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Sunday Game Football Team

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The Sunday Game Football team of the last 40 years as decided by a public vote:

1. Stephen Cluxton
2. Marc O'Sé
3. Seamus Moynihan
4. Paidí O'Sé
5. Tomas O'Sé
6. Lee Keegan
7. Jack McCaffrey
8. Jack O'Shea
9. Brian Fenton
10. Diarmuid Connolly
11. Peter Canavan
12. Pat Spillane
13. Colm Cooper
14. Michael Murphy
15. Maurice Fitzgerald

Thoughts?

Kerry15 (Kerry) - Posts: 597 - 15/05/2020 16:10:45    2278256

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Hard to disagree with that 15 but I'll try!

1 Stephen Cluxton
2. Philly McMahon
3. Darren Fay
4. Paidí O'Sé
5 Tomás O' Sé
6. Seamus Moynihan
7. Martin O'Connell
8. Jack O' Sé
9. Séan Cavanagh
10. Alan Brogan
11. Michael Donnelan
12. Pat Spillane
13. Matt Connor
14. Colm Cooper
15. Peter Canavan

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 5955 - 15/05/2020 17:19:54    2278269

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I think Connolly is lucky to be in there, superb player, don't get me wrong and one of my favourite ever players to watch for the Dubs but not in the extremely rarefied air of the best wing forward of the past 40 years.

I wouldn't have Gooch in there either, in with a better shout then Connolly defo but not one of the two best corner forwards of the past 40 years imo.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13145 - 15/05/2020 17:57:37    2278279

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Replying To Kerry15:  "The Sunday Game Football team of the last 40 years as decided by a public vote:

1. Stephen Cluxton
2. Marc O'Sé
3. Seamus Moynihan
4. Paidí O'Sé
5. Tomas O'Sé
6. Lee Keegan
7. Jack McCaffrey
8. Jack O'Shea
9. Brian Fenton
10. Diarmuid Connolly
11. Peter Canavan
12. Pat Spillane
13. Colm Cooper
14. Michael Murphy
15. Maurice Fitzgerald

Thoughts?"
Very good team, I'd find room for Martin O'Connell in defence instead of Moynihan, goalkeeper and midfield no brainers, forwards for all his incredible talent I wouldn't have Connolly there ahead of paul flynn or Alan Brogan

wexico15 (Wexford) - Posts: 2602 - 15/05/2020 18:53:42    2278290

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Replying To wexico15:  "Very good team, I'd find room for Martin O'Connell in defence instead of Moynihan, goalkeeper and midfield no brainers, forwards for all his incredible talent I wouldn't have Connolly there ahead of paul flynn or Alan Brogan"
While I think Alan Brogan was an excellent footballer I don't think he'd be in the conversation for the best 15 of the last 40 years. Bernard would be, imo, in that conversation for the full forward line but there is some very stiff competition in there!

Paul Flynn in his pomp is definitely in there but, perhaps, his high point came in too short a burst from 2011 to 2015, after that injuries servery curtailed him imo.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13145 - 15/05/2020 20:25:30    2278303

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Stevie McDonnell and Mickey Linden get in there for me. A little like John Mullane in hurling - never gave less than an 8/10 performance and usually a 9/10.

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 2911 - 15/05/2020 23:10:05    2278316

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I'm not going to suggest any Tyrone players as it would come across as rose tinted glasses and all that. Although I could make a case for a few.

I will throw Oisin McConville's name into the mix though. He was a born winner and in my opinion could have played on any of the 'great' teams and made them better. Never liked him but always respected the talent and will to win.

ShinerMackey (Tyrone) - Posts: 13 - 15/05/2020 23:23:46    2278320

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Absolutely pathetic. Fitting players into reams as usual to include media darlings

Keegan isn't a CB.

McGeeney, Gormley, O'Sullivan, all way ahead

Connolly at 10
Galvin, Flynn, Cavanagh , Dooher

Canavan at 11 yes he should be in the team but at 14/15
Giles, blaney, Declan O'Sullivan, McGuigan

Michael Murphy

No just no.

Canavan, Stafford are ahead of him.

In the Sunday game era, Dublin Kerry then Meath in terms of all Ireland's won, and no Meath representatives. I might be biased but then isn't this team biased too

brian (Meath) - Posts: 909 - 16/05/2020 02:40:35    2278330

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Replying To brian:  "Absolutely pathetic. Fitting players into reams as usual to include media darlings

Keegan isn't a CB.

