Retiring GAA Stars tribute thread - May cause brain/neck damage

In fairness, you’ve earned a few here.

I’m winning very easily and the best you brain donors have is dumb ratings.

+1. Bizarre stuff by the two lads here.

Manuel has it covered mate, no need for me to repeat. Wouldn’t often agree with him but he has won this round.

manuel taking an awful pasting here

If glasagusban who has disagreed with just about every viewpoint I’ve ever proffered on this forum is grudgingly scoring this as a win for yours truly, there can be no doubt that Bomber has been well and truly destroyed here.

Agree. But fix your spelling.

Jesus, this isn’t so much rope a dope, as beating the utter complete shite out of a dope. Leave him alone now Manuel, it’s getting sad now.
My thread, I’ll have the final say - Sean Armstrong is a GAA Star and we wish him well on his retirement.

admins, dungeon this thread

[QUOTE=“Fitzy, post: 1058973, member: 236”]Jesus, this isn’t so much rope a dope, as beating the utter complete shite out of a dope. Leave him alone now Manuel, it’s getting sad now.
My thread, I’ll have the final say - Sean Armstrong is a GAA Star and we wish him well on his retirement.[/QUOTE]

Its like Shane Warne back in the day gifting a few boundaries first few balls to Alec Stewart or Daryll Cullinan, who can’t believe their new found good fortune. Five minutes later they’re on the way back to the pavilion and scheduling another meeting with the psychologist.

Mate, the GGA is dying, haven’t you heard? Let us have our last few moments of nostalgia before you bury us.

Whoa there @Fitzy , just because a pantheon of legends with rakes of medals call time doesn’t mean the end. Galway will be back. Possibly Kilkenny as well.

I’m sure they’ll continue to pursue their hobby Boxty, but the GGA is dying see. Soon enough we’ll have a Retiring Rugby Stars Tribute Thread to delight @theselfishgiant

The Independent’s best 15 of the 21st century not to win an All Ireland.

GOALKEEPER

Brendan McVeigh (Down)

In goals, there are strong claims for stalwart shot-stoppers such as Gary Connaughton of Westmeath. Connaughton won his Leinster medal with the Lake County and had all the dependability and agility you could wish for in a 'keeper. That said, McVeigh of Down just shades the verdict, as he could match most, if not all, goalies in the country in the basics, and tested his mettle on the big stage of an All-Ireland final.

RIGHT CORNER-BACK

Sean marty lockhart (Derry)

Strong, tough, resilient, a player that forwards knew would make life difficult for them, Lockhart served the Oak Leafer so well and for so long - winning an All Star in 1998. Mention must also go to John Keane of Westmeath, one of only three Lake County players to get an All Star award.

FULL-BACK

Barry Owens (Fermanagh)

Not many people knew he had serious heart surgery as a 13-year-old and that he had a further heart operation in later life. Owens also had to deal with bad ‘ordinary’ injuries but defied all odds to become a talisman for his county and won two All Star awards.

LEFT CORNER-BACK

Joe Higgins (Laois)

Defenders don’t command the glamour or the attention lavished on forwards, but Higgins was appreciated by aficionados for his tenacious and precise tackling and top-quality defending. Played on the International Rules team and got an All Star in 2003.

RIGHT HALF-BACK

Aaron Kernan (Armagh)

His recent announcement of his retirement from inter-county football was greeted with much surprise. Intelligent and adaptable to the demands of the modern game, he did his defensive work but always offered a threat going forward at the right time.

CENTRE half-BACK

Glenn Ryan (Kildare)

One of the great centre-backs, Ryan was an inspirational defender and leader with Kildare. Teak-tough, dedicated and physically very strong, he never let the Lilywhites down.

LEFT HALF-BACK

Kevin Cassidy (Donegal)

Cassidy will always be remembered for that iconic point that edged Donegal home against Kildare in extra-time of the 2011 quarter-final but the infamous fall-out of his contribution to Declan Bogue’s ‘This is Our Year’ book cost a fine footballer his shot at glory the following year.

MIDFIELD

Dermot Earley (Kildare)

At age 20 Earley lined out at wing-forward in the Sam Maguire Cup decider of 1998. The Sarsfields powerhouse must have thought the chance would come again but fate decreed otherwise. He went on to become one of the outstanding midfielders of his generation. Tall, mobile, strong, he became a mainstay for the Lilywhites.

