There is no doubt who has been the best over the past 30 years and that is Paddy Quirke. He had it all, great pace and skill and a great leader for Myshall both on and off the field. Mark Mullins was also a class player and captained Cork senior team. He was a great hurler but Quirke was awesome. Put it like this without Paddy Myshall were beatable but with him, Myshall were almost unbeatable in Carlow. Would not agree however with Paddy being up there with all the greats of football. Good at football but not the greatest.

Mention should also be made of Johnny Nevin who despite his stature as a great great hurler and a class footballer also.

As for Willie Eustace, a great worker for Myshall who presided over their glory years. Still involved with the club fully. Great club servant.

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1870 - 30/03/2010 19:51:05    604569

lads when did paddy quirke play...?to be honest ive never heard of him.. my uncle always talks about a red liamy walsh from st. mullins,he reckons he was by far the best hurler from carlow...he also mentioned willie and martin hogan from erins own,both played on railway cup team, one held christy ring scoreless... another erins own man, john mitchell, was also meant to be a class act..!!

frontline (Carlow) - Posts: 6 - 31/03/2010 17:53:43    605663

Frontline... Paddy only stopped hurling about 6 or 7 years ago, playing junior hurling in the goal i think. And yes, you are right, Red Liamy was a superb hurler and one of the stars of his er when he mastered all the skills in the book playing with St. Mullins at wing forward and while he was very skilful he took a lot of hardship when he played. The Hogan brthers played in the 60's and were towers of strength for Erins Own and Carlow. Many of the 60's era still hold these great hurlers in the highest esteem.

I have seen Red Liamy playing but he did not have the same impact s Paddy Quirke. That is my opinion and while i did not see the Hogans playing, i have spoken to many who have played for Carlow and most agree that Quirke stood out.

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1870 - 31/03/2010 18:04:57    605680

Paddy Quirke no Question
Then maybe Nevin, Mullins,

aragorn1 (Carlow) - Posts: 156 - 31/03/2010 18:59:36    605745

frontman quirke played railway cup hurling and football serveral times he won 2 railway cup hurlings medals 77 and 79 he was playing midfield in 79 and gave a man of match display marking john connelly of galway a allstar he also was the only carlow man to be selected as a dual replacement allstar in 1980 he also hold 15 carlow senior hurling cham medals and one football the hogan man your talking about has 1 railway medal as a sub in 64 johnny nevin was on railway hurling panel once but never made team

caman123 (Carlow) - Posts: 141 - 01/04/2010 12:31:18    606249

I suppose i have to agree Paddy Quirke would be number 1 followed by Nevin Mullins and Pat Coady,now im only goin by what players i saw myself so i cant comment on the older brigade.Nevin would have to be number 1 tho for commitment to his county in both codes playing a lot longer than Quirke.I dont think we will ever see anyone play as much again in both codes.

THE BOSS (Carlow) - Posts: 475 - 01/04/2010 12:53:37    606294

I reckon its a tie between the legend, nevin, and quirke. both massisve hurlers in their respective day. i know a lad who hurled on quirke in the leinster club championship, a man who marked christy heffernan and the like in the 80s, and he reckons quirke was the hardest he had to deal with. saying that i rem seeing nevin mark joe cooney in dr cullen in an all ireland q final and he gave an exhibition. plus look at his longevity in the game and his passion and will to win. A gentleman also. course i also saw mark mullins virtually play kk on his own in the opening game in the mcgrath park too.. and pat coady the same in an u21 game v kk, when ollie oconnor 3 goals were the difference. two outstanding displays.. of course some of our current crop are going so well too, so give them a few yrs!

old yellar (None) - Posts: 2630 - 01/04/2010 13:51:14    606371

thanks lads, paddy quirke mustve been quite the sportsman... im fairly young so i wouldnt of seen him playing in his prime, just going on what i hear..