McGeeney, Gormley, O'Sullivan, all way ahead

Connolly at 10
Galvin, Flynn, Cavanagh , Dooher

Canavan at 11 yes he should be in the team but at 14/15
Giles, blaney, Declan O'Sullivan, McGuigan

Michael Murphy

No just no.

Canavan, Stafford are ahead of him.

In the Sunday game era, Dublin Kerry then Meath in terms of all Ireland's won, and no Meath representatives. I might be biased but then isn't this team biased too"
Seems they votted line by line, full back, centre back etc, not specific for each position. Can't see the full team on RTE site, just some forwards. Were chosen from a long list per line. Kevin McStay was one option there, a good forward, no more, not worthy of a spot to even be voted for. Should be about the best players of the past 40 years not how many All Irelands they have won. Conor McManus wouldn't make the 15, but a class forward tgat deserves a mention. It's a good debating point, definitely divides opinions.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 5955 - 16/05/2020 09:54:02    2278339

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Seems they votted line by line, full back, centre back etc, not specific for each position. Can't see the full team on RTE site, just some forwards. Were chosen from a long list per line. Kevin McStay was one option there, a good forward, no more, not worthy of a spot to even be voted for. Should be about the best players of the past 40 years not how many All Irelands they have won. Conor McManus wouldn't make the 15, but a class forward tgat deserves a mention. It's a good debating point, definitely divides opinions."
Suprised that nobody mentioned Colm O'Rourke. He played for twenty year and from day one was a stunning corher- INHO way ahead of some of the corners mentioned above and from one to final bow out he was a brilliant player.

Oldertourman (Limerick) - Posts: 162 - 16/05/2020 20:36:20    2278415

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Replying To Oldertourman:  "Suprised that nobody mentioned Colm O'Rourke. He played for twenty year and from day one was a stunning corher- INHO way ahead of some of the corners mentioned above and from one to final bow out he was a brilliant player."
Agreed Oldtourman. O'Rourke was the best and most consistent of what was a very good full forward line and should be a strong contender for the team. However, I cannot agree with the poster who suggested that Brian Stafford should be on ahead of Michael Murphy. Stafford was a brilliant freetaker and a very good player but in my opinion wouldn't be in the same league as Murphy, or O'Rourke, for that matter.

midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 221 - 16/05/2020 21:54:50    2278426

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Went about picking a team and came away with 10 Kerry players so I'll admit to all claims of bias.

1. Stephen Cluxton
2. Paidi O'Sé
3. John O'Keefe
4. Marc O'Sé
5. Tomas O'Sé
6. Seamus Moynihan
7. Lee Keegan
8. Jack O'Shea
9. Darragh O'Sé
10. Pat Spillane
11. Matt Connor
12. Maurice Fitzgerald
13. Colm Cooper
14. Padraic Joyce
15. Peter Canavan

Kerry15 (Kerry) - Posts: 597 - 16/05/2020 23:34:09    2278434

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No Cork players either?

In the last 40 years Kerry won 11 allirelands dublin 9 meath 4 Cork 3 Tyrone 3 Galway 2, Donegal 2 Down 2 offaly 1 Derry 1 Armagh 1.

I think Mayo played in 9 of those 39 finals so great players there as well.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 11732 - 16/05/2020 23:44:33    2278436

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Replying To Kerry15:  "The Sunday Game Football team of the last 40 years as decided by a public vote:

1. Stephen Cluxton
2. Marc O'Sé
3. Seamus Moynihan
4. Paidí O'Sé
5. Tomas O'Sé
6. Lee Keegan
7. Jack McCaffrey
8. Jack O'Shea
9. Brian Fenton
10. Diarmuid Connolly
11. Peter Canavan
12. Pat Spillane
13. Colm Cooper
14. Michael Murphy
15. Maurice Fitzgerald

Thoughts?"
Good team. There are a few players shoehorned in to positions they didn't play which always seems to be the way with these teams and I think there is definitely some recency bias as well.

James McCarthy, Ciaran Kilkenny, Anthony Tohill, Darren Fay, Brian Dooher, Karl Lacey, Padraig Joyce, Sean Cavanagh, Paul Flynn, Kieran Mcgeeney, Paul Galvin, Graham Canty, Marty Forde, Mickey Linden, Graham Geraghty, Declan O'Sullivan, Martin O'Connell are just some of those that would have a convincing case to be included. You could name two teams as strong as each other.

Am I alone in thinking Connolly should be nowhere near a team like this? Brian Dooher at 10 for me, followed closely by Flynn and Galvin. James McCarthy should be in for Tomas O'Se too I feel, but that is a much closer one.

