Great Individual Performances!

The Golden Miller

I just thought I'd start a thread on this, as with the Cork hurling debates and Meath football ones, this sort of relates to both in a sense. We've often seen matches where certain players stand above everyone, and in important moments, rise to the occasion, and are lauded down the years.

One particular performance is very underrated, and this player never really got the credit he deserves for it, and it's Conor Lehane for the Cork hurlers. I think his performance for Cork in the first round of the Munster hurling championship against Tipp in 2017, is possibly the greatest individual performance I've ever seen, and one of the most important.

Since the infighting in Cork hurling since the late 2000's, they've been fairly rudderless. They fell into a final in 2013, but since then weren't seriously competitive. It was after they won this game, it brought them back to a level as serious contenders. They were huge outsiders that day.

Going into the championship in 2017, things were very bleak for Cork. Sometimes you need a spark to kick everything into gear, a leader to stand up and drag you to greater heights, to remind a team what they're capable of and realise standards. From the minute that ball was thrown in, Lehane was on a mission.

He was huge in that game, stood tall when Cork needed a leader, and drove them all the way. Tipperary had no answer to him that day, he was simply unplayable. He single handedly relit the spark in Cork hurling that looked dead at the time. Even winning a couple of Munster championships seemed way beyond them at that stage.

I think it's a performance, that wasn't just about being the best on that day, it was a performance that was badly needed to inspire and give direction to Cork hurling that seemed lost. Meath footballers need a similar leader to stand tall for them

I don't think Conor Lehane ever gets the recognition really for his performance that day, it has to be one of the greatest individual displays I've ever seen in hurling! It was the spark that brought Cork back from the dead, and they kicked on from there!

munsterlegend

I always remember Paul Flynn for Waterford in a Munster minor hurling final in 1992 v Tipp. He scored 3 6 and this was at a time when waterford hurling was a very low ebb. The match ended in a draw and waterford won the replay but he got a standing ovation leaving the pitch. The senior final was on after so PUC was close to capacity by the end of it.

Conversations 3

Henry Shefflin in the drawn all Ireland final with Galway.

He dragged the whole team through that game when we looked to be beaten.

robbiezero

Seamie Callanan.

9 from play in 2016 AI or the same lad again v Galway in 2015.

Gael85

Jack McCaffrey in 2019 AI final. Scored 1-3 from wing back.

cosatron

Joe Cannings sheer will to get galway over the line in the semi final replay in 2018 against clare, was one of best performances, took savage plant from cleary. Tj Reid against in galway in Nolan Park in 2019 was unbelievable.

cosatron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122217693#Comment_122217693

I always maintain that if cunningham let fergal Moore out after shefflin when he moved from corner forward, we would've won that game.

keeponhurling

I remember Tony Kelly's form back around 2021. Scoring from distances and angles you wouldn't think possible. He once scored 20 points(!) in a single game v Dublin, and 1-15 against Wexford.

In football, maybe not greatest ever, but P.Joyce's 10 points for Galway in the All-Ireland final in 2001 sticks in my mind. Some seriously impressive scoring.

MattressRick

It sometimes feels like an individual performance on a losing team is a bit more impressive because they're sometimes singlehandedly carrying the fight when their teammates are struggling to perform.

2 that spring to mind, for anyone over 40 anyways (!), are Pádraig Kelly in the 1993 hurling final when he got man of the match at wing back. For a back on a losing team to win the award shows how outstanding he was.

Dave Clarke the following year, again in the backs, was outstanding against Offaly. Just as a neutral it stood out.

The Golden Miller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122217933#Comment_122217933

Those performances tend to be forgotton, or those by players in weaker teams, or less important games. We all know about the performances of Shefflin or Canning in big games, but it's performances like Lehane in a first round game, that sparks a whole team to perform, that are arguably more important or impressive

dxhound2005

Rory Gallagher 3-9 out of 4-13 for Fermanagh against Monaghan 2002 Ulster Football QF. He was the top scorer in Ulster in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Which is a standout achievement for a Fermanagh player.

Tombo2001

I'm not quite old enough to remember it, but Matt Connor's 2-9 against Kerry in the AI SemiFinal of 1980 must be up there. Particularly given that the opposition was considered the greatest of all time, and in their prime.

I dont think anything really comes ahead of that.

Noteworthy also that Offaly scored 4-10 that day, but only two Offaly players scored.

In the hurling - a game that stands out in my memory is Limerick Clare in 1996 - both Ciaran Carey and especially Brian Lohan were outstanding that day.

MacDanger

Chris Barrett in the 2017 All Ireland; despite being on the losing side, he was brilliant that day with some absolutely textbook tackling

MattressRick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122222228#Comment_122222228

Yes I remember that. Inspirational performance stripping the ball of Con O'Callaghan a few times.