frontline (Carlow) - Posts: 6 - 01/04/2010 14:30:15    606413

ya boss nevin would be no 1 for best servent to carlow gaa but the question was who was carlow greatest hurler and that by far was quirke and to you old yeller you say nevin gave cooney all he wanted ya he did but i played with quirke for years when nevin was in his prime and paddy was coming near his end and nevin never had a hope of playing him and 2 this day nevin would tell u that himslef and to what you say about the current crop cumming along nicely ya they are but none of them are or will never be a quirke and that a fact

caman123 (Carlow) - Posts: 141 - 01/04/2010 17:11:04    606669

Thanks caman123 for those statistics on the medals won and on representing leinster. I still would put Paddy Quirke up there on his own! And as for the present crop of players.. Edward Coady... his brother Richard,,, Jacko.. all great players and as for young Corcoran ... looks a great talent. So... these could surpass Paddy!

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1870 - 01/04/2010 20:49:48    606941

Carlowman, if I was to take anyone off the current panel it would be Shane. He's hurled with Leinster and Ireland and has proven himself with the step up to Div.2 as well. Had a slight rough patch a few years ago but injuries didn't help that.

Marley (Carlow) - Posts: 30 - 02/04/2010 18:43:49    607595

Carlowman
I have to agree with Marley here, that out of the current squad I only believe Shane Kavanagh (in current form) is good enough to be mentioned along the lines of Paddy Quirke. Jacko is exceptional young player too that will hopefully keep improving and refining his game. Ed Coady has been a great servant to the county and I have great respect for the man but his younger brother Richard and young Alfie Corcoran are not upto it. In fairness they are fair hurlers and on there day can be best on the field in club matches but not county championship matches.

TheHumbleSpud (Carlow) - Posts: 9 - 03/04/2010 14:19:01    607946

Marley and the humble spud... sorry lads, should definitely have included Shane Kavanagh! A super hurler and has been at the forefront of putting Carlow hurling on the map over the past few years. Injury has prevented him from being as speedy as he was a few years ago, but a great player! One of our best. A great centre back... then in the same position i would have to mantion the gret John O'Hara another great Naomh Eoin centre back and stlwart of the County for years. Many great men from Myshall... and what about Big Des... another powerful player for club and county.

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1870 - 03/04/2010 21:44:25    608300

is it true a certain D Ryan from Limerick might be involved in the management set up for this team. His knowledge and experience at the very top level of hurling would be invaluable to a relatively new side at the top tier of hurling

superdexta (Carlow) - Posts: 39 - 04/04/2010 21:48:26    608836

Spud, I think Alfie has a great future ahead of him in both codes. A few years of bulking up could be the makings of him

Marley (Carlow) - Posts: 30 - 06/04/2010 17:42:45    610088

yeah caman, quirke was a man before his time alrite. the lad i knew hurled intercounty (u21/senior) with galway and was a major club player in offaly and he still talks about quirke. he gave him an awful roasting a few times in leinster club and challenges. said he had it everyway.

old yellar (None) - Posts: 2630 - 07/04/2010 09:18:34    610412

Definately has to be quirke,unbelievable hurler and i only got to see him for a few years, have to mention Anthony Curry too,seen him play on numerous occasions and he was never,ever second best to his opponent,extremely tough man and good hurling brain. I understand he's not at Quirkes level as far as influence and legacy goes up round myshall but Curry and Noel Smithers and that era of players were also worth a mention. Nevin,Des and Foley also rightly mentioned but the current batch of players including Jacko, Shane Kavanagh, Craig Doyle and Alfie Corcoran and Eddie Byrne all look good talents.

Carlowgaafan (Carlow) - Posts: 20 - 18/04/2010 16:26:04    620973

carlowgaafan ya curry was unreal a great player im a myshall man myslef and ya rogers and s kavanagh are good hurlers but there not in quirkes leauge i wouldnt menion them in the same sentence

caman123 (Carlow) - Posts: 141 - 18/04/2010 17:29:58    621043