What a waste of time
Cool, its a joke so.
100 Oisin McConville (Armagh) No player has scored more in Ulster championship history, a considerable achievement by any standards, underlining the nerves of steel he possessed. Seven Ulster titles, one All-Ireland with Armagh and four with his club Crossmaglen point to a great career.
99 Tony McTague (Offaly) Offaly’s All-Ireland winning captain and wing-forward in 1972 was an All Star on the first two teams selected and was renowned for his almost unerring accuracy from both play and frees.
98 Tom O’Hare (Down) O’Hare began the 1968 All-Ireland final against Kerry at corner-back but was quickly shifted to centre-back on to Kerry dangerman Pat Griffin and his influence was profound. For such a big man he oozed skill on the ball.
97 Glenn Ryan (Kildare) The dominant figure on the team that brought glory back to Kildare in the 1990s, Ryan led them from centre-back with courageous displays, none better than their 1997 championship win over Laois with 13 men. Captained Kildare in '98.
96 Tony Hanahoe (Dublin) One of Gaelic football’s great captains and great leaders, Hanahoe provided an intelligent presence to Dublin’s half-forward line in the 1970s. Captain and coach to Dublin in 1977.
95 Sean Lowry (Offaly and Mayo) One of the few players to win All Stars in defence (1982) and attack (1979), Lowry was hugely versatile and featured on Offaly’s All-Ireland winning teams of 1972 and '82. Won a Connacht medal with Mayo in '85.
94 Charlie Gallagher (Cavan) Gallagher’s time with Cavan came after their All-Ireland successes but he nevertheless helped them to three Ulster titles with a prolific scoring return, topping the scoring charts in 1965 (123 points) and 1967 (109 points).
93 Tony McManus (Roscommon) One of the greatest forwards never to win an All-Ireland medal, McManus was unfortunate enough to lose out in five All-Ireland club finals with Clanna Gael. An All Star in 1989, he had to be satisfied with six Connacht medals.
92 Colm McAlarney (Down) The only footballer to win Railway Cup medals in three different decades, he was 20 years old when he made such a huge impact as a midfielder on Down’s All-Ireland-winning 1968 team and continued playing into the 1980s.
91 Paddy O’Driscoll (Cork) His selection at right corner-back on the Munster ‘team of the millennium’ is evidence of the high regard O’Driscoll, who lost All-Ireland finals in 1956 and '57, was held in.
90 Pat O’Shea (Kerry) Nicknamed ‘Aeroplane’ because of the height he could jump and the way he could field a ball, O’Shea’s reputation as an early Kerry legend has stood the test of time. Won All-Ireland medals in 1913 and 1914.
89 Brian McEniff (Donegal) McEniff’s name is synonymous with Donegal football and, more to the point, Donegal success. An All Star half-back in 1972 when he helped Donegal to their first ever Ulster title which they added to in '74.
88 Mickey Linden (Down) Now making his mark in veterans athletics, which is no surprise because pace and opportunism were his hallmarks as a player. Won two All-Ireland medals but, surprisingly, just one All Star in 1994.
87 Anton O’Toole (Dublin) Stood apart for that loping stride of his synonymous with the Dublin team of the 1970s. O’Toole was one of the few to win All-Ireland medals in 1974, '76, '77 and again in '83. For three years (1975-77), he was an All Star.
86 Larry Stanley (Kildare and Dublin) Won All-Ireland medals with Kildare (1919) and Dublin (1923) and also represented Ireland in the high jump at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris.
85 Oliver Freaney (Dublin) A member of the famed St Vincent’s club that dominated football in Dublin, he won 13 senior county championships and was Dublin’s leading marksman throughout the 1950s.
84 Donie O’Sullivan (Kerry)
A dead-ball specialist, Donie captained Kerry to All-Ireland success in 1970 and followed up with All Stars in 1971 and '72 in a highly versatile career.
83 Des Foley (Dublin) Dual star Des set a record on St Patrick’s Day in 1962, winning Railway Cup medals in both hurling and football on the same afternoon. Dublin’s midfielder and captain in their 1963 All-Ireland final triumph.
82 Dermot Earley (Roscommon) Now chief of staff with the Irish Defence Forces, Dermot Earley had the distinction of being the first player to represent his county at minor, U-21 and senior in the same year. Such was his reputation as a midfielder he was ‘chaired’ off the field in his last Conancht championship match which he lost in 1985.
81 John McDermott (Meath) The enforcer in the engine room of Sean Boylan’s Meath teams of the 1990s. A ferocious competitor and greater fielder, he won All Stars in 1996, '98 and '99.
80 Anthony Tohill (Derry) The wonder was that Tohill and Derry didn’t manage to build on their only All-Ireland title in 1993. An AFL and Manchester United trialist, for a big man he possessed all the skills and could dominate a game. Winner of four All Stars (1992, '93, '98 and 2000).
79 Jack Quinn (Meath) Looked set for a stellar career as a midfielder in the 1960s but shifted to full-back for Meath’s 1967 All-Ireland triumph over Cork where he saw out the remainder of his career. A stylish operator.
