This year will be 40 years since I've seen my first intercounty hurling match and I've tried to pick the best 'all star' selection I've seen. I'm interested to see peoples opinion.
1: Skeehan. I know there are many greats over the last 15 years but I think he redefined the position and was way ahead of his time.
2: Whelahan. Out of position I know but he had to play and (although I can't believe it) he wouln't make half back line
3: Lohan. Best full back I've seen
4: Tyrell. I'm sure he will achieve a lot more but already I can't think of a better no 4
5: T. Walsh. Automatic.
6: T. Keady. Maybe I'm biased.
7: JJ Delaney. I think he is so under rated, would probably say best all round defender I've seen.
8: C. Carey. The only player I think on the team without an AI.
9: J. Cooney. I know he didn't play much of his inter county career here but it was his best position.
10: Shefflin. No need to comment.
11: John Troy. I could watch him hurl all day.
12: DJ. He was actually one of the last I picked.
13: JBM. The most natural hurler I've ever seen.
14: Joe McKenna or Ray Cummins
15: English. Although I also considered P. Fox.

I'm amazed I didn't come up with more Tipp and especially Cork players but again that may be my bias!

onlyhurling (Galway) - Posts: 800 - 04/02/2011 21:51:06    860747

The half back line is definitely the most difficult line.

I saw my first match in 1975 so you have 6 years on me, but my team would be:
1: Skehan. Agree with you here. Whilst there have been some great recent keepers in Cummins and Fitzhenry and it would have been between those 3, Noel edges it for me.
2: Michael Kavanagh. So understated and quiet. Ddin/t appear to have speed but was rarel if ever bettered.
3: Lohan. Best full back I've seen. Just edged out Noel Hickey.
4: Tyrell. It was him or Fan Larkin.
5: T. Walsh. One of the finest hurlers I have ever seen. How we are blessed in Kilkenny to have had him, JJ and Henry in the same team is unreal. Tommy allegedly plays in exactly the same style as his grandfather, the great Paddy Grace. I never saw Paddy hurl but knew of him from his work with the county.
6: Whelahan. OK. No Joe Hennessy, no Lohan, no John Conran, no Ger Henderson, no Slyvie or Iggy, definitely the toughest line to pink but Sid had everything. God help us if he had gave up the drink and trained for longer.
7: JJ Delaney. Fabulous hurler. He does it all with such ease.
8: Frank Cummins - the finest midfield general ever. Strong as an ox. Great going forward. I'll never forget the man mountain with his black and yellow helmet.
9. Chunky O'Brien - now I am biased here, but this club man of mine was my childhood hero. Taught me how to rise the ball. He was the most stylish hurler and was so ahead of his time. Unfortunately a fondness ofr the drink probably meant he never fulfilled what his talent should have delivered.
10: Shefflin. The King. I love him.
11: Joe Cooney. What a player. On what a team.
12: DJ. His speed, hand-passing and skills were unreal. Played with and against him. Lost more county finals and semi finals to him than I care to remember. Absolutely frightening. Under 12 he was already spotted as a super-star and boy did he deliver.
13: JBM. He was the rock star of hurlers.
14: Ray Cummins - The best full forward I've ever seen.
15: English. Nicky was some player. One of the most stylish ever.

A kilkenny bias I know. But we have had some hurlers.

Puddersthecat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1692 - 05/02/2011 09:56:12    860782

I can't stretch to 40 years but I'll give the best team in my opinion over the last 20 years.

1. Damien Fitzhenry (Loch Garman) - Edges out some fine keepers over the past two decades, Fitzgerald and Cummins in particular.

2. Michael Kavanagh (Cill Chainnigh)
3. Brian Lohan (An Clár) - The red helmet became iconic in its own way!
4. Ollie Canning (Gaillimh)

5. Brian Whelahan (Uíbh Fhailí)
6. Seánie McMahon (An Clár) -
7. JJ Delaney (Cill Chainnigh)

8. Ciarán Carey (Luimneach) - Could easily slot in at 6 either
9. Tony Browne (Port Láirge)

10. Jamsie O'Connor (An Clár)
11. Henry Shefflin (Cill Chainnigh)
12. Tommy Walsh (Cill Chainnigh) - I know not his best position but I couldn't leave him out!

