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Hurlers With Potential But Never Quite Made It

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Replying To Fairplayalways:  "you may have seen my reference to him (Roy Mannion) elsewhere in this post I started...Roy had it all, was an exceptional talent indeed, temprament was his only downfall (and that is not a meant as a black mark against him, he just took no prisnors as they say, but as we know you have to tow the line regardless of whos in charge) Roy and Eamonn Creagan never hit it off at all, with Cregan playing players out of position (just to see would they do what they were told) and Roy was asked to go into goals in training match one evening and point blank refused...rumour has it Michael Duignan tried to persuade him to go in and explained it was only a test, but Roy was resolute, rumour has it Duigan went in to goals himself to prevent a showdown there and then...Roy was told in the days afrer he was no longer required..but Roy was the same at club training, if things were not right he would be first to say it and petty things like a spare sliothar to restart quickly would be criminal to Roy..nothing wrong with theat either really...he did have troulble with his knees (his son Ethan was alos a gifted hurler but apparently the same knee condition) but between the two scenarios Roys career ended...I do wonder had he being around in 1994 would Limerick have got so much ball on our half back/full back line to go so far ahead, I know Offaly won in the end, 1995 is the year I fear we missed Roy Mannion most, and that defeat to Clare..a fit Roy Mannion would have been a wonderful asset to that team (not disrespecting Brian Whelehan, Huber RIgney and Kevin Martin on that half back line, Roy would have been fitted in somewhere in that defence...of that I have no doubt..to balance it up, I am sure Clare and Limerick can point to some player they had not got those years too...there are "Roy Mannions" in every county, but he was exceptional and for a county like Offaly he was a massive loss...Roy was Roy, and he would be a very genuine type of fellah..these things happen.."
sorry I didnt actually start this post as said above, my mistake..I have a similar one going titled players who had one or two good seasons and then disapeared..same type of topic in ways..

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1037 - 04/05/2021 13:05:48    2339915

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Eamonn Taffe from Tubber in Clare was another guy who disappeared quickly. He had a great league campaign, came on scored the goal for Clare in the 95 Final, got substituted a few minutes later. I can't recall seeing much of him after that.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2269 - 04/05/2021 17:48:53    2339974

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Replying To Fairplayalways:  "sorry I didnt actually start this post as said above, my mistake..I have a similar one going titled players who had one or two good seasons and then disapeared..same type of topic in ways.."
Funny you mention that because Donal Barry, an uncle of Graeme Mulcahy's, should have been playing corner back in '94 and '96, but personality issues got in the way and of course the failure to bring on Mike Gallingan in '96. a man who scored seven points from play in the '94 Munster Final, was an absolute scandal.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4490 - 04/05/2021 19:29:29    2339985

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There is also the players who were never given chance for one reason or another. I know one time in Waterford a player from a junior or intermediate club would not be considered. That is not true anymore partially because these players got recognition from playing colleges. Also very few players from the west of the county would get picked. Now they make up the greater part of the team. At one time 12 of the county team were from Mount Sion. Probably worth it at the time but many got passed over. The western players will stay with their clubs and not go medal hunting. If the Bennetts went down the road to Lismore no-one would beat them. They stuck with their junior club and brought them to senior. It will be back junior once they are gone. My club was junior and I saw many players over the years who were far better than some who got trials.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3026 - 04/05/2021 20:09:03    2339992

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "Funny you mention that because Donal Barry, an uncle of Graeme Mulcahy's, should have been playing corner back in '94 and '96, but personality issues got in the way and of course the failure to bring on Mike Gallingan in '96. a man who scored seven points from play in the '94 Munster Final, was an absolute scandal."
Pa Carey was also frozen out of the intercounty scene in 94 and 96. Would have been another addition to the full back line.

johnocarroll17 (Limerick) - Posts: 408 - 04/05/2021 21:39:57    2340007

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Replying To Bon:  "Eamonn Taffe from Tubber in Clare was another guy who disappeared quickly. He had a great league campaign, came on scored the goal for Clare in the 95 Final, got substituted a few minutes later. I can't recall seeing much of him after that."
Eamonn Taffe actually made a sort of comeback late 1990s but it came to nothing...mid 90s was his epicenter...

