735 - 16/10/2008 23:16:45    120863

Hold on there RMD - this is nothing to do with a problem with glamourising alcohol or taking high moral ground. I probably drink more than I should and I like black humour as much as the next man. Best was a genius but a tragic (and sick) figure too. C'mon. He even drank away two livers.Now that's class! Sorry - I am not prudish but I don't find that in the slightest bit funny. I find it cheap and sad.

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 16/10/2008 23:27:19    120868

The wee dog who terrified those Aussie Rules beasts at Croker a few years ago, what a star! Give him his own picture on the wall.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 17/10/2008 00:35:53    120895

For me it has to be Stephen Roche!

Laughing.Gravy (Dublin) - Posts: 404 - 17/10/2008 07:43:38    120922

I've very surprised that no one has mentioned this yet ... Non-GAA thread!! ;)

RMDrive (Donegal) - Posts: 2202 - 17/10/2008 07:52:44    120925

patrique
County: Antrim
Posts: 786


All ill say is that greatness is measured by success, and you cant put giles or brady in Keanes league in that respect. And for me irelands greatest sports star over the last decade has been Henry Shefflin, exemplifies: skill, class, bravery and honesty

Da Faugh (Monaghan) - Posts: 92 - 17/10/2008 08:43:49    120941

JayoCluxton County: Dublin Posts: 1721 120868 Hold on there RMD - this is nothing to do with a problem with glamourising alcohol or taking high moral ground. I probably drink more than I should and I like black humour as much as the next man. Best was a genius but a tragic (and sick) figure too. C'mon. He even drank away two livers.Now that's class! Sorry - I am not prudish but I don't find that in the slightest bit funny. I find it cheap and sad. Now now Jayo - dont be actin the grandad or we'll have to stick you in the ovaltine brigade with the likes of liamo n patrique!!!! Im sure the lad RMD doesnt sincerely believe that slow lingering death by liver failure is something to be celebrated.....

Horse (Laois) - Posts: 1146 - 17/10/2008 09:23:07    120957

I have to say Sonia, in my opinion she is the only irish athlete that has ever put the fear of god into the world's best and the only irish sports person that I would label as a SUPERSTAR in her prime. Year after year she dominated her races She would have achieved a lot more but for those pesky Chinese. She was a bit unlucky in barcelona to finish 4th, Atlanta was a disappointement(in her prime) and fair dues to her for coming back to claim silver in 2000. Mcguigan is held as ahero cos he was our 1st world champion but he didn't hold the title for that long. Steve Collins beat Eubank and Nigel benn when they were past their prime. keane would have been respected by his peers in the game but not labelled world class. George Best was of course a SUPERSTAR too but that was for Northern Ireland,not for a team I would call "us" or "we"

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 17/10/2008 09:35:03    120967

Have to agree with bad monkey, what Stephen Roche did in tour de france, giro d'italia and world championship in one year was some going. Only for some terrible injuries he may have dominated cycling for years.

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 17/10/2008 09:41:02    120971

Roy Keane...Ha ya right IMO the man is a coward. There has been suspicions for years about Roche...and anyway Kelly would be miles ahead of him. For me there is only one contender....Sonia. And as far as i'm concerned she did get an olympic gold.....Szabo was not a clean athlete as she was found out shortly after

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 17/10/2008 09:47:05    120976

what about michelle smith? no matter what is said she still got 3 gold. never really found guilty. nobody can touch her when it comes to success

biggrif (Donegal) - Posts: 8 - 17/10/2008 09:59:54    120996

murtagh and aidan o'brien deserve a mention aswell,they have taken over horse racing.
harrington,
ken doherty,
here is a weird one-eamonn o'hara-toiled for years to win a medal and the pure emotion he put out after winning it was great to see,always played well against the auzzies aswell.
ronnie delany,
best,keane,irwin,brady
the casey brothers in sneem were a dynasty aswell.
i suppose anyone who wins anything at a world or european level- so i suppose harrington,kelly,roach,o'sullivan,o'driscoll,murtagh keane,finnan

will have to plump for harrington-im only 22 so he's done the most

Rhodejim (Offaly) - Posts: 2888 - 17/10/2008 10:02:10    121002

Woah lads, had the ol' tongue wedged in cheek there. The point I was making was that he managed to be one of our greatest sports stars despite being a dipso! I'd hardly say that drinking two livers away is glamorous but there ya go... Will try to restrict dryness (no pun intended) in future comments

Naomh Ultan Abú (Donegal) - Posts: 298 - 17/10/2008 10:09:23    121009

Stephen Roche would get my vote.

men_of_49 (Meath) - Posts: 2003 - 17/10/2008 10:16:05    121017

what about michelle smith? no matter what is said she still got 3 gold. never really found guilty. nobody can touch her when it comes to success
biggrif , 17/10/2008 at 09:59
____________________________________

Ostrich stuff there .........

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 17/10/2008 10:26:32    121030

After a lot of carefull thought and consideration in to this subject I've finally managed to bring it down to a VERY select list. Ireland's greatest ever sports star is one of the following..........Steve Collins , Jim Stynes , Padraig Harrington , Eamon Coughlan and even though I personally don't consider snooker to be a sport you can't overlook Ken Doherty's achievements.

dubupnorth (Dublin) - Posts: 1897 - 17/10/2008 10:26:51    121032

Cavan_Slasher
County: Cavan
Posts: 879

120846 Roy Keane should not even be considered. Did he not intentionally injure another player. Did he not desert his country's team in Saipan. I dont like soccer anyway.

Its pretty obvious not only do ya not like it but you havnt much of a clue either. Roy keane deserves his place among the top 5 irish soccer players. Theres various arguments as to who is at the top. For me id have him as number 1. As for our top ever sports star i would think it to be pretty obvious its padraig harrington. To have achieved what he has in his sport at the very highest level is just unbelievable. Unfortunately for Sonia she just never got the one that really mattered in an olympic gold on the track. Thinking of it we really only have one proper olympic champion in the modern era in Ronnie Delaney. So my top 3 is padraig, ronnie, keano.

mayonews (Mayo) - Posts: 254 - 17/10/2008 10:28:41    121038

Murtagh has had a very good season, Rhodejim but he is not next or near as good as one Crusheen born man, Keiren Fallon. Murtagh may be the more honest and genuine of the two but Fallon is more gifted by a long way. Murtagh keeps it simple and does the easy things right which is what has got him so far this season. But still, Fallon is by a long way better. Michael Kinane at his peak would be ahead of Johnny Murtagh too. Having said that I can't imagine Johnny dropping the reins with 200 yards to go in the biggest race on the horse racing calender which is what Mickey Joe did in BC Classic on Giant's Causeway. Murtagh would probably be third on the list. I posted a message on this thread last night mostly on the subject of Keiren Fallon but it wasn't put up. In the end I said Fallon was the third greatest Irish sportsman after Padraig Harrington and Roy Keane.

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 17/10/2008 10:29:45    121041