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Most Complete Performance Ever.

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What in your opinion was the most complete performance that you've ever seen? Some say, Kilkenny in 1982 in the final; Kilkenny again in the 2008 final; or Limerick in this year's final. Then there is Dublin against Tyrone in the 2018 semi-final; Kerry in the 5 past Cullen final of 1978; or Offaly in the replay in 1972 where they condemned Kerry to its biggest losing margin ever in a final (9 points). Down in 1968 was a great display as well.

This is not a post about the greatest team ever, just the greatest performance on any one given day. It doesn't even have to be an inter-county team, or even GAA. Just tell us what you consider the most complete performance that you've seen.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 1903 - 21/09/2021 19:23:53    2382139

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "What in your opinion was the most complete performance that you've ever seen? Some say, Kilkenny in 1982 in the final; Kilkenny again in the 2008 final; or Limerick in this year's final. Then there is Dublin against Tyrone in the 2018 semi-final; Kerry in the 5 past Cullen final of 1978; or Offaly in the replay in 1972 where they condemned Kerry to its biggest losing margin ever in a final (9 points). Down in 1968 was a great display as well.

This is not a post about the greatest team ever, just the greatest performance on any one given day. It doesn't even have to be an inter-county team, or even GAA. Just tell us what you consider the most complete performance that you've seen."
Dublin v kerry 2019 replay!

My 1st memory being 1974. What a journey!

Onion_Sack (Dublin) - Posts: 203 - 21/09/2021 19:53:19    2382147

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Donegal in the 2014 semi final was pretty special, from the moment Christy Toye came on they were awesome.
Spain v Italy in 2012 or Barcelona v Utd in 2011 were both peak performances too.

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1699 - 21/09/2021 19:53:59    2382148

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "What in your opinion was the most complete performance that you've ever seen? Some say, Kilkenny in 1982 in the final; Kilkenny again in the 2008 final; or Limerick in this year's final. Then there is Dublin against Tyrone in the 2018 semi-final; Kerry in the 5 past Cullen final of 1978; or Offaly in the replay in 1972 where they condemned Kerry to its biggest losing margin ever in a final (9 points). Down in 1968 was a great display as well.

This is not a post about the greatest team ever, just the greatest performance on any one given day. It doesn't even have to be an inter-county team, or even GAA. Just tell us what you consider the most complete performance that you've seen."
Dublin v kerry 2019 replay!

My 1st memory being 1974. What a journey!

Onion_Sack (Dublin) - Posts: 203 - 21/09/2021 19:55:06    2382149

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The most complete performance from my own county was in my opinion was the 2001 semi final, we beat the reining all ireland champions kerry by 15 points, Dublin have put in a few complete performances in the last ten years hard to know which one stands out the most, donegal in 2014 against dublin is another one and kerry in 07 and 09 all ireland finals against Cork were impressive ones, in hurling limericks all ireland final performance this year and kilkennys against Waterford in 08 I think, and also tipperarys performance to stop kilkennys five in a row were all complete and impressive performances.

Royal.Legend (Meath) - Posts: 665 - 21/09/2021 19:57:21    2382151

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "What in your opinion was the most complete performance that you've ever seen? Some say, Kilkenny in 1982 in the final; Kilkenny again in the 2008 final; or Limerick in this year's final. Then there is Dublin against Tyrone in the 2018 semi-final; Kerry in the 5 past Cullen final of 1978; or Offaly in the replay in 1972 where they condemned Kerry to its biggest losing margin ever in a final (9 points). Down in 1968 was a great display as well.

This is not a post about the greatest team ever, just the greatest performance on any one given day. It doesn't even have to be an inter-county team, or even GAA. Just tell us what you consider the most complete performance that you've seen."
"It doesn't even have to be an inter-county team, or even GAA."
Hmm...so we can discuss all other sports; soccer, rugby, cricket etc. on a GAA forum?

