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Best hurler and footballer you've seen live

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Replying To MesAmis:  "Can't believe the continued love for DJ all these years later.

A super talent alright but I'd have plenty players ahead of him at this stage."
I think DJ had just had an x factor. Goal scorer supreme and electric pace. A lot of people pull him down with the not performing in big games argument but when he was in his prime Kilkenny teams weren't a patch on what Shefflin played on.

I think there is a bit of 'Shefflin fatigue' in KK. I'm dead on the border with Laois and Carlow. DJ won a recent poll on local radio as KK's greatest ever player ahead of Keher and Shefflin. Many feel it's unfair DJ is rolled out for ever dignitary visit, like Prince Charles recently. Carey is a forgotten man. I first saw DJ play against Tipp in the U21 All-Ire Final on 10th September 1990 and i will never forget the date let alone his performance. The touch, speed, vision. Immaculate stuff.

Laois76 (Laois) - Posts: 1270 - 08/07/2017 13:45:20    2012330

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Replying To endgame:  "DJ was a brilliant hurler and an absolute gentleman but he was fond of his steps."
Steps were fairly big in the 1990s but i wouldn't have thought DJ would be into tennie bopper pop music ;)

Laois76 (Laois) - Posts: 1270 - 08/07/2017 13:47:02    2012332

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Trevor Giles/ Graham Geraghty were phenomenal players. I know I'm being biased. Best hurler I've seen live would have to have been Paul Flynn/Tony Browne

ClonardGael (Meath) - Posts: 75 - 08/07/2017 14:00:02    2012335

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Replying To TheHermit:  "Well realdub I'll retort by picking a few holes in your selections:

DJ, is there not an argument he never really played to his best on the big day, ie the All Ireland finals?

And as much as I love Mikey, you'd pick him above Spillane and more to the point, Jacko???"
Yeh just about mind you, I loved his silken movement and skills/finishing.
I also loved Spillane and O'Shea, had a strong liking for Ogie Moran too.
On DJ, he did the most amazing things with the stick that I've ever seen, end of.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8746 - 08/07/2017 14:48:35    2012345

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Replying To ClonardGael:  "Trevor Giles/ Graham Geraghty were phenomenal players. I know I'm being biased. Best hurler I've seen live would have to have been Paul Flynn/Tony Browne"
have ye relatives from Waterford as well?

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2558 - 08/07/2017 14:52:27    2012347

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well for my lot its jbm the best player i ever seen in the 2o centuary and the master that was ben o connor a truly mercurial player and the best player we have seen this centuary as for football mmmm it would be denis allen or pat spillane either or both where magic

blackrockeddie (Cork) - Posts: 160 - 08/07/2017 15:22:05    2012357

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I think Cooper was the most technically gifted player I've ever seen in the flesh. Like he was born to play gaelic football.

Canavan was probably the most exciting, deadly player. Could always be guaranteed to put on a show.

Honourable mentions to Stephen O'Neill, Bernard Brogan, Colm McFadden , Stevie McDonnell, Colm O'Neill, Sean Cavanagh and Brian Dooher

Only have vague personal memories of Maurice Fitz.

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 08/07/2017 15:52:21    2012367

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Replying To Brianmac78:  "Regarding DJ. No hurler has ever matched his skill levels at the speed he done it, none. People try to use all Ireland final displays against him for not hitting 2-12 in all of them, watch those games back and watch the impact he had by creating for others."
You summed it up perfectly. Couldn't have put it better myself. Most people who talk about his "poor finals" never actually saw them and are part of the Monday morning newspaper brigade who check what people scored. 1999 for instance he layed on a number of scores in a low scoring 13-12 game played in a downpour.

HurlingSnob (Dublin) - Posts: 220 - 08/07/2017 16:59:10    2012384

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Replying To jacktheDub:  "I am going to go with my favourite player from the last 20 years

Ulster. Stephen O'Neill Tyrone one of my favourite players over the last 20 years such a beautiful balanced player left or right. They played in a league semi in croke park in '13 against kildare I think he scored 6 pts from all angles left or right I remember coming out of croker in complete awe of the man. Injuries caught up with him but it all came together for him in 2005. I use love watching him play."
He was my favourite also. His team mate was brilliant also Peter the Great. In the 70s I lived Jack O Shea.

border Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 907 - 08/07/2017 21:19:21    2012533

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Football : Toss up between gooch, Ciaran mc Donald and Peter canavan. All had their amazing traits but mc Donald's crazy outside of the boot passing/shooting was something I never forgot after watching him in croker all them years ago

Hurling: Shefflin as I've only started attending hurling county games in the last few years and only seen DJ on the telly

GameOfTyrones (Tyrone) - Posts: 469 - 09/07/2017 20:43:41    2013360

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Maurice Fitzgerald

kerryluck (Kerry) - Posts: 2517 - 09/07/2017 21:34:48    2013412

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