Some people might argue that it's Pelé, the Brazilian forward who won three World Cups Sport/ and scored over 1000 career goals. Others might say it's Diego Maradona, the Argentine midfielder who led his country to World Cup victory in 1986. Others might argue for players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Johan Cruyff.

NinaMurphy (Mayo) - Posts: 2 - 08/05/2023 09:53:09    2476614

Sean Purcell

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2223 - 08/05/2023 10:13:15    2476626

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2017 - 08/05/2023 10:25:55    2476640

Mick o'Connell and Sean Purcell are the two 'pele and maradona' obvious ones that are always mentioned from the olden days.

Jack o'Shea was always in the conversation with his dominance and longevity, while Matt Connor stormed onto the scene in a manner similar to Clifford and was taken much too soon.

It gets subjective after that. I'd personally say Peter Canavan from the 90s/00s era and Clifford will surpass everyone in time but it's all arguable

PressureKick (UK) - Posts: 241 - 08/05/2023 11:00:17    2476652

It's all rubbee football here now. Dusty Hare probably.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3911 - 08/05/2023 11:01:04    2476653

I always lean towards the guys that were outstanding on bad teams.
Declan Browne, Mattie Forde, Paul Barden.
They were unplayable against all the best teams. Would have got on any All Ireland winning team if from another county.
Then you think, what All Ireland wouldn't have been won without a player. I would include Canavan and Clifford in that

smallfrank (Galway) - Posts: 443 - 08/05/2023 11:58:58    2476683

There have been some large, concerted efforts in the past to call this and it's hard to look past Sean Purcell as the GOAT. In the widely researched and voted 1984 team of the century, Sean Purcell received more votes than any other player of the previous century. He also featured on the team of the millennium. Notable greats from across the game said that Purcell, known as 'The Master' was the best they'd ever seen play the game. He was largely a centre half forward but also a midfielder but won man of the match accolades at full back on occasions too - he could play anywhere. He was perfectly balanced, both left and right boot equally good, great hands, not very tall but bull strong by all accounts. His telepathic relationship with Frank Stockwell, his neighbour and life long best friend, created a brilliant scoring relationship on the field - with the "terrible twins" becoming part of the football folklore. Sean Purcell's mother was Nora Kilkenny - the same Kilkenny's as modern day great Dublin's Ciarán Kilkenny. Ciaran's dad is a first cousin of Purcell's. Something in the DNA there!
My vote is Sean Purcell - The Master.

togoutlads (Galway) - Posts: 982 - 08/05/2023 13:17:38    2476712

Spillane. Greatest all round player and came back after making ***** of his knee. He might not be everyone's cup of tea but he was a fierce competitor.

KerrymanStuckInDonegal (Kerry) - Posts: 269 - 08/05/2023 13:28:10    2476720

I would go with Mickey Kerins of Sligo or Dermot Early senior.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2903 - 08/05/2023 16:52:47    2476805

James McCarthy :D

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8678 - 08/05/2023 17:12:21    2476818

I would go with Jack O Shea and Brian Fenton. Matt Connor and David Clifford are the best forwards I have seen. I always loved watching Maurice Fitzgerald and Patric Joyce. Kieran McGeeney was a magnificent leader on the field. There are so many great players and it's entirely subjective.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6153 - 08/05/2023 17:29:50    2476832

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14234 - 08/05/2023 18:30:41    2476850

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14234 - 08/05/2023 18:31:30    2476851

Jimmy Keaveney!

The only man from that team that was quicker in the hunderd yard dash in training was John McCarthy!

Onion_Sack (Dublin) - Posts: 267 - 08/05/2023 19:34:13    2476866

You could go with a long list and find it difficult to narrow down to one. Usually people will gauge it on All-Irelands which is a lazy way of ignoring greats who don't have any.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2903 - 08/05/2023 20:22:09    2476879

Easy to go for David Clifford currently - but difficult to compare eras given unequal conditioning etc.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2973 - 08/05/2023 20:46:16    2476885

Can only judge those I saw myself - Peter Canavan for me. Everything you could want in a player.

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4643 - 08/05/2023 21:00:18    2476887

Sean O neill

Yourjoking (USA) - Posts: 730 - 08/05/2023 21:07:42    2476889

It's so hard to choose amongst the footballers but in hurling it was the Louth man Cú Chulainn (although I never saw him play)

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3851 - 08/05/2023 21:54:42    2476903

Tacaí Liatroma (Leitrim) - Posts: 1126 - 08/05/2023 22:13:20    2476907