One of the greats of the game

21

Russell was brilliant between '00 and '02 but faded badly after that. Got pushed aside a bit by the emergence of Cooper and O’Sullivan. A good few Kerry forwards of that era also got pushed aside when they would have been main players in other counties - eg Crowley, Kennelly, MacGearailt, Laide. And of course Fitzgerald.

His highpoint was probably the replay against Armagh in 2000, got two goals which turned the match. Also remember him kicking a sideline over the bar with his left against Dublin in the replay in Thurles which was nearly as good as Fitzgerald’s one. Never the same player after Tyrone humiliated them in '03.

22

Great footballer in his pomp. Him and Moynihan were the main reason Galway didn’t win the all Ireland in 2000.

23

[quote=“The Puke”]A good player but lacked the longevity to be called a great in my book, struugled to get his game with Kerry for the past 3 or 4 years…

On a somewhat related topic, I see Kerry Colleges are competing in the Harty Cup this year[/QUOTE]

Wonderful idea, the Kerry development squad (mainly U-17’s) are playing in the Cork Premiier Minor hurling leagues. A great idea and is great for hurling in Kerry, they are taking a few scalps as well. Now one might think that the whole of Kerry should be doing well, but they are really only picking from 5 or 6 small clubs. Duhallow (with 13 clubs) took a few years to settle into Premier hurling in Cork, but are reaping the benefits big time. Well done to all.

24

Hurling would be as strong in North Kerry as it would in West Limerick (i.e. not very but still capable of producing good players). The likes of Causeway would always have been competitive in the VEC competitions.

25

Didn’t Causeway win the All-Ireland “A” title last year?

I played hurling with Ballyheigh a few times. The best players were as good as the best players i played against in Cork, but the weaker players were way off the lesser players in Cork.

26

You forgot to finish the highlighted part

'cause they weren’t good enough

I won’t miss MFR

He was accurate tho’ even if too slow for Kerry. He featured when Forwards were thin on the ground.

Nice Trophy cabinet to looking at it must be said.

I imagine he wears shirts similar to Fanny,

27

he won a Feile all Ireland medal too. to say tho he featured when forwards were thin on the ground is a bit off the mark. He was cometing with Billy O Shea, Dara O Cinneide, Fitzgerald, Crowley, all players of high standards. probably never nailed himself down in the team tho enough, but as said, its hard enough in Kerry to do that.

28

He went through a purple patch around the early stages of this millenium alright when he was simply incredible from right foot or left foot.

Went off the boil though afterwards. Agree with Puke - lacked the longevity to be called great.

29

Never nailed down a place? For 6 or 7 years he was irreplacable I’d have said. In Kerry thats not easily done.

30

'02 was the last year where he was on top form.

31

The game changed on MFR, his style never suited it after 03.

He had a knack of getting out in front, getting away from his man, planting his foot and firing over the bar off either foot with nare a cursory glance that few others in the game had.

His goal v Cavan in 97 (?) and Armagh in 02 were outrageous stuff. Seemed to play his best football off Maurice I suppose.

32

[quote=“myboyblue”]The game changed on MFR, his style never suited it after 03.
[/QUOTE]

Hardly great then in that case.

33

Fair point farmer. Greater than most, how about that? Lynch could never handle him in his pomp, cant say fairer than that about the man.

34

I’d play him off the park because I’m that damn good.

35

Wouldn’t cal him a great of the game at all. His medal haul is great alright no doubt. He’d never make anyone’s top 15 of the last 20 years anyway I’d say.
An excellent player no doubt. Jack O’Connor didn’t think a whole lot of his efforts though according to his autobigraphy.

36

think the fact the GAA are trying out rules in the league to curtail the fouling tells you that they are fully aware that the skill levels in football are being diminished by the physical approach…
I would say MFR was a great footballer but not a great athlete…
Unfortunately GAA in last 7 or so years has moved more towards an emphasis on the latter…thats why there are a lot of very poor games where the basics are sadly lacking but the intensity and effort is there for full 70 minutes…

37

To be the man, woooo, you gotta beat the man!

38

Your forgetting Derek Savage

39

True. Was it Joyce that was in acres of space and the little fecker didn’t give it to him?

40

Moynihan hails departing Russell
By Fintan O’Toole

Thursday, June 25, 2009

FORMER Kerry All-Ireland winning captain Seamus Moynihan has hailed Mike Frank Russell as one of the greatest corner-forwards the county has ever produced.

Russell has opted out of Kerry’s championship squad for the remainder of the season, and looks to have brought the curtain down on a 12-year senior intercounty career.

Moynihan featured with Russell on All-Ireland winning sides in 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006, and insists the Laune Rangers man has made ‘a huge contribution’ to Kerry football.

Moynihan said: "He was a fantastic corner-forward, one of the greatest Kerry have ever produced.

"He made a huge contribution to our side. I’ll always remember him for 1997 in his debut year when got that great goal against Cavan after a super pass by Maurice Fitzgerald that split the defence.

"In 2000 he was key as well, scoring 2-3 against Armagh in the semi-final and brilliant in the drawn game against Galway in the final. In 2002 he was great all year even though we didn’t win out.

"He was a nightmare to mark. When he got the ball in training, it was tough for a back as he could go onto either leg. He’d a great poacher’s eye for goals as well. I don’t think people realise he was well able to field a ball. It meant you could give into him high or low.

“It’s a pity to see him go, as himself and Darragh (O S) were the last of our era still there. I suppose he’s doing what is right for himself as he’s going back playing club football. He’s had a fantastic career when you look at all the medals he has. He was on the last Kerry team to win the All-Ireland minor title in 1994, and he’s U21 and senior All-Irelands as well. Then he’s the All-Ireland club with Laune Rangers and the All-Ireland school with Intermediate School Killorglin. Not too many players will ever have a record like that.”

Meanwhile Kerry have been boosted ahead of their All-Ireland qualifier date on July 11 by the return of key attacker Kieran Donaghy to training on Tuesday night.

The session also saw the return of Kilcummin defender Mike McCarthy from retirement, who has been absent from the squad since 2006. Aidan O’Mahony showed no ill-effects of a recent shoulder injury in training but Killian Young and Toms O S both sat out the session.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Thursday, June 25, 2009

http://www.examiner.ie/sport/gaa/moynihan-hails-departing-russell-94911.html#ixzz0JRARFGMM&D