78 Charlie Nelligan (Kerry) Provided the security for Kerry behind a magnificent defence for seven All-Ireland triumphs from 1978 to '86. An All Star in 1980 and '86, Nelligan also claimed three successive All-Ireland U-21 medals.
77 Willie Bryan (Offaly) His performance in the 1972 All-Ireland final against Kerry when, as Offaly captain, he eclipsed the great Mick O’Connell, is still spoken of fondly, a performance that subsequently earned him ‘Footballer of the Year’ and a second All Star.
76 Dick Fitzgerald (Kerry) Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney is named after one of Kerry football’s early legends. ‘Dickeen’, as he was known, was involved in their first five All-Ireland successes and captained the team in 1913 and 1914. A man considered ahead of his time.
100 Brendan Cummins (Tipperary) Would have completed his 15th championship season with another All Star award were it not for PJ Ryan’s heroics in the All-Ireland final. Still, Cummins has four All Star awards and there may be more to come.
99 Iggy Clarke (Galway) A triple All Star winner at wing-back and midfield in 1975-78-79, he was typical of the new energy which transformed Galway hurling into a powerful force in the early 1970s. Unfortunately for him, he missed out on the big All-Ireland breakthrough in 1980 due to injury.
98 Padraig Horan (Offaly) Captaining Offaly to their first All-Ireland SHC title in 1981 guaranteed him a place in the county’s folklore. By then he was a full-forward having previously excelled in the full-back line where he won three successive Railway Cup medals with Leinster in 1973-74-75.
97 Mick Jacob (Wexford) Played in goal, defence and midfield for Wexford at underage/senior level but it was at centre-back that he made most impact, a position in which he won three All Star awards in 1972-76-77.
96 Seanie O’Leary (Cork) His son, Tomas, shows many of his father’s sniping instincts in the Ireland and Munster rugby jerseys. Seanie’s ability to strike for crucial goals was a major weapon in Cork’s All-Ireland three-in-a-row in 1976-77-78 and again in 1984.
95 Seamus Durack (Clare) Changing the rules so that goalkeepers got more protection was a welcome boost for them and Durack was certainly among those who thrived in the new environment. He won All Star awards in 1977-78-81,
94 Sylvie Linnane (Galway) Started his Galway career as a wing-back before switching to corner-back, a move that many defenders find difficult to master. Not Linnane, whose firebrand style brought its own special dimension to Galway’s defence when they enjoyed their best decade in the 1980s.
93 Gary Kirby (Limerick) One of the best players never to win an All-Ireland senior medal, he was Limerick’s top marksman for many years. His accuracy from frees and open play earned him four All-Star awards in 1991-94-95-96.
92 Martin Quigley (Wexford) Like Gary Kirby, he was one of those special talents that never won an All-Ireland senior medal, despite playing for Wexford between 1970 and 1989. However, his consistency helped him win four All Star awards in 1973-74-75-76.
91 John Horgan (Cork) His blonde hair and his long, sweeping clearances from corner-back, made him a cult hero in Cork during the 1970s, during which he won four All-Ireland senior medals and a Hurler of the Year award in 1978.
90 Mick Ryan (Tipperary) Centre-forward on Tipp’s three-in-a-row All-Ireland success in 1949-50-51, he was also a regular with Munster, winning five Railway Cup medals.
89 Michael Kavanagh (Kilkenny) Facts don’t lie. Seven All-Ireland senior medals are the main decorations on a brilliant career which saw him switch from wing-back to corner-back, where he has imposed his own brand of calm efficiency.
88 Sean Og O hAilpin (Cork) A dual star who eventually settled on hurling where he has enjoyed a great decade, starting with the All-Ireland win in 1999. An inspirational figure in the No 7 jersey, he was Hurler of the Year in 2004.
87 Billy Fitzpatrick (Kilkenny) An All-Ireland medal winner at all levels, he was a deadly finisher from open play and frees in the 1970s-80s.
86 Denis Murphy (Cork) A consistent presence on the Cork team in the 1960s, winning an All-Ireland medal in 1966. Chosen at left full-back on the Munster team of the Millennium.
85 Jim English (Wexford) One of the great right half-backs, he won All-Ireland medals in 1955-56-60, granting him entry to the exclusive club of Wexford men who won three senior medals.
84 Pat Delaney (Kilkenny) Winner of four All-Ireland medals at centre-forward in 1969-72-74-75, his hard-running style thrilled Kilkenny supporters while causing chaos among opposition defenders.
83 Charlie McCarthy (Cork) Small in stature but his trickery left opposing corner-backs with a serious problem. He played a huge role in Cork winning the All-Ireland treble in 1976-77-78.
82 Brian Cody (Kilkenny) Made his senior debut as an 18-year-old in 1972, he played his last game with Kilkenny in May 1985. In between, he enjoyed an excellent career as a centre-back, corner-back and full-back, winning All Stars in the last two positions.
81 Tommy Doyle (Tipperary) His senior career lasted 16 years, during which he won five All-Ireland senior medals, including three-in-a-row in 1949-50-51.