Most of that mayo team played outstandingly that day.

babybuilder

The great Frank McGuigan and his 11 points from play in the 1984 Ulster final. Left and right and a fisted point. What a player!

MacDanger

Michael Meehan & Declan O'Sullivan in a schools match back in 2002:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfqMvMlBClY

Asdfgh2020

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122221039#Comment_122221039

I think very few bar your good self would pick out/remember the ‘Lehane’ performance that you recall with such clarity and that you are able to categorise as such a pivotal moment in the teams season……I’d almost hazard a guess that you might be ‘trolling/wumming’ reading some of your posts…?

randd1

In hurling, Seamus Callanan against Galway in 2015 AISF, Eoin Larkin in the 2011 Kilkenny County Final replay, Brendan Maher for Borrisoleigh against Ballygunner in 2019 Munster Club Final, Patrick Horgan vs Kilkenny in 2019 AIQF and Joe Canning against Cork in 2018 Qualifier

In football, Michael Meehan against Kerry in 2008 in AIQF, David Clifford in the 2018 (I think) Minor final, Peter Canavan in 1995 AI Final. And of course, the great Maurice Fitz in the 1997 final.

Awesome individual displays all.

supernova5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122222133#Comment_122222133

for me Matt Connor was one of the most naturally gifted players in the last 50 years

limerickabroad

One that always sticks out for me is Ja Fallon in the second half of the All-Ireland final in 1998 - scored some sublime points and fielded some incredible catches too. And if memory serves me correctly, Michael Donnellan actually won the RTE Man of the Match! What a performance that was from Galway in the second half that day . . .

Gael85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122222228#Comment_122222228

Dean Rock scored 4 points from play off him that day though Barrett did make some outstanding tackles in second half.

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122227344#Comment_122227344

I have a feeling that this was discussed at the time and I think only one of those points was scored off Barrett - one off Keegan and one off Caff from what I can remember

Edit: Rock was particularly good that day - possibly his best game for Dublin?

zetecescort

not sure of the year but Joe Canning and Darach Honan had the proverbial shootout in an u21 quarter final, Canning with 4-7 and Honan with 2-4

The Golden Miller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122224691#Comment_122224691

It's funny you say that, because I've been labelled a "wum" alot quite recently, which I don't fully understand. Unless you give a conventional opinion, your a "wum"? Ironically, quite alot of what I've said in the past, actually comes to pass, where I was accused of wumming. Maybe I just see what everyone else doesn't, maybe I'm just more enlightened? I'm being factitious there btw, before I'm called a wum again.

I follow the Cork hurlers, and no one gave them a chance that day. They were complete outsiders, and completely rudderless. Lehane was imperious that day. Maybe if people don't remember it, maybe they aren't quite as clever or knowledgeable as they think. Cork were in serious trouble until he sparked them into life. I started the thread, for the very reason, many forget that performance. He battered a very fancied Tipp by himself, led by example, and his whole aura and attitude raised Cork from the dead, he inspired everyone around him. It's probably the greatest individual performance the GAA has ever seen tbh!

The Golden Miller

Another forgotten one, not in any particualr game mind, is Maurice Sheridans free kicking for Mayo circa 96/97. Dug them out of some holes. Ive not seen many better free takers before or since tbh. Think he went off injured in the 97 final, his all round game not the best, but you'll be hard pressed to find a better free taker. Time seems to have forgotten him

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122228904#Comment_122228904

Maurice Sheridan was a cracking free taker, a bit limited otherwise as you say but brilliant from frees over a long period

HBC08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122229183#Comment_122229183

I don't think Ive ever seen a player as important to a team as Maurice Sheridan in that team yet being so ineffective from play.

He was one of the best place kickers I've seen but wouldn't be near the team otherwise.

Asdfgh2020

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122228904#Comment_122228904

Must look this game up on you tube and witness this sublime lehane performance that you are referring to……

Rosita

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122228900#Comment_122228900

Not sure why you mention that you follow the Cork hurlers - if anything that weakens an argument in favour of one of them. But you are right the lack of a "conventional" (that is within the parameters of an informally agreed set of opinions) opinion allows people to dismiss others as wums. No doubt about that. No easy way around that.

The Golden Miller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122229698#Comment_122229698

Should do, might learn something....

BQQ

Noel Hickey in the 2006 All-Ireland final

Recovered from a potentially fatal heart issue that kept him out of KK’s semi final defeat the year before - only returning in the Leinster final (in the corner)

Restored to full back in the AI final facing a Cork team that was expected to dominate for years to come and going for 3 in a row

Marking the two time hurler of the year Brian Corcoran - he put him in his pocket and Cork have yet to recover from the shock