Tipp folk might not agree but in my lifetime Pat Fox was the greatest Tipp forward I've seen play the game.

English got the headlines for sure, things like 0-13 & 2-12 V Waterford & Antrim respectively in 89. But to me Fox was the complete forward. He had an uncanny ability of always drifting into positions to score a vital goal, his stickwork was excellent, he was one of the first players of his time to master shortening the grip and I used to hate seeing him tog V Limerick as he would do so much damage. Also, there wasn't a bit of arrogance in him, he was a first time hurler with a lethal shot. I've nothing against English or Cleary or the likes, but I always thought this type of player scored so much due to Fox's off the ball running & taking his marker all over the place.

In my opinion he was better than English, Cleary, Leahy, Eoin Kelly, Lar Corbett or any of them. A gentleman of the game too.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 11/08/2010 16:59:36    743484

Tipp folk might not agree but in my lifetime Pat Fox was the greatest Tipp forward I've seen play the game.

English got the headlines for sure, things like 0-13 & 2-12 V Waterford & Antrim respectively in 89. But to me Fox was the complete forward. He had an uncanny ability of always drifting into positions to score a vital goal, his stickwork was excellent, he was one of the first players of his time to master shortening the grip and I used to hate seeing him tog V Limerick as he would do so much damage. Also, there wasn't a bit of arrogance in him, he was a first time hurler with a lethal shot. I've nothing against English or Cleary or the likes, but I always thought this type of player scored so much due to Fox's off the ball running & taking his marker all over the place.

In my opinion he was better than English, Cleary, Leahy, Eoin Kelly, Lar Corbett or any of them. A gentleman of the game too.
slayer , 11/08/2010 at 16:59
Im guessing you never saw the greatest forward of them all playinh Slayer, his name is Jimmy Doyle!

thurlesblues (Tipperary) - Posts: 4475 - 11/08/2010 17:03:11    743491

John fenton, Michael Cleary, Tom Cashman

madasbutter (Mayo) - Posts: 872 - 11/08/2010 18:50:51    743625

Im guessing you never saw the greatest forward of them all playinh Slayer, his name is Jimmy Doyle!

Neither did you but I'd say your dad may have.

Fox was a legend of a player even with the dodgy knee he kept his inter county career going.... seem to have a sixth sense when it came to defenders challenging him very awkward to mark great are picking low ball quickly and turning defenders and you rarely see him get hooked... the shorten grip had a lot to do with that....

Actually fox would have been playing minor a few years before yourself right surely you must have played in a club team against him at some stage??

But you have to harp on again about the 60's, if you played in the 80's you be able to add a bit more insight into pat fox.... the plot thickens!!!

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 11/08/2010 19:05:03    743636

Maroonatic:

I take it you don't like tipp ;)

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 11/08/2010 19:11:35    743643

slayer:

Also slayer Fox was excellent at drifting in behind Cormac "the viking" bonner... Bonner wouldn't really have to play a ball all game he just made sure the brake got to either english or fox!! A lot to do with how prolific fox and english were had to do with bonner..... but that dosen't take away from either player.

But i would know rate fox better than english in hindsight.

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 11/08/2010 19:17:43    743652

Shorter people - quicker reflexes and better co-ordination. No surprise so many talented players were under 6 foot. In other sports its the same thing- Mike Sheehy, Peter Canavan, Declan Browne in football. Pele, Maradona, Messi in soccer. Tony Ward, Barry John, Jonny Wilkinson, Brian O'Driscoll all well under 6 foot in rugby.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2573 - 11/08/2010 19:23:44    743658

the irish scrum half's dad


best of them all!

ochonlir (Cavan) - Posts: 4343 - 11/08/2010 19:28:40    743667

I know Pat Fox he is definitely under 6 ft, so is great stylish Cork half back Dermot McCurtain. Paddy McGinley from Antrim was another wonderful hurler I'm not too sure of his height but I'm sure patrique could enlighten us if he happens on this thread.

corkcelt (Cork) - Posts: 4388 - 11/08/2010 19:30:21    743670

HAG_AND_CHEESE
County: Tipperary
Posts: 3322

743643
Maroonatic:

I take it you don't like tipp ;)

They feed ye too well over there Hag...couldn't think of any small Tipp men. The thread was inspired mainly by watching the KK/Cork match again and looking at the likes of the Aisake O'hAilpin and Cussen. Just goes to show big lads aren't always the best lads in hurling

Maroonatic (Galway) - Posts: 1065 - 11/08/2010 19:57:50    743694

No mention of Jamesie O connor. Great player per pound

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 708 - 11/08/2010 20:07:55    743698

to be fair to english though he was tipp's leading light during the early to mid eighties he was slso instrumental in winning against cork in 1987 think he overshadowed fox alright but at least fox got recognition when he won HOTY in 1991

moddy91 (Tipperary) - Posts: 226 - 11/08/2010 20:10:01    743703

he is at it again with his whats the difference questions,I think this is the 4th time,thurlesblues, whats the differences between you and JD and DJ? and the origanal thread is about smal in height but big in stature,which tb will never be,a few more great hurlers under 6ft,larry Guinan,Jimmy O,Brien,Chunky O,Brien

mooncat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 538 - 11/08/2010 20:14:31    743706

Well I would haveme in goal for a start, a bit more volatile that the quiet, mild mannered davy Fitz, but a better keeper.

Eddie and Willie O'Connor looked smallish, but Fan Larkin wqs surely the "king" of all the small men.

I really liked Pat Fox as a player. However English was a better player in my opinion. English may not have been "top" class as he did dtruggle against top opposition at times, but he was a really stylish hurler.

Jimmy Doyle played for Tipp and had a great beginning to his inter county career, but by 64/65 I thought "Babs" was more dangerous. And Babs was certainly more dangerous by 71.

However Jimmy was hampered by playing for a "small" club, who never won a provincial title let alone all Ireland. I mean I can think of 4 Antrim clubs who have been in the club final, one who actually won it, and three who beat the Munster champs in the semis, including Moycorkey-Borris from Tipp, and about 7 who have won the provincial title.

So Doyle was perhaps hampered by playing for a club, Thurles Sarsfields, who would probably be intermediate grade in Antrim.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 11/08/2010 21:04:18    743736

patrique
County: Antrim
Posts: 9198


So Doyle was perhaps hampered by playing for a club, Thurles Sarsfields, who would probably be intermediate grade in Antrim


We shall hear more I this I am thinking ;-)

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 12/08/2010 08:54:30    743818

Patrique surprised you never mentioned Olcan 'Cloot' Mc Fetridge. Seen him play and played against him. He was the same size as me but run through me a few times as if I wasn't there, strong as a bull.

spyboy (Antrim) - Posts: 343 - 12/08/2010 09:11:10    743832

Jamsie O Connor defo

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2697 - 12/08/2010 09:20:36    743834

Just to confirm, Ollie Moran is 6ft 2. May I suggest Andrew O'Shaughnessy as his replacement? I'm sure you have seen him play.

Billy_The_Kid (Limerick) - Posts: 63 - 12/08/2010 10:04:04    743866

Martin Storey under 6ft by any chance?

beer baron (Cavan) - Posts: 3916 - 12/08/2010 10:30:02    743881

Liam Dunne and Tom Dempsey not huge men at all. Probably still the most skilful hurlers in the county!

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2573 - 12/08/2010 10:42:26    743899