80 Eugene Coughlan (Offaly) Nobody built more barriers in front of the Offaly goal as they set about creating history in the early 1980s, a success they built on most impressively. A massive presence at full-back, Coughlan won All-Ireland medals in 1981 and 1985, a year in which he was also named Hurler of the Year.
79 Tom Cashman (Cork) His father, Mick, brother, Jim and uncle Jimmy (Brohan) were all excellent performers too, underlining just how much the family contributed to hurling. Equally comfortable as a half-back or midfielder, he won four All-Ireland senior titles and three All Star awards.
78 Pat Fox (Tipperary) Started his career as a corner-back but it was as a crafty corner-forward that he made his name aboard the Tipp team that ended the long barren run in the late 1980s. A triple All Star winner, he was Hurler of the Year in 1991.
77 Davy Fitzgerald (Clare) Standing 5’8", it was claimed early on in his career that he was too small for a goalkeeper. He buried that theory by playing senior championship hurling from 1990 to 2006, a period which featured the golden age of Clare hurling.
76 Tony Wall (Tipperary) Tipperary captain when they won the All-Ireland title in 1958, he added four more medals to his haul in 1961-62-64-65. A centre-back of substance and style, he was Hurler of the Year in 1958.
Mickey Linden at 88.
Ah that is just crazy.
[quote=“farmerinthecity”]Mickey Linden at 88.
Ah that is just crazy.[/quote]
Did you ever see the job Francie done on Mickey in the Club Championships? Fucking broke him up.
Francie was hugely overrated. Basically a dirty corner back club player paraceuted on to the county stage.
Linden was as fine of a forward as I have ever seen.
[quote=“farmerinthecity”]Francie was hugely overrated. Basically a dirty corner back club player paraceuted on to the county stage.
Linden was as fine of a forward as I have ever seen.[/quote]
Ah I wasn’t talking Francie up or anything. Francie was just a hard bastard who took it and gave it. I had a grudging respect for him. He’s the kind of player that you hate to play against, but love to have on your side. He was a centre back for Crossmaglen and a serious man to stop player. He had more football in him than people gave him credit for too as seen towards the end when he got license to gallop upfield.
Linden was a magician, no Blaney, but he was a joy to watch. Always felt Joe Brolly was a poor mans Linden.
[quote=“farmerinthecity”]Francie was hugely overrated. Basically a dirty corner back club player paraceuted on to the county stage.
Linden was as fine of a forward as I have ever seen.[/quote]
Agree 100% with that, on both points.
Linden would be in my top 3 after Canavan and Fitzgerald, that I have seen play.
Gary Kirby ahead of John Leahy :D:D:D
Surely even our Limerick Brethren will laugh at this one.
[quote=“tipptops*”]Gary Kirby ahead of John Leahy :D:D:D
Surely even our Limerick Brethren will laugh at this one.[/quote]
Shocking to see Tommy Doyle rated nr 81, below Eugene Coughlan, jokeshop.
[quote=“myboyblue”]Ah I wasn’t talking Francie up or anything. Francie was just a hard bastard who took it and gave it. I had a grudging respect for him. He’s the kind of player that you hate to play against, but love to have on your side. He was a centre back for Crossmaglen and a serious man to stop player. He had more football in him than people gave him credit for too as seen towards the end when he got license to gallop upfield.
Linden was a magician, no Blaney, but he was a joy to watch. Always felt Joe Brolly was a poor mans Linden.[/quote]
Linden was immense in 1994. Dublin didn’t know what to do with him in the final, they started out with Paul Curran at corner back on him. Suffice to say that he destroyed him.
He played on for a good few years after that as well. Used to dominate Ulster Championship matches by himself and him about 35.
Class act and should be in the top 10 at least.
Would have said Pat Fox should be higher than 78 as well. Some hurler that man.
Twas some forward unit this
Cleary-Ryan-Leahy
Fox-Bonnar-English
English will certainly be in the Top 10 of the list I would say -Declan Ryan should surely be in the list - twice the hurler Kirby ever was.
English will be top 10 alright…Ryan should be top 50, he was some operator, well able to hurl and well able to mix it, class act…
Where will Ciaran Carey be? Top 50 anyways. I doubt many other limerick hurlers from 1990 on will feature bar Mark Foley who may sneak in the mid 60’s somewhere.
Mark Foley is a decent hurler but nowhere near the top 100 of all time…Carey will be there alright…If Keady, Leahy, Liam Dunne and Daly were 125-100 then I would be shocked if Foley was rated higher than any of them
Joe McKenna will feature highly I’d say, first hurler ever to get 6 All Stars wasn’t he?
Joe Quaid make it possibly? Hard to know since Cummins and Fitzgerald are already mentioned.
Strange list anyway-does it say who voted for it or who decided on the list?
Ya, I suppose if he didn’t make it in 125-100 then he won’t be anywhere. It’ll be very interesting to see the top 25. It’s impossible to measure the fellas from days gone by against the newer superfit generation.
Presume that Mackey and Blondey will be in the top 100