Greatest Kerry footballers of all time

[Ballyfireside]

Ok, Maurice Fitzgerald is my No 1, Mick O'Connell is by all accounts the greatest of an era that I was too young to witness. And it is so hard to compare as they were different types of players in eras when the game was played differently.

Then Mickey Sheehy, Pat Spillane, Jack O’Shea, John Egan, Ger Power, John O'Keeffe, Bomber, Ogie Moran, Paidi ... hard to separate them and the list could go on a bit more.

Latter years -Seamus Moynihan and Gooch

A goalie is there to avoid negatives so he will always struggle to get on such lists while Paidi’s record alone of keeping his markers all but scoreless would have him on there.

I feel guilty as once you name some I feel I am offending all the others! We are all big softies in this respect, and maybe that is why I upset so many with my comment of O'Dwyer, sure I even upset myself!

How about a Kerry team of all time, or has all this been done before? That looks easier, that is until we have agreed on say 10, if we are lucky, then personal affection comes into it: I was told I was standing on the kitchen table in '78 as The Bomber got his 3 goals, I don't remember a thing! And he is from a neighbouring parish so no convincing me that he wasn't one of our greatest 15, well he is one of mine anyway! And everyone will have their own personal views.

Would The Bomber make a good County Manager? I think he'd have a lot of the qualities and maybe he is a role mode for the likes of Donaghy and with who he has so much else in common. Bomber has the perfect temperament.

[An Bradán]

no Ballylongford players there??

[kerrygold]

If this was decided on the skill of kicking, hence the name football, it is difficult to believe that another Kerry player had a greater mastery in the art of kicking a football than Maurice, left or right peg. I didn't see Micko Connell play.

If a greater Kerry athlete than Jacko Shea played the game, I'll eat my hat. Mickey Sheehy was a pure artist in the game, While Pat Spillane was simply starve for ball and road. Nobody can challenge Paidi's defensive record in All-Ireland Finals, take you pick.

[Ballyfireside]

Maybe we should refine the thread to Kerry's Greatest 15, so there you go Kerrygold, place your men. This is my first stab, and it favours players I have seen in the flesh. I look forward to Veteran's selection!

1 Nelligan
2 Marc
3 John O'Keeffe
4 Tomás
5 Paidi
6 Seamus Moynihan or Tim 'Horse' Kennelly
7 Ger Power or Ogie Moran
8 Mick O'Connell
9 Jack O'Shea, Darragh or Jerdie O'Connor
10 P Spillane
11 Tommy Walsh
12 Maurice Fitz and Free taker
13 and 15 Gooch, Mickey Sheehy, Mick O'Dwyer, John Egan,
14 Bomber Liston

So many of golden era, and I suppose current crop haven't topped out their reputations yet!

Now let the music begin! Would a team of 15 Mick O'Dwyers beat them? Would any team best them?

[Annascaultilidie]

I don't know why you have started the umpteenth incarnation of this thread and I'm fairly sure Veteran won't be interested as he has indicated time and time again.

Why would you put Tomás corner back?? --- that's exactly the kind of shoe-horning that makes this exercise troublesome.

Also I feel the only reason you put Tommy Walsh on that team is to spark debate about your Aussie Rules infatuation. I don't think you will find one other person except perhaps Tommy Walsh's mother who would put him on a Kerry All-Time 15 at centre-forward. From what we have seen --- which was glimpses of massive potential --- you would put the current incumbent Declan O'Sullivan ahead of him.

[iceman]

my first time in croke park was the mayo game in 96 so im going to pick my team from 96 to present.
D murphy
mark o se
mike mc
tom o sull
tomas
liam flaherty
seamo
dara
donal daly
paul galvin
maurice fitz
declan o s
mike frank
john crowley
gooch

[iceman]

and outside of kerry
cluxton
ricey!!
darren fay
karl lacey
declan meehan
keiran mcgeeney
p jordan
john quane
john galvin
brian dooher
sean cavanagh
oisin mcconville
peter canavan
colm corkery
declan browne

[SteelFixer]

Not this again is right ! It has been done ad nauseam over the years. Still I can never resist the urge to submit my tuppence worth.

Like Kerrygold, the two geniuses from Cahersiveen are the best players I have seen in the green and gold, along with Spillane.

I never saw Mick O'Connell play, but my Father did, and he says that 15 Jacko's would beat 15 Micko's everytime.

The thing with Jacko was that he had incredible consistency. Be it a club or county game, he always showed up and ran the show. Spillane was the same. In fact some of the best games I saw Spillane play were for the Kenmare district. In the mid 8o's, when the County Championship was extremely competitive, he carried a very mediocre side to a county championship on his back.

Maurice Fitz was cut of a different cloth, and Mick O'Connell probably the same. Maurice Fitz could do things with the ball that no one else could. With the way the game is evolving at present and the way youngsters are being trained, it is unlikely we will ever again see a more talented ball player than Maurice Fitz.

[Annascaultilidie]

I have heard people from other counties refer to Maurice Fitz as "Mo Fitz" but have never heard that in Kerry.

[Ballyfireside]

Annascaultilidie, you think I should switch Tomás and Paidi, and if that’s your shoehorn then, as they say, put up or shut up!