13. Joe Deane (Corcaigh)
14. John Troy (Uíbh Fhailí)
15. John Mullane (Port Láirge)

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13792 - 06/02/2011 15:45:46    861467

Skehan was the best.

I wouldn't have Lohan, either Kinahan, Hickey, McDonnell, Hartigan, or Enright are better in my opinion. I never rated Brian, inspiring yes, but so was the Rock. And the Rock was a better hurler.

And I can't believe no one has selected Eddie Keher.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 06/02/2011 16:01:42    861476

06/02/2011 16:01:42
patrique
County: Antrim
Posts: 11568

861476 Skehan was the best.

I wouldn't have Lohan, either Kinahan, Hickey, McDonnell, Hartigan, or Enright are better in my opinion. I never rated Brian, inspiring yes, but so was the Rock. And the Rock was a better hurler.

And I can't believe no one has selected Eddie Keher

While Keher won 3 All Irelands in the 70's during my time watching matches I always felt that I couldn't really judge him as he was coming to the end of his career and I was very young at the time

onlyhurling (Galway) - Posts: 800 - 06/02/2011 18:44:59    861618

1.N.Skehan (KK )
2.D.Mulcahy (Cork) 3.P.Hartigan (LK) 4.) O.Canning (G)
5.T.Walsh (KK) 6.T.Keady (G) 7.I.Clarke (G)
8.F CUmmins (KK) 9.J.Connolly (G)
10.D.Ryan (Tipp) 11. Henry (KK) 12.J.Cooney(G)
13.B.Fitzpatrick (kk) 14.D.J. (kk) 15.E.Cregan (LK)

I would fancy this 15 against anyone.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 07/02/2011 15:07:10    862286

Gimme 15 Ciarán Carey's

miketyson (Limerick) - Posts: 2748 - 07/02/2011 20:17:40    862713

Similar to the "County Population V League Position(Football2010) " thread on the front page at the moment, I'd love to see some stats on the topic of "Number of players on peoples top Hurling XV of the last 20/30/40 years V Number of All-Ireland's won in the last 20/30/40 years".

I'd say that only Kilkenny would end up close to the same position on the two lists.

hurling_lad (Cork) - Posts: 69 - 08/02/2011 12:13:05    863007

Can only rate from the late 1970s/early 80s onwards, so not quiet 40 years but near enough I suppose.

1. Ger Cunningham (Cork)
2. Brian Corcoran (Cork)
3. Brian Lohan (Clare)
4. Martin Hanamy (Offaly)
5. Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny)
6. Brian Whelehan (Offaly)
7. JJ Delaney (Kilkenny)
8. Ciaran Carey (Limerick)
9. John Fenton (Cork)
10. DJ Carey (Kilkenny)
11. Henry Sheffelin (Kilkenny)
12. Johnny Dooley (Offaly)
13. John Mullane (Waterford)
14. Jimmy Barry Murphy (Cork)
15. Nicky English (Tipperary)

Three Offaly is maybe a bit disproportionate and probably betrays a personal individual bias as that Offaly team of the Dooleys, Pilkingtons, Troys, etc was my favourite team to watch as a neutral. But sure these fantasy team selections are by their very nature are all about personal bias so there you go.

eviemonkey (Cork) - Posts: 308 - 08/02/2011 12:48:04    863031

1. Damien Fitzhenry (Wexford)
2. Brian Corcoran (Cork)
3. Brian Lohan (Clare)
4. Martin Hanamy (Offaly)
5. Larry O'Gorman (Wexford)
6. Brian Whelehan (Offaly)
7. JJ Delaney (Kilkenny)
8. Ciaran Carey (Limerick)
9. John Fenton (Cork)
10. DJ Carey (Kilkenny)
11. Henry Sheffelin (Kilkenny)
12. Johnny Dooley (Offaly)
13. E Kelly (Tipperary)
14. Jimmy Barry Murphy (Cork)
15. Nicky English (Tipperary)

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 08/02/2011 13:18:35    863060

onlyhurling

You mad if you think the rock was a better hrler than lohan. Lohan is defo the best full back over the past 40 years.

