15 Footballers you saw in the Flesh

Bass Reeves

Similar to the hurling one. No more than two from any county so it is not the greatest 15 you have seen. Pick as much as possible in position they played Here is my selection

Stephen Cluxton

Robbie O'Malley

Neil McGee

Keith Higgans

Martin O Connell

Kieran McGeeney

Lee Keegan

Jack O Shea

Brian Fenton

Brian Dooher

Larry Tomkins

Peter Cannavan

David Cliffird

Matt O Connor

Padraig Joyce

windy shepard henderson

john o leary dublin

mick deegan dublin

Dan gordon Down

Frankie Griffen Clare

Sheamus Moynihan Kerry

Thomas O'Shea kerry

Paul Carr Dublin

Jack O'shea Kerry

Anthoney Molley Donegal

Pat spillane Kerry

Micky lindan Down

anthoney tohil Derry

James mccarthan Down

colum cooper kerry

Mike frank russell Kerry

castletownman

Rory Beggan (Monaghan)

Marc O'Se (Kerry)

Graham Canty (Cork)

Karl Lacey (Donegal)

Lee Keegan (Mayo)

Kieran McGeeney (Armagh)

Philip Jordan (Tyrone)

Brian Fenton (Dublin)

Anthony Tohill (Derry)

Michael Donnellan (Galway)

Michael Murphy (Donegal)

Ciaran Kilkenny (Dublin)

David Clifford (Kerry)

Peter Canavan (Tyrone)

Matty Forde (Wexford)

MacDanger

Beggan (Monaghan)

Lacey (Donegal)

Fay (Meath)

K Mortimer (Mayo)

McCaffrey (Dublin)

Keegan (Mayo)

Jordan (Tyrone)

D O'Se (Kerry)

Tohill (Derry)

Giles (Meath)

Joyce (Galway)

Con (Dublin)

Forde (Wexford)

Clifford (Kerry)

Canavan (Tyrone)

MfMan

I submit humbly that no-one who saw him in his pomp could omit Michael Donnellan from a list like this.

Exiled1

Not far off best I saw

Martin Furlong (Offaly)

Paudie O'Shea (Kerry), Darren Fay (Meath), Tony Scullion (Derry)

Lee Keegan (Mayo), Kieran McGeeney (Armagh), Martin O'Connell (Meath)

Anthony Tohill (Derry) James McCarthy (Dublin)

Peter Canavan (Tyrone), Larry Tomkins (Cork/Kildare), Pat Spillane (Kerry)

Michael Murphy (Donegal), Matt Connor (Offaly), Ciaran Kilkenny (Dublin).

Honourable mentions..... Stephen Cluxton, John O'Keeffe, SM Lockhart, Mikey Sheehy, Darragh O'Shea, Brian Fenton, Mickey Linden, Padraig Joyce, Matty Forde, David Clifford (needs a few more years)...

crusd

Cluxton (Dublin)

Lockhart (Derry) Fay (Meath) Higgins (Mayo)

Keegan (Mayo) McGeeney (Armagh) O'Connell (Meath)

Tohill (Derry) Fenton (Dublin)

Fitzgerald (Kerry) Joyce (Galway) Giles (Meath)

Cooper (Kerry) Murphy (Donegal) Canavan (Tyrone)

That side should never miss a free

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120264759#Comment_120264759

It's all subjective to an extent. However you are limited as to who you pick. Pat Spillane was the finest wing forwards ever in Football but I would rate him the thirst best I ever saw with Kerry behind Jacko and David Clifford.

Donnellan was up against the greatest CF many ever considered. Mick O Dwyer and Pay Spillane rated him in the top ten they had ever seen. He was physically one of the strongest footballers I ever saw and was a superb freetaker and scored freely from play. He was a superb ball carrier as well

WesternZulu

The only thing with Donnellan is that he shone brightly for a short time and that was it. From a longevity perspective he's no where near others.

I'm going to mention Colin Corkery. I know he doesn't usually come up on lists like this but I saw him in the flesh in 2003 I think against Mayo in a quarter final. He was absolutely immense that day and a joy to watch. A lot faster than what I expected too.

Ciaran McDonald was something else too; I don't think he has been mentioned. A pleasure to watch, a maverick. There has never been a player like him before or since in terms of his unique skillset.

MfMan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120266802#Comment_120266802

Indeed, more's the pity Donnellan suffered so from injury etc. At his peak though he was extraordinary. He was comfortably 2-footed and I've never seen anyone who could carry the ball at pace like him, not even Shane Walsh. One of a very small few players that made everyone hold their breath when in possession.

Exiled1

How did I forget Jack O'Shea.... best of them all.

Sorry Paidi, out you go, Lee Keegan to corner back and McCarthy at 5.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120265144#Comment_120265144

evolvingtipperary101

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120267024#Comment_120267024

I think Ja Fallon could carry the ball just as well. I think Declan O'Sullivan and Kilkenny were/are stronger runners with the ball. Also, I've never seen a ball as safe in a pair of hands as in Moynihan's. I think Sean Og DePaor was a huge figure on that Galway team. A hell of a player.

Dunedin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120266210#Comment_120266210

Donnellan didn’t play centre forward (ja fallon) nor did he take frees (Neil Finnegans was the free taker) or did I pick you up wrongly??

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120266802#Comment_120266802

as much as I’d be a Donnellan fan, hard to disagree with that. At his peak (probably 1998) he was unmarkable but he was playing in a star studded Galway team and Jesus I loved watching them play.

suppose I have to throw in my 15

Cluxton

cathal Daly (Offaly)

darren Fay

keith Higgins

lee Keegan

McGeeney

glen ryan

Fenton

Anthony tohill

michael Donnellan

peter Canavan

clifford

gooch

padraig joyce

matt Connor

(Positions a bit like the all stars!!)

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120268090#Comment_120268090

I rated LarryTomkins the best CF I ever saw, Declan O Sullivan and Ciaran Kilkenny both slightly different player would next after him. Tomkins was a monster