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2448 - 21/09/2021 20:08:54    2382158

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "What in your opinion was the most complete performance that you've ever seen? Some say, Kilkenny in 1982 in the final; Kilkenny again in the 2008 final; or Limerick in this year's final. Then there is Dublin against Tyrone in the 2018 semi-final; Kerry in the 5 past Cullen final of 1978; or Offaly in the replay in 1972 where they condemned Kerry to its biggest losing margin ever in a final (9 points). Down in 1968 was a great display as well.

This is not a post about the greatest team ever, just the greatest performance on any one given day. It doesn't even have to be an inter-county team, or even GAA. Just tell us what you consider the most complete performance that you've seen."
Tipperary v Clare - Munster Final 1993
Limerick v Cork - Munster Championship 1996
Clare v Cork - Munster Championship 1998
Clare v Tipperary - Munster semi final replay 1999
Kilkenny v Offaly - Leinster Final 1999
Waterford v Clare - Munster Championship 2004
Limerick v Cork - Munster u-21 final replay 2000

johnocarroll17 (Limerick) - Posts: 408 - 21/09/2021 20:14:00    2382159

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "What in your opinion was the most complete performance that you've ever seen? Some say, Kilkenny in 1982 in the final; Kilkenny again in the 2008 final; or Limerick in this year's final. Then there is Dublin against Tyrone in the 2018 semi-final; Kerry in the 5 past Cullen final of 1978; or Offaly in the replay in 1972 where they condemned Kerry to its biggest losing margin ever in a final (9 points). Down in 1968 was a great display as well.

This is not a post about the greatest team ever, just the greatest performance on any one given day. It doesn't even have to be an inter-county team, or even GAA. Just tell us what you consider the most complete performance that you've seen."
Kilkenny in 2008 final, 3-30 scored and only 2 wides, conceded only 7 points at the 50 mins mark. Football I'm not sure but i give Mayo in the 2017 final the best performance I've seen from a losing team, the best team ever had to pull out all the stops to survive and to their credit they did.

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 21/09/2021 20:28:39    2382162

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Kilkenny 2008 Final
Limerick 2021 Final
Kilkenny 2000 Final

Kerry v Dublin 2009 Quarter Final
Dublin v Tyrone 2017 Semi Final

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13705 - 21/09/2021 20:37:44    2382163

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  ""It doesn't even have to be an inter-county team, or even GAA."
Hmm...so we can discuss all other sports; soccer, rugby, cricket etc. on a GAA forum?"
I'll go for lewis hamilton 2020 turkish grand prix so...that day the man was just incredible.

pidge (Cork) - Posts: 543 - 21/09/2021 20:39:29    2382164

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Replying To MesAmis:  "Kilkenny 2008 Final
Limerick 2021 Final
Kilkenny 2000 Final

Kerry v Dublin 2009 Quarter Final
Dublin v Tyrone 2017 Semi Final"
A lot of the performances being referred to are demolition jobs perpetrated on outclassed opponents. Truly great performances come against high quality, competitive opponents. Muhammad Ali gave a magnificent performance against Cleveland Williams in 1966. Williams was a very good fighter but he wasn't in Ali's class. For me Ali's greatest performances were when he was pushed to the absolute limit by great fighters yet still prevailed. His fight against George Foreman was one of those performances. For me however Ali's greatest performance was in 1975 in Manila against the truly great Joe Frazier. Both men gave everything they had. Ali was exhausted and close to defeat at the end of the tenth round. He somehow summoned the will and the strength to fight back and win that fight. That performance stands out for three reasons. Firstly Joe Frazier was a genuinely great fighter and was also one of the bravest fighters ever to step in to a ring. Secondly the quality of Joe Frazier's performance that night ranks with anything seen in a heavyweight title fight. Thirdly Ali still found the path to victory. To achieve greatness you have to overcome greatness. That's what Ali did that night. That's why I feel Offaly's performance in 1982 against Kerry is the greatest I have seen in a senior football final. They beat the team that was quite rightly rated as the greatest team of all time up to that pint in the history of football . I would rank Dublin's performance in 2011 ahead of their performance against Kerry in 2019. People talk about Kilkenny's performance against Waterford in 2008. I wouldn't rank that performance as highly as Kilkenny's performance against Tipp in 2009 or Tipp's performance against Kilkenny in 2010. Off the top of my head some truly great performances were Bjorn Borg's demolition of Jimmy Connors in 1978, Tom Watson's win over Jack Nicklaus in 1977,Henrik Stenson's win against Phil Mickelson in 2016 and Shane Lowry's third round in Portrush in 2019. Rachael Blackmore's win in this year's Grand National takes some beating. This has the potential to be a terrific thread. I'm looking forward to other opinions and selections.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 21/09/2021 22:57:17    2382209

