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Irish Independent Top 20 Players

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Replying To CC2020:  "Naturally I'd be more of a hurling man but there's one glaring omission in the football for me.

Graham Geraghty. He was a Rolls Royce of a player. Be it wing back, wing forward, centre back as a minor. A huge array of skills. Career began in autumn 1991 and lasted 20 years.

Giles got the players of the year awards in 1996 and 1999 and was a great distributor but Geraghty was a better player. Giles was finished after 2004 at 29 too. Geraghty was also sensational at compromise rules.

Mickey Linden is another one who probably should be on the list.

Is it just my opinion or is Mikey Sheehy very overrated and a certain goal is used to confirm his 'genius'?"
Mikey Sheehy was a good player, especially an excellent free taker, rarely missed. But as regards winning dirty ball or fighting for his own ball, well, it never really happened. I'd rate John Egan far higher than Sheehy. See, Kerry at the time were so dominant that the likes of Sheehy nearly always got played in the perfect ball. He was the finisher at the end of the production line, and was very stylish when putting the ball away. Imagine if Declan Browne, Mattie Forde or Colin McManus has the luxury of the quality ball that put on a plate for Sheehy! Eh?

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 31 - 10/06/2020 13:39:54    2280283

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maybe the 32 best players list with 1 from each county may be more interesting but may prove more difficult for these so called pundits as they wouldn't have a clue about a lot of the counties outside the so called bigger counties..

Tod (Kerry) - Posts: 31 - 10/06/2020 14:39:45    2280292

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Replying To Breezy:  "genuine question as I dont read the indo. In what way is it anti north? in just sport or politics aswell"
Breezy

Look at the editorials - look at the Sunday Indo - its shocking
During the Peace Process, the biggest critic of John Hume was the indo and it's sister paper.... they really went to town on John - even loyalists weren't as strong in their language
It is a paper which most nationalist would despise, we know it is anti-republican but it is very ant- northern....
It's editorial has always been pro- partition and at one time pro -bitish. The paper strongly supported the execution of the 1916 leaders and was a strong critic of the union jack being removed from key Dublin buildings such as Trinity in the '50's.

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1589 - 10/06/2020 14:54:42    2280295

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Replying To cuchulainn35:  "Breezy

Look at the editorials - look at the Sunday Indo - its shocking
During the Peace Process, the biggest critic of John Hume was the indo and it's sister paper.... they really went to town on John - even loyalists weren't as strong in their language
It is a paper which most nationalist would despise, we know it is anti-republican but it is very ant- northern....
It's editorial has always been pro- partition and at one time pro -bitish. The paper strongly supported the execution of the 1916 leaders and was a strong critic of the union jack being removed from key Dublin buildings such as Trinity in the '50's."
I'm sure if the Irish News did a similar poll of greatest players it would be heavy loaded with Ulstermen.

I'm not sure how many papers the indo sells in the north but sometimes these things boil down to economics. And the great thing is in a free society one doesn't have to buy that particular paper. Plenty more around.

shirleybull (Roscommon) - Posts: 3 - 10/06/2020 15:16:11    2280298

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Replying To CC2020:  "Naturally I'd be more of a hurling man but there's one glaring omission in the football for me.

Graham Geraghty. He was a Rolls Royce of a player. Be it wing back, wing forward, centre back as a minor. A huge array of skills. Career began in autumn 1991 and lasted 20 years.

Giles got the players of the year awards in 1996 and 1999 and was a great distributor but Geraghty was a better player. Giles was finished after 2004 at 29 too. Geraghty was also sensational at compromise rules.

Mickey Linden is another one who probably should be on the list.

Is it just my opinion or is Mikey Sheehy very overrated and a certain goal is used to confirm his 'genius'?"
"Mikey Sheehy very over-rated"?
I don't think so!
No one scored more goals.
Third highest scorer of all time.
Only Pat Spillane and Colm Cooper won more All-Stars.
And, he was on both Team of the Century and Team of the Millennium; they can't all be wrong.
Oh, I almost forgot: he won 8 All Ireland medals; no one won more.