‘Feeling what a reason is’ is not fact; the fact is I think Tommy Walsh is ‘a great’ and I don’t have ‘an infatuation’ about Aussie rules, but you apparently have an infatuation about my genuine views on that subject. My views on that subject are not unique to me, although I am not so sure you know my views, and which are that we shouldn’t subsidise it. I am not sure we should even have a compromise series as it is only a matter of time before one of our guys suffers a very serious injury, and I hope I am wrong on that.

I did consider Declan and if he is your choice then are you saying you agree with 12 of 15 of my selection?

I don’t know Tommy’s mother but maybe you should talk to her yourself before quoting her, and yes, I am factoring is his potential on top of what he achieved. I think he could have developed into the greatest footballer of all time as he had everything, the complete natural footballer - temperament, physique, accuracy, play maker, fielder, workrate, positioning, anticipation, ball winner and finish ... and the rest.

I was hoping for views on Centre Half Back (Maybe Flaherty is also a contender?), Mid Field and Full Forward Line; I couldn't call it and being spoilt for choice was the big issue!

And SteelFixer’s dad’s view that JackO’ eclipsed MickO’ resonates with what we were saying about ‘extraordinary consistency’ and which is why I think O'Dwyer was probably the best manager of all time as he could relate best to the main body of players as brilliant players don't need as much nurturing and management input as it risks cramping their style.

As regards iceman's selection,one player I would rate was the late Dermot Earley Snr; what a leader, and a lot in common with Tommy Walsh. Galway's Paraic Joyce and Offaly's Matt Connor wouldn't be far away from my non-Kerry list either.

There was a book lately on this and it threw up a load of guys you'd never have heard of, and many from non football strongholds too: Sligo, Tipp, etc. Now I don't know if this was genuine or was if it an 'attention grabber' to sell the book, maybe akin to what Annascaultilidie accuses me of, although our Annascaultilidie isn't such a bad auld skin after all.

Keep it cool!

[veteran]

As Annascaul has said , I have little or no interest in participating in this debate. Whenever I get involved in a discussion of that nature I always feel guilty about the player/s I have omitted. I feel that in some way I have devalued them, particularly as the difference is so narrow in so many cases. Take for instance Paidi, Tomas and Marc. If you pick Paidi in the right corner you have to leave out Marc and if you pick him in the right wing you have to leave out Tomas. Of course you could leave out Paidi alltogether but..... So now you have created division even within a family and you have not yet considered the likes of Donie O'Sullivan, Seamus Murphy, Sean Murphy etc. I have no intention of besmirching any of those heroes.

I was interested when Steelfixer quoted his father when he said that "fifteen Jackos would beat fifteen Mickos". That may be true. The comment reminded of something I have written here about before. One of my previous posts concerned the most rounded Kerry footballers I had seen in my time. By rounded I mean the players whose array of skills would enable them to play in any outfield position with adequate competence. Over fifty odd years, I could think of only four to whom I would confidently hand any jersey numbered two to fifteen and expect to be well rewarded. The four, in no particular order, were Tom Long , Mick O'Dwyer, Paudie Lynch and Seamus Moynihan. Somebody chided me for inadvertently omitting Seamus Murphy and of course they were spot on. So there you have it, I can only give you five. Perhaps, others will come up with some more names. As I write this Sean Walsh has sprung into my mind although he would likely struggle in a non central role.

[Ballyfireside]

Nobody is drawing anyone out and with your territory of analyst comes obligation. Nobody will be offended only yourself so come on man, be selfless, you are 'the veteran' and a mighty one at that, and critically you bridge two eras.

Tom Long is a name that comes up a lot outside of Kerry and as regards 'rounded' footballers, the late and great Eddie Dowling termed it 'dandy' and he would have applied it to Tadhg Kennelly.

As for Moynihan and Super Sub Walsh, not so sure, Walsh mainly for the reason you gave and as for Moynihan, I couldn't see him beyond half forwards and that would be pushing it.

On reflection what about Ger Power and Ogie, Johnny Bunyan and Jackie Walsh ?

I suppose Jerdie would be shaded outa Mid Field?

Moynihan vs Horse center back!

Go on, go on , go on! A man of your stature must step up to the plate. Nobody will be offended, your ultra sensitivity reminds of Spillane in Horse Kennelly's pub one day, as told by Pat himself. He had just written his book and which 'upset' a few. Horse wouldn't even look at Pat and the crowd followed suit with hostility; next thing Horse started laughing his arse off! And in another instance Horse's sister started on a Dublin player with a hand bag of a day at the Listowel races, over an incident in the preceding Sundays AI final, and there was Horse in the background having a right laugh at the pair of 'em, and I bet himself Egan and Páidí are at it again over a jar! Get 'em back and leave the 3 of 'em outa your selection!

[keane]

Probably as good a place as any to throw this in, got an interview with Bomber in last weekend if anyone is interested in taking a read:

www.livegaelic.com/features/livegaelic-legends-eoin-bomber-liston/

Was a great pleasure to ask him about winning the County Championship with Strand Road as you can probably imagine

[inforthebreaks]

Mar 22, 2013 19:21:02 GMT veteran said:

. Over fifty odd years, I could think of only four to whom I would confidently hand any jersey numbered two to fifteen and expect to be well rewarded. The four, in no particular order, were Tom Long , Mick O'Dwyer, Paudie Lynch and Seamus Moynihan.

I would include Marc O'Se in that bracket. Certainyl the only player of the current crop (in my view)