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1037 - 04/05/2021 23:59:07    2340025

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Replying To Bon:  "Eamonn Taffe from Tubber in Clare was another guy who disappeared quickly. He had a great league campaign, came on scored the goal for Clare in the 95 Final, got substituted a few minutes later. I can't recall seeing much of him after that."
As far as I remember Cyril Lyons got taaffe back into the squad after a year or two he was in charge, he played in the league of 2002 and 2003 if I'm not mistaken and was doing OK but as you say he more or less was never heard of after his famous goal

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 796 - 05/05/2021 00:00:09    2340026

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Replying To johnocarroll17:  "Pa Carey was also frozen out of the intercounty scene in 94 and 96. Would have been another addition to the full back line."
I remember Pa Carey well, he had a belter of a game in drawn 1987 semi final with Cork which Limerick should have held out to win..Kieran Kingston levelled it deep in injury time..Cork won the replay easy best remembered for the greatest goal ever scored according to many by John Fenton the clip and goal were used in the Ivomec drench for cattle...Micheal O Mhuirecheartaigh was 'Pa this' 'Pa that' "Pa Carey comes away with the ball"..Pa was nice tidy no nonsense hurled.Ciaran was coming on the scene around that time and if I remember right Ciaran missed the following years Munster semi final to Tipperary after apparently a car battery exploded on him that week. Tipp won by 0-15 to 0-08 after...Mike Galligan was an awesome servant to Limerick too...gone off topic I know but just the names came to mind..Terrence 'Spider' Kenny....Paddy Kelly...great names in Limerick hurling..

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1037 - 05/05/2021 00:14:02    2340027

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Replying To Bon:  "Eamonn Taffe from Tubber in Clare was another guy who disappeared quickly. He had a great league campaign, came on scored the goal for Clare in the 95 Final, got substituted a few minutes later. I can't recall seeing much of him after that."
Well a bit like Seamus Darby, his one deed was a good one! I watched the 95 All-Ireland over the last year, real Roy of the Rovers stuff to look back at even though I wasn't even born at the time.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1822 - 05/05/2021 09:07:11    2340048

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "Well a bit like Seamus Darby, his one deed was a good one! I watched the 95 All-Ireland over the last year, real Roy of the Rovers stuff to look back at even though I wasn't even born at the time."
From an Offaly view point, we always say we won in 1994 in a game we should have lost, and lost in 1995 in a game we should have won..Offaly were 3/4 points up on Clare at one stage in that game and unlike Offaly teams back then critically shot 5 wides in a row...John Troy I think had 3 of those shots...a 8/9 point lead would have won that game without a doubt..barring the 1999 All Ireland 4 years after (Cork beat Kilkenny 0-13 to 0-12), 1995 was one of the lowest scoring All Irelands I remember and I am mid century on the dot..1-13 to 2-08 was a low scoring affair indeed, Offalys 2-08 in particular, you would not back then and certainly not now come near winning a match with a score like that...Clare wont complain I know:)

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1037 - 05/05/2021 09:59:20    2340056

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "Well a bit like Seamus Darby, his one deed was a good one! I watched the 95 All-Ireland over the last year, real Roy of the Rovers stuff to look back at even though I wasn't even born at the time."
We should not forget that Seamus Darby played in the 1972 All Ireland victory. Himself and Martin Furlong, a son of a Wexford man, are the only two Offaly men who have more than one All Ireland Medal.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4490 - 05/05/2021 10:18:38    2340061

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Replying To Fairplayalways:  "From an Offaly view point, we always say we won in 1994 in a game we should have lost, and lost in 1995 in a game we should have won..Offaly were 3/4 points up on Clare at one stage in that game and unlike Offaly teams back then critically shot 5 wides in a row...John Troy I think had 3 of those shots...a 8/9 point lead would have won that game without a doubt..barring the 1999 All Ireland 4 years after (Cork beat Kilkenny 0-13 to 0-12), 1995 was one of the lowest scoring All Irelands I remember and I am mid century on the dot..1-13 to 2-08 was a low scoring affair indeed, Offalys 2-08 in particular, you would not back then and certainly not now come near winning a match with a score like that...Clare wont complain I know:)"
Dead right on the score FairPlay. Late goal won it for Clare, Johnny Pilkington's point effort came back off the post late on. All in the past now.

MicktheMiller (Offaly) - Posts: 421 - 05/05/2021 10:33:09    2340064

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "We should not forget that Seamus Darby played in the 1972 All Ireland victory. Himself and Martin Furlong, a son of a Wexford man, are the only two Offaly men who have more than one All Ireland Medal."
The great Sean Lowry has three: center-back in '72 and ten years later in '82, when he'd young Tom Spillane who was supposed to run the old man ragged the same day, hanging off his elbow as he careered forward with every ball. Lowry was a sub in '71.

Sean Lowry was a true great. All-stars as well at full-forward in 1979 and center-back in 1982. He played in virtually every position for Offaly. Even in 1980 or 1981 (not sure which year), he reverted back to full-back, a position that he hasn't played in for years and years, as he was the only man in Offaly who could attempt the mighty Bomber Liston at that time. And combat the Bomber he did; holding him scoreless the same day. A true great to me is one who is prepared to sacrifice his own game for the good of his team. Sean Lowry often often played that role for Offaly.

Joe Dooley also has three, as any Limerick man should know.

Plus, all the Offaly men who put back to back titles in 1971 and 1972 have more than one AI medal.

As have many on the 1981 and 1985 hurling winning teams. Ditto the 1994 and 1998 winning teams.

A plethora of Offaly men have more than one AI medal.