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "What in your opinion was the most complete performance that you've ever seen? Some say, Kilkenny in 1982 in the final; Kilkenny again in the 2008 final; or Limerick in this year's final. Then there is Dublin against Tyrone in the 2018 semi-final; Kerry in the 5 past Cullen final of 1978; or Offaly in the replay in 1972 where they condemned Kerry to its biggest losing margin ever in a final (9 points). Down in 1968 was a great display as well.

This is not a post about the greatest team ever, just the greatest performance on any one given day. It doesn't even have to be an inter-county team, or even GAA. Just tell us what you consider the most complete performance that you've seen."
Hard to detach complete performance from hammerings. Kerry team of the mid-70s to mid-80s handed out a lot of hammerings. Galway/Mayo Connacht final, 1982 (I think) in Tuam, was with a cousin who'd been on the Mayo panel the year before and when Connacht champs Mayo emerged onto the pitch he just said no one looks properly fit except for Kilgallon. Mayo had a great half-forward line on paper but the likes of Stephen Joyce, Gay McManus and co just tore Mayo asunder from start to finish. Kerry against us in 2004 and 2006 were both inevitable virtually from the throw-in... they exploited the obvious things mercilessly (a Jack O'Connor trait).

Mayo did a fair job on Donegal in 2013... pity it wasn't a year earlier. Take the own goals out of the 2016 drawn game and Mayo were better than the Dubs from start to finish. The Dubs in the replay and again in 2017 were right at their peak.

In hurling, so many of Kilkenny's performances in the noughties were pure power and control... never seemed to struggle for scores. Seven titles and too many standout games to pick from. This year's final was a statement that'll stand the test of time from Limerick.

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 22/09/2021 00:33:35    2382220

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Replying To Pericles:  "Hard to detach complete performance from hammerings. Kerry team of the mid-70s to mid-80s handed out a lot of hammerings. Galway/Mayo Connacht final, 1982 (I think) in Tuam, was with a cousin who'd been on the Mayo panel the year before and when Connacht champs Mayo emerged onto the pitch he just said no one looks properly fit except for Kilgallon. Mayo had a great half-forward line on paper but the likes of Stephen Joyce, Gay McManus and co just tore Mayo asunder from start to finish. Kerry against us in 2004 and 2006 were both inevitable virtually from the throw-in... they exploited the obvious things mercilessly (a Jack O'Connor trait).

Mayo did a fair job on Donegal in 2013... pity it wasn't a year earlier. Take the own goals out of the 2016 drawn game and Mayo were better than the Dubs from start to finish. The Dubs in the replay and again in 2017 were right at their peak.

In hurling, so many of Kilkenny's performances in the noughties were pure power and control... never seemed to struggle for scores. Seven titles and too many standout games to pick from. This year's final was a statement that'll stand the test of time from Limerick."
This year's final was a statement but Cork physically and in terms of ability were hopelessly outclassed. Limerick's response to Tipp's challenge in the Munster Final was their biggest statement this year.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 22/09/2021 10:05:24    2382254

