8. David Meyler
(David Meyler pictured prior to an Ireland friendly last year)
MEYLER CAME THROUGH the youth system at Cork City and made a couple of senior appearances before securing a move to Sunderland in 2008.
7. David Forde
(Derry City goalkeeper David Forde in 2006)
The player with the most experience of playing League of Ireland on this list, Forde had two stints apiece at Galway United and Derry City, in between brief spells at Barry Town and West Ham, before joining Cardiff in 2006.
6. Stephen Quinn
(Stephen Quinn in action against Georgia last year)
Quinn had a short spell at St Pat’s at the start of his career, before being signed by Sheffield United in 2005.
5. Daryl Murphy
(Dave Rogers of Shels and Daryl Murphy of Waterford in 2005)
After being released by Luton in 2000, Murphy spent three years at Waterford United, before signing a two-year contract at Sunderland, following a season that that saw him score 14 goals and win the PFAI Young Player of the Year award.
4. James McClean
(James McClean of Derry City in 2011)
Appeared regularly for Derry between 2008 and 2011, before joining Sunderland for a fee of £350,000.
3. Wes Hoolahan
(Wes Hoolahan of Shels and Juan Valeron of Deportivo in 2004)
John Giles claims he recommended Hoolahan to a Premier League club during his early Shelbourne days, but the player was deemed “too small” by the team in question. After making over 100 appearances at Shels, he joined Livingston in Scotland and later played for Blackpool and Norwich (his current club).
2. Shane Long
(Shane Long celebrates scoring in the recent Euro 2016 qualifier against Poland)
Brought to Cork City with a scholarship by Pat Dolan, Long’s talent quickly became apparent and he left the Irish club to sign for Reading in 2005.
1. Seamus Coleman
(Shamrock Rovers’ Eric McGill with Seamus Coleman of Sligo in 2008)
Joined Sligo Rovers as a teenager in 2006, before being signed by Everton in 2009 for just £60,000. He is now considered as one of the best full-backs in the Premier League.
A version of this piece was originally published on 10 June, 2015
Ciaran McDonald would be well up there?
Should be top of the list.
top of the list without a doubt
Johnny doyle nearly dragged kildare to Sam in 2010 all by himself,1-52 on his own,best footballer not to win one,one of most honest footballers aswel
Declan Browne, Tipperary, wonderful footballer, definitely should be up there with the best.
Benny coulter
Ciaràn Carey. Without doubt.
2 All Ireland losses.
3 All Stars.
2 Munster Titles.
Iconic score V Clare in ’96.
And Ollie Moran, class act.
Gary Kirby?
If I could give this comment the thumbs up another 100 times I would. Ciaran Carey was gifted
Ken McGrath… Maybe didn’t have the longevity of Tony but an exceptional natural talent… Considering he must be one of the few intercounty hurlers to have played in every line barring goals where i’m sure he would have done a job…
John Mullane?
Matty Forde – genius
Lionel Messi, by a mile.
I was thinking Stevie G myself.
Dermot Early Sr.
Even Mick O Dwyer said that the Roscommon team of the late 70′s were the team that should have beaten the great Kerry team. Early was arguably the best of his generation, even compared to the Kerry and dub greats of the time.
Ciaran McDonald
Easy one for me, Kieran Mc Donald
Has to be Ciaran Carey. Loosing two Finals in ’94 and’ 96 to offaly and wexford. A true warrior and leader on the field. His late score against Clare has to be one of TV’s greatest GAA sporting moments.
Anthony Lynch in the football. Great servant for Cork and very unlucky never to win an All-Ireland medal.
Ciarán Carey or Ollie Canning in the hurling.
Lynch got one in 2010 as a sub
Oh I never realised that. I thought he was out injured that year.
Yea lynch was a super corner back, tenacious
Colin Corkery for me.
Tony McManus of Clann na nGael and Roscommon. Lost too many, deserved at least 1 of 6. (Lost 5 All Ireland Club Finals and one with Roscommon)
Paul Flynn Ken McGrath John Mullane (Waterford) Ciaran Carey Gary Kirby Mