The best score I’ve ever seen live was from Eoin Kelly in 2006 in Thurles v Limerick, the day he got the 16 points or whatever it was. He was top of the right as always but he basically was hurling Limerick on his own. He came out for a Puck-Out to the Half Forward line, managed to get in front of Brian Geary in the air, brought the ball down from the sky with a touch, controlled it, into the hand, swivel and strike (all in the blink of an eye) with his bodyfacing away from goal. All the Limerick fans around me, who weren’t just there for the day and could appreciate the quality, applauded.
He went out against Cork in the following game and had another unreal performance where he scored a carbon copy from a slightly longer distance. A fucking magician when fit.
Kelly had it all, and has to be above Canning, so far. He even had that nice bit of dirt to take Ollie out of the 2010 semifinal. Three points scored from that corner in the last few minutes won that game for them. A complete player.
What about his poor scoring record in All-Ireland finals, surely the acid test of a great player is in the biggest matches. He failed to deliver, consistently, on the biggest of stages.
Tipp weren’t next nor near good enough to win All Ireland’s when Kelly was in his prime. He was just out of minor in 01. He was outstanding in 09 and by 2010 and 2011 he could barely move with his back. He never missed a free in an All Ireland final iirc
That suggests he had plenty of bottle which further raises questions as to why he didn’t score from play. Canning got 1-1 in drawn match and 0-2 and a sideline in the replay. He got 0-3 from play in the 2015 final. Hardly shooting the lights out but still pretty consistent.
Can you confirm how many scores from play the second greatest forward in the last 25 years got in All-Ireland finals? You accused Canning of not being great because he hadn’t won an All-Ireland despite contributing from play in every one he played in and helped greatly to get Galway there in the first place. Kelly who didn’t chip in from play is deemed better because he was won All-Irelands even though he didn’t contribute from play.
He got 7 points in 01 (1 from play) just out of minor. Joe wasn’t even playing inter county senior at the same age. He got 13 points in 09 (4 from play I think, could have been five). 7 in 2010(I think one from play) and 8 in 2011(1 from play). Quite decent for a lad who was nowhere near his prime for those games. Canning has been in his prime for all his All Irelands