Graham Canty might be the most under-appreciated player of this period, you could easily have him in there for Keegan who never really played much at centre back. Kieran Mcgeeney would probably shade that spot for me though.

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1957 - 17/05/2020 00:36:43    2278438

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Just a different version of the All Stars really. Always a few left out that could well have been included.

catch22 (USA) - Posts: 1647 - 17/05/2020 09:38:13    2278441

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Replying To GeniusGerry:  "Good team. There are a few players shoehorned in to positions they didn't play which always seems to be the way with these teams and I think there is definitely some recency bias as well.

James McCarthy, Ciaran Kilkenny, Anthony Tohill, Darren Fay, Brian Dooher, Karl Lacey, Padraig Joyce, Sean Cavanagh, Paul Flynn, Kieran Mcgeeney, Paul Galvin, Graham Canty, Marty Forde, Mickey Linden, Graham Geraghty, Declan O'Sullivan, Martin O'Connell are just some of those that would have a convincing case to be included. You could name two teams as strong as each other.

Am I alone in thinking Connolly should be nowhere near a team like this? Brian Dooher at 10 for me, followed closely by Flynn and Galvin. James McCarthy should be in for Tomas O'Se too I feel, but that is a much closer one.

Graham Canty might be the most under-appreciated player of this period, you could easily have him in there for Keegan who never really played much at centre back. Kieran Mcgeeney would probably shade that spot for me though."
Basically impossible to pick a team when you see the list of players you've mentioned who are excluded. Karl Lacey, 4 All Stars and POTY. Padraig Joyce, one of the very best. Your list shows the trouble with a concept like this! Worth a try surely but just impossible

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 895 - 17/05/2020 10:19:42    2278442

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Replying To GeniusGerry:  "Good team. There are a few players shoehorned in to positions they didn't play which always seems to be the way with these teams and I think there is definitely some recency bias as well.

James McCarthy, Ciaran Kilkenny, Anthony Tohill, Darren Fay, Brian Dooher, Karl Lacey, Padraig Joyce, Sean Cavanagh, Paul Flynn, Kieran Mcgeeney, Paul Galvin, Graham Canty, Marty Forde, Mickey Linden, Graham Geraghty, Declan O'Sullivan, Martin O'Connell are just some of those that would have a convincing case to be included. You could name two teams as strong as each other.

Am I alone in thinking Connolly should be nowhere near a team like this? Brian Dooher at 10 for me, followed closely by Flynn and Galvin. James McCarthy should be in for Tomas O'Se too I feel, but that is a much closer one.

Graham Canty might be the most under-appreciated player of this period, you could easily have him in there for Keegan who never really played much at centre back. Kieran Mcgeeney would probably shade that spot for me though."
Agree about Connolly, Canty for Full back rather than centre back perhaps? A really good defender wherever you put him to be honest.

I'd have McGeeney ahead of Keegan at centre back too, then it's the simple choice between Mccarthy, T. Ó Sé and Keegan for right half back!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13145 - 17/05/2020 10:58:50    2278448

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Replying To Donegal_abroad:  "Basically impossible to pick a team when you see the list of players you've mentioned who are excluded. Karl Lacey, 4 All Stars and POTY. Padraig Joyce, one of the very best. Your list shows the trouble with a concept like this! Worth a try surely but just impossible"
Yes Lacey has every bit as good a claim as anybody in that back six, you can't really leave him out in fact, but who misses out in that case? I'd find it impossible to name just 15 myself so I'm not even going to try.

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1957 - 17/05/2020 10:58:51    2278449

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Hard to disagree with that 15 but I'll try!

1 Stephen Cluxton
2. Philly McMahon
3. Darren Fay
4. Paidí O'Sé
5 Tomás O' Sé
6. Seamus Moynihan
7. Martin O'Connell
8. Jack O' Sé
9. Séan Cavanagh
10. Alan Brogan
11. Michael Donnelan
12. Pat Spillane
13. Matt Connor
14. Colm Cooper
15. Peter Canavan"
No Martin O'Connell and he on team of millennium? And no graham geraghty.
I know I may be biased. But them two are two of the greatest players to ever play.
What do I think of it? Load of B*#*#^

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 17035 - 17/05/2020 11:38:25    2278451

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Anthony Lynch of Cork was a great corner back. He use to have good tussles with Cooper. Karl Lacey had 2 All Stars as a corner back before McGuinness took over, then 2 All Stars at centre back. Ciaran Mcdonald was a brilliant centre forward.

They could probaly name another 2 or 3 teams to rival the chosen team.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2216 - 17/05/2020 12:08:33    2278455

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