MIDFIELD

Ciaran Whelan (Dublin)

‘Whelo’ would be in any team of great players who have never won the All-Ireland. Dynamic, strong in possession and very good going forward, time just ran out for a player who was inspirational and a real driving force for the Dubs. Six Leinster medals and two All Stars are his career highlights. Unfortunate that he came on the scene in 1996 and retired in '09.

RIGHT HALF-FORWARD

Johnny Doyle (Kildare)

Free-taker par excellence, but also a clever, hard-working forward who got even better as he got older. Deserves his place of honour in the Kildare football story.

CENTRE-FORWARD

Eamonn O’Hara (Sligo)

Played on the Sligo senior team for 19 years. Equally at home at half-back, midfield or forwards, O’Hara is justifiably rated as one of the best players to represent his county, and would have got a place in any county team in the country.

LEFT HALF-FORWARD

Dessie Dolan (Westmeath)

His football skills, his will o’ the wisp movement, his consistency over such a long period and ability to find space, plus his scoring rate ensure that Dolan ranks among the finest forwards ever to play the game.

RIGHT CORNER-FORWARD

Declan Browne (Tipperary)

A premier player for the Premier County, Browne was widely recognised as one of the most stylish and effective forwards in football. Possessed a magical array of skills which earned two All Stars that were fully deserved.

FULL-FORWARD

MattY Forde (Wexford)

Prolific with either foot, Forde was a joy to behold with ball in hand, and was the first name on any Wexford manager’s team-sheet. The Model County teams that he played on gave the Dubs some torrid times in Leinster but could not make that big breakthrough.

LEFT CORNER-FORWARD

Benny Coulter (Down)

And this is where we started, with Coulter’s retirement. A top-class forward, Coulter gave his all for Down during a career lasting 15 years. Never won an Ulster medal and rounded off his inter-county career with regrets about that 2010 missed opportunity for the Mourne men

SUBSTITUTES

Goalkeeper: Gary Connaughton (Westmeath)

Defenders: John Keane (Westmeath), Anthony Rainbow (Kildare), Aaron Hoey (Louth), Brian Lacey (Kildare)

Midfielders: Paddy Keenan (Louth), Enda Muldoon (Derry)

Forwards: Paddy Bradley (Derry), Ciaran McDonald (Mayo), Trevor Mortimer (Mayo), Danny Hughes (Down)

Presumably this is players who have packed it in, otherwise the likes of Ciaran McKeever, Mallon and Keith Higgins would feature.

Wouldn’t have much dispute with the defence but the forward line is a joke. Paddy Bradley and Ciaran McDonald would have walked onto any forward line in the country in that time. I was going out with a girl from Monagahan Town when Paddy Bradley was in his pomp, I remember going to a qualifier where Derry were playing Monaghan, Bradley scored 2-06 from play that day. He was as good a forward as I’ve ever seen, some man to win his own ball and could score from anywhere. McDonald was just a genius, an absolute pleasure to watch in action.

To have Declan Browne over Bradley is a joke.

Beano McDonald’s omission is a thundering disgrace. Tom Kelly’s to a lesser extent.

Fergal Doherty and Dan Gordon deserve to be the midfield pairing.*

*If they’ve retired.

Michael Hegarty and Adrian Sweeney should also be in there.

For me Ciaran McDonald is THE best player never to win an All Ireland. Him being on the bench with the likes of Eamonn O’Hara in his centre forward position is ridiculous.

I presume the likes of Brown and O’Hara are there by virtue of playing for weaker counties. Tommy Freeman is another who would be pushing very close to that side. Bradley and McDonald are the best forwards there, not to include them is obscene.

[QUOTE=“Il Bomber Destro, post: 1061462, member: 2533”]The Independent’s best 15 of the 21st century not to win an All Ireland.

Presumably this is players who have packed it in, otherwise the likes of Ciaran McKeever, Mallon and Keith Higgins would feature.

Wouldn’t have much dispute with the defence but the forward line is a joke. Paddy Bradley and Ciaran McDonald would have walked onto any forward line in the country in that time. I was going out with a girl from Monagahan Town when Paddy Bradley was in his pomp, I remember going to a qualifier where Derry were playing Monaghan, Bradley scored 2-06 from play that day. He was as good a forward as I’ve ever seen, some man to win his own ball and could score from anywhere. McDonald was just a genius, an absolute pleasure to watch in action.

To have Declan Browne over Bradley is a joke.[/QUOTE]
Proof if ever needed you are clueless.
Browne was up there with Gooch, Meehan, Brogan. An unbelievable footballer. He just didn’t have the support.
You really are a pathetic nordie cunt.