Only 3 afaik have more than 2 medals in football; Furlong; Darby and the great Sean Lowry in football; and Joe Dooley in hurling.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2196 - 05/05/2021 10:50:47    2340068

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Replying To johnocarroll17:  "Pa Carey was also frozen out of the intercounty scene in 94 and 96. Would have been another addition to the full back line."
"Frozen out" is one way of putting it! But they are not the words that I would use.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2196 - 05/05/2021 11:16:18    2340076

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "The great Sean Lowry has three: center-back in '72 and ten years later in '82, when he'd young Tom Spillane who was supposed to run the old man ragged the same day, hanging off his elbow as he careered forward with every ball. Lowry was a sub in '71.

Sean Lowry was a true great. All-stars as well at full-forward in 1979 and center-back in 1982. He played in virtually every position for Offaly. Even in 1980 or 1981 (not sure which year), he reverted back to full-back, a position that he hasn't played in for years and years, as he was the only man in Offaly who could attempt the mighty Bomber Liston at that time. And combat the Bomber he did; holding him scoreless the same day. A true great to me is one who is prepared to sacrifice his own game for the good of his team. Sean Lowry often often played that role for Offaly.

Joe Dooley also has three, as any Limerick man should know.

Plus, all the Offaly men who put back to back titles in 1971 and 1972 have more than one AI medal.

As have many on the 1981 and 1985 hurling winning teams. Ditto the 1994 and 1998 winning teams.

A plethora of Offaly men have more than one AI medal.

Only 3 afaik have more than 2 medals in football; Furlong; Darby and the great Sean Lowry in football; and Joe Dooley in hurling."
I was only dealing with Football, a fact I should have made clearer. I know well that Joe won 3. In a senior moment I forgot the double team and of course Martin Furlong and Sean Lowry have three each football medals and started in all three finals. Was Seamus Darby a sub in '71. in which he has three also.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4490 - 05/05/2021 12:12:50    2340092

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "I was only dealing with Football, a fact I should have made clearer. I know well that Joe won 3. In a senior moment I forgot the double team and of course Martin Furlong and Sean Lowry have three each football medals and started in all three finals. Was Seamus Darby a sub in '71. in which he has three also."
ah look lads, it was a hurling post no doubt, regardless Sean Lowry played years for Offaly and how his career is being looked at here is a it off track to say the least...

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1037 - 05/05/2021 12:52:46    2340096

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Replying To Fairplayalways:  "ah look lads, it was a hurling post no doubt, regardless Sean Lowry played years for Offaly and how his career is being looked at here is a it off track to say the least..."
FairPlay, and I'm sure Oldtourman will see this post. I did go off track. Apologies for that.

But do you know what gets to me at times. It's when so-and-so is named as one of the greatest footballers of all time; a one position man all his career.

I'd have much more time for the more complete footballer; the man who could play in any given position: the Sean Lowrys; the Seamus Moynihan's; the Joe McMahon's of the game. Men who because their footballing capacity was so broad that at times, it leaves them left out when it comes to naming great footballers in specific positions.

Sometimes, players such as these can be left underrated. Now, I'm not saying Seamus Moynihan is underrated, as I doubt if there was ever a Kerry man to properly do a
job in as many positions for the county as Moynihan; Paudie Lynch would come to mind after Moynihan.

I certainly didn't mean to bother you Fairplay, by going off track! Apologies again.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2196 - 05/05/2021 13:21:00    2340100

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "I was only dealing with Football, a fact I should have made clearer. I know well that Joe won 3. In a senior moment I forgot the double team and of course Martin Furlong and Sean Lowry have three each football medals and started in all three finals. Was Seamus Darby a sub in '71. in which he has three also."
Oldtourman, not a bother. But on reflection, I doubt if Seamus Darby was involved in 1971. I'm sure FairPlay or Mickthemiller could put us right in that regard!

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2196 - 05/05/2021 13:24:38    2340101

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Replying To preddan:  "As far as I remember Cyril Lyons got taaffe back into the squad after a year or two he was in charge, he played in the league of 2002 and 2003 if I'm not mistaken and was doing OK but as you say he more or less was never heard of after his famous goal"
That's interesting about 2002/2003 , he always hit me as a guy with huge ability.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2269 - 05/05/2021 13:28:03    2340102

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "Oldtourman, not a bother. But on reflection, I doubt if Seamus Darby was involved in 1971. I'm sure FairPlay or Mickthemiller could put us right in that regard!"
Ide be really more hurling but would know abit about football in Offaly too...Darby was an unused sub in 1971 final I just looked it up there...I agree about players playing in literally any position...Seamus Moynihan, Aidan O'Mahony..two of the greatest footballers I seen, yet, Moynihan in particular is never mentioned too often when comparing current great teams with older teams...Mike Hassett another who could play anywhere really...that group of Kerry player are relatively for got about now outside of Kerry...that team and era had some great talent..the finest...

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1037 - 05/05/2021 15:15:38    2340118

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