Aibrean (Kerry) - Posts: 177 - 10/06/2020 17:09:14    2280317

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Replying To cuchulainn35:  "Breezy

Look at the editorials - look at the Sunday Indo - its shocking
During the Peace Process, the biggest critic of John Hume was the indo and it's sister paper.... they really went to town on John - even loyalists weren't as strong in their language
It is a paper which most nationalist would despise, we know it is anti-republican but it is very ant- northern....
It's editorial has always been pro- partition and at one time pro -bitish. The paper strongly supported the execution of the 1916 leaders and was a strong critic of the union jack being removed from key Dublin buildings such as Trinity in the '50's."
Your view represents that of SF. Simple as that.
The Sunday Independent is, by far, the best selling Sunday paper in Ireland. Accordingly, not too many people find it 'shocking'.

Aibrean (Kerry) - Posts: 177 - 10/06/2020 17:19:57    2280318

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Replying To cavanman47:  "Sheehy overrated?

He was the top scorer in championship history before the introduction of the qualifiers."
James Young of Laois hurlers was top scorer in championship was top scorer in a few championships in the early 2000s. A fine Hitler but not a Canning, Carey, Whelehan, Shefflin etc.

Easy for Sheehy to amass high scores as free taker and playing in games like the Miltown Malbay massacre v Clare in 1979. When Kerry scored 9 goals.

CC2020 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 46 - 10/06/2020 19:33:16    2280337

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Replying To Aibrean:  "Your view represents that of SF. Simple as that.
The Sunday Independent is, by far, the best selling Sunday paper in Ireland. Accordingly, not too many people find it 'shocking'."
I'm not a SF supporter but on the whole I would agree with the poster Cuchulainn. I think his views on this subject have wider currency than just SF

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1448 - 10/06/2020 19:37:30    2280339

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "Mikey Sheehy was a good player, especially an excellent free taker, rarely missed. But as regards winning dirty ball or fighting for his own ball, well, it never really happened. I'd rate John Egan far higher than Sheehy. See, Kerry at the time were so dominant that the likes of Sheehy nearly always got played in the perfect ball. He was the finisher at the end of the production line, and was very stylish when putting the ball away. Imagine if Declan Browne, Mattie Forde or Colin McManus has the luxury of the quality ball that put on a plate for Sheehy! Eh?"
Exactly my sentiments on Sheehy. Dainty.

Wouldn't lace Pat Spillane, Bomber Liston, John Egan or Maurice Fitz boots in Kerry.

High totals amassed when Munster was poor and Connaught, Ulster opposition in all ireland semis.

He wouldn't have got a look in if he came up against Tyrone, Armagh defences of the 2000s or Dublin and others now.

People criticise Gooch against northern teams. But in the likes of 2005 he still scored 3 pts from play v Tyrone.

CC2020 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 46 - 10/06/2020 19:41:57    2280340

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Replying To Aibrean:  ""Mikey Sheehy very over-rated"?
I don't think so!
No one scored more goals.
Third highest scorer of all time.
Only Pat Spillane and Colm Cooper won more All-Stars.
And, he was on both Team of the Century and Team of the Millennium; they can't all be wrong.
Oh, I almost forgot: he won 8 All Ireland medals; no one won more."
Always liked Mikey Sheehy, good player who got on with the job. I thought John Egan RIP, didn't always get the prise he deserved. He was a strong man, who got a lot of important scores for Kerry. He tended to be overshadowed by some of the more high profile players, but very effective for Kerry.

MicktheMiller (Offaly) - Posts: 112 - 10/06/2020 21:26:14    2280361

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Replying To CC2020:  "Naturally I'd be more of a hurling man but there's one glaring omission in the football for me.

Graham Geraghty. He was a Rolls Royce of a player. Be it wing back, wing forward, centre back as a minor. A huge array of skills. Career began in autumn 1991 and lasted 20 years.

Giles got the players of the year awards in 1996 and 1999 and was a great distributor but Geraghty was a better player. Giles was finished after 2004 at 29 too. Geraghty was also sensational at compromise rules.

Mickey Linden is another one who probably should be on the list.

Is it just my opinion or is Mikey Sheehy very overrated and a certain goal is used to confirm his 'genius'?"
I'd agree with you Geraghty vs Giles. I'd pick Geraghty every time. I think he was a superior player in almost every aspect. Giles had the advantage of being on the ball a lot as a playmaker, but I think Geraghty could have done this job too, given his quality of kicking. He was a far better ball-winner and scorer and the man for a big score too. As you said, he played at a very high level for longer than Giles as well.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 875 - 10/06/2020 22:13:39    2280364

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Replying To CC2020:  "James Young of Laois hurlers was top scorer in championship was top scorer in a few championships in the early 2000s. A fine Hitler but not a Canning, Carey, Whelehan, Shefflin etc.