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Meath against Kerry is up there, best Meath performance I have seen anyway. Build up to the game was big due to both counties having won 2 all Ireland's in previous 5 year's and Kerry being reigning champions. Meath put in a complete performance and totally dominated, the game was over 5 mins into second half with John McDermott's goal.
The fact that Meath flopped in the final afterwards and were beaten well (probably in big part due to all the talk about this semi final in the build up) clouds people memory of how well Meath played against a good Kerry team that year.
I always found it funny when some people said 'Galway did to Meath in the final what Meath did to Kerry in the semi' but if you actually looked at the 2 games this was never the case, as bad as Meath played in the 2001 final (and we played very bad) we were in that match until the last 10 mins which was very different to the Meath Kerry game. In that final in the second half everything went wrong for us, we had a man sent off for a second booking, had our best player/ scorer that year Ollie Murphy go off with a broken hand and missed a penalty.

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1338 - 22/09/2021 10:10:56    2382256

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Replying To bdbuddah:  "Meath against Kerry is up there, best Meath performance I have seen anyway. Build up to the game was big due to both counties having won 2 all Ireland's in previous 5 year's and Kerry being reigning champions. Meath put in a complete performance and totally dominated, the game was over 5 mins into second half with John McDermott's goal.
The fact that Meath flopped in the final afterwards and were beaten well (probably in big part due to all the talk about this semi final in the build up) clouds people memory of how well Meath played against a good Kerry team that year.
I always found it funny when some people said 'Galway did to Meath in the final what Meath did to Kerry in the semi' but if you actually looked at the 2 games this was never the case, as bad as Meath played in the 2001 final (and we played very bad) we were in that match until the last 10 mins which was very different to the Meath Kerry game. In that final in the second half everything went wrong for us, we had a man sent off for a second booking, had our best player/ scorer that year Ollie Murphy go off with a broken hand and missed a penalty."
The only reason you were still in the game was because weren't efficient in front of goal. I was at that game and Galway took Meath apart that day.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 22/09/2021 10:20:03    2382261

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Replying To Greengrass:  "This year's final was a statement but Cork physically and in terms of ability were hopelessly outclassed. Limerick's response to Tipp's challenge in the Munster Final was their biggest statement this year."
But hardly a complete performance. .

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5010 - 22/09/2021 11:35:37    2382278

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Replying To Greengrass:  "The only reason you were still in the game was because weren't efficient in front of goal. I was at that game and Galway took Meath apart that day."
I'm not saying Galway were not well the better team in the final Just pointing out that as well as they played in the final Meath performance against Kerry was far more dominant which was largely lost in the narrative after the season ended. Meath/ Kerry/ Galway shared equally the 6 all All Ireland titles between 1996 to 2001, Meath's display against Kerry in the 2001 was in my opinion the best display of by a football team in that time.

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1338 - 22/09/2021 11:39:22    2382281

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Replying To Greengrass:  "This year's final was a statement but Cork physically and in terms of ability were hopelessly outclassed. Limerick's response to Tipp's challenge in the Munster Final was their biggest statement this year."
Agree 100%.. As fantastic and all as the A I final was, the writing was on the wall for Cork after 15 minutes.
Absolutely nothing, in my opinion will compare to the first 15 mins of the 2nd half in the Munster final.
Tipp had demolished us in the first half..
Going in 10 down at half time and by the water break to be leading was just awe inspiring out of Limerick.

28° heat, having been outplayed and out fought by quality opposition Limerick could have been out it.

To turn on the style in such a manner was the most complete performance I think I've ever seen..

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1057 - 22/09/2021 11:47:42    2382284

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Donegal v Cork semi final 2012, we really played well that day. apart from the last 5 mins or so when we got a bit carried away with the passing and rightly got caught at it.
Most enjoyable in recent times was obviously winning the All Ireland in 2012 and beating Mayo, Murphy's goal fairly silenced the Mayo yahoos early on.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2739 - 22/09/2021 11:57:53    2382288

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Replying To cavanman47:  "But hardly a complete performance. ."
You're right there. The response to Tipp's challenge was exceptional. Cork's challenge was abysmal.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 22/09/2021 12:07:22    2382289

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