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2696 - 08/02/2011 13:52:55    863095

LohansRedHelmet
County: Clare
Posts: 172

Please read my team again and have a chat with Patrique about his comments on the Rock, they weren't mine, I was responding to his comment on Eddie Keher.

onlyhurling (Galway) - Posts: 800 - 08/02/2011 14:32:54    863161

Out of the teams selected Barnowl94 has the closest team to the one I'd pick, but Limerick bias means I will always want to see Ciaran Carey in any team like this.

However Barnowl94's team is a team of sheer beasts who were fantastic hurlers, the sort of lads I'd hate to take on in a match.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 08/02/2011 15:57:34    863249

I only saw Eddie keher hurl about 4-5 times and I was 5/6. So the memory is a bit hazy.

Puddersthecat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1692 - 08/02/2011 16:07:21    863267

Please read my team again and have a chat with Patrique about his comments on the Rock, they weren't mine, I was responding to his comment on Eddie Keher.

Like Patrique, I doubt if Lohan is the greatest full back in the last 40 years but I think he was a better full back than O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan was a better player than he got credit for but he had more pace than Lohan. O'Sullivan's game thrived on the physical confrontation, winning aerial duels and coming out with the ball, rolling over anything that came his way like a train and delivering to the forwards. Twice in games V Limerick (2001 & 2002) he scored points from inside his own 40.

However Lohan had more to his game. He was a better reader of his opponent and of play. Brian Begley was always able to score off O'Sullivan yet our forwards always found it incredibly hard to score off Lohan. Not just our lads, I remember Eugene Cloonan having a torrid time from him in the 97 club final. Where Lohan ranks in the list of great full backs is not for someone like me to judge, but I would rate him ahead of O'Sullivan. Lohan was able to read the game, be physical, win the ball, make space and clear it while still looking slow and I rarely recall him being hooked - he could hit the ball while running towards his own goal. That takes some talent & he was a great full back.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 08/02/2011 16:55:14    863319

I think it all depends on the type of player you ... respond to... I saw Lohan and i admired the way he came out with the ball, a superb player to come out and rise the whole crowd. Lohan was superb at manning angles and flicking the ball away as the player was about to strike. Sullivan was more straight forward and was immensely strong but did not electrify the crowd. Leonard Enright was ery strong and hard to get away from and Pat Hartigan was a prince among no 3's with his panache for aerial catching and long clearances.

I note that a lot are going back to a great goalkeeper in Kilkenny's Noel Skehan and its hard to not disagree with this. Out the field... I have to say that Ger Henderson, Tony Keady, were great hurlers at centre back but how many of you remember Pat Henderson? Now there was a serious tough hurler and very hard to get away from.

Ciaran Carey I think was a fantastic hurler and one I would have in any team.
In the forwards, Joe Cooney, Carey and Shefflin are a must. I think that the rest of the forwards are up for grabs and there is little between them, again it depends on what you admire and look for but in John Troy we had a forward who had touches of brilliance that we were lucky to see... his brother Jim in goals? What about Pat Fox in the corner... Ramie Ryan at wing back or Bobby Ryan at centre back? A lot of players ... arent we lucky to have seen them... as well as the more recent vintage... Tony Browne, Ken McGrath, Seanie McMahon, Colin Lynch, Tommy and JJ in the half back line?

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1870 - 08/02/2011 18:15:24    863399

Amazed that not even one person mentioned John Connolly of Galway....One of the finest hurlers ever ...

richiej (UK) - Posts: 1430 - 08/02/2011 19:38:14    863485

I think nobody would begrudge ciaran carey his place in any 15.....class act!

bohergeela (Limerick) - Posts: 26 - 09/02/2011 09:30:48    863675

In my opinion Brian Lohan is the best full back ive ever seen, but im only in my 20's

miketyson (Limerick) - Posts: 2748 - 09/02/2011 10:35:53    863720

Richiej,

Check out my team,John Connolly at no.9 alongside his most difficult opponent Frank Cummins, a perfect midfield combination imo.Regarding the full back debate in my opinion the great Pat Hartigan walks it,followed by B. Lohan,N.Hickey, Kinahan ,Diarmuid Sullivan Conor Hayes.Tipps Padraig Maher has the potential to be one of the greats, its too early in his career to say.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 09/02/2011 14:31:43    863915