Easy for Sheehy to amass high scores as free taker and playing in games like the Miltown Malbay massacre v Clare in 1979. When Kerry scored 9 goals."
Spellcheck. A fine "hurler".

I didn't intend to place Hitler in the top 20 footballers and hurlers. I know he liked parading around in brown shorts but I know little of his sporting prowess.

CC2020 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 46 - 11/06/2020 01:29:14    2280381

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They always feel the need to stick an O Shea on these lists - in reality Tomas should not be on it.
Mickey Lindon, Anthony Tohill, Michael Donnellan, Bernard Brogan snr, Jack McCaffrey, Ciaran McDonald are all better footballers than him.

hopballref (Galway) - Posts: 249 - 12/06/2020 10:33:28    2280482

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Replying To hopballref:  "They always feel the need to stick an O Shea on these lists - in reality Tomas should not be on it.
Mickey Lindon, Anthony Tohill, Michael Donnellan, Bernard Brogan snr, Jack McCaffrey, Ciaran McDonald are all better footballers than him."
Why not?

Of the players you named Jack McCaffrey is the only one who played in the same position as him. The others were midfeilders or forwards

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 402 - 12/06/2020 10:49:20    2280485

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Replying To CC2020:  "Spellcheck. A fine "hurler".

I didn't intend to place Hitler in the top 20 footballers and hurlers. I know he liked parading around in brown shorts but I know little of his sporting prowess."
I'm not one to pick up on typos - I make a few myself.

But sometimes, they're funny.

lionofludesch (Down) - Posts: 369 - 12/06/2020 11:04:12    2280489

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Replying To oneoff:  "Why not?

Of the players you named Jack McCaffrey is the only one who played in the same position as him. The others were midfeilders or forwards"
The list is the top-20 players regardless of position, so it's irrelevant whether the other players mentioned weren't wing-backs. It's not a greatest team selection, just a list. If he feels the other players were better players, then he can name them.
I wouldn't have Tomás as one of the best 20 players in the last 50 years, but a decent argument can me made for him.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 875 - 12/06/2020 11:08:39    2280490

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Replying To Aibrean:  "Your view represents that of SF. Simple as that.
The Sunday Independent is, by far, the best selling Sunday paper in Ireland. Accordingly, not too many people find it 'shocking'."
Being by far the best selling Sunday paper is irrelevant -the opinion is based on an individual or a few individuals -selling more papers does not make the opinion more correct. A recent survey demonstrates that the majority of people think that less than 20% of printed material is factually correct. My own experience would concur.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2189 - 12/06/2020 13:27:03    2280507

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Replying To Aibrean:  "Your view represents that of SF. Simple as that.
The Sunday Independent is, by far, the best selling Sunday paper in Ireland. Accordingly, not too many people find it 'shocking'."
The Independent Group also owns The Belfast Telegraph, the No. 1 Unionist paper in the North. You will see plenty of the same articles in The Independent, Sunday Independent and Belfast Telegraph which are all very pro Unionist and pro partition papers. The Independent Group was very, very anti Peace Process Process, is rabidly anti-Northern Nationalist and lambasted John Hume for speaking to Republicans, that is FACT! It's all on record so to say that this is just a Sinn Fein view is patent nonsense.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9294 - 13/06/2020 02:04:39    2280572

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Replying To lionofludesch:  "I'm not one to pick up on typos - I make a few myself.

But sometimes, they're funny."
A full back line of Brian Lohan at full, JJ Delaney and Hitler in the corners would quiten many a full forward line!

CC2020 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 46 - 13/06/2020 18:32:40    2280685

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Replying To CC2020:  "Naturally I'd be more of a hurling man but there's one glaring omission in the football for me.

Graham Geraghty. He was a Rolls Royce of a player. Be it wing back, wing forward, centre back as a minor. A huge array of skills. Career began in autumn 1991 and lasted 20 years.

Giles got the players of the year awards in 1996 and 1999 and was a great distributor but Geraghty was a better player. Giles was finished after 2004 at 29 too. Geraghty was also sensational at compromise rules.

Mickey Linden is another one who probably should be on the list.

Is it just my opinion or is Mikey Sheehy very overrated and a certain goal is used to confirm his 'genius'?"
If you must talk about Meath players give me Colm O'Rourke any day. I have seen them all since the sixties and in my opinion he was by far and away the best Royal player in that period.

Oldertourman (Limerick) - Posts: 162 - 13/06/2020 21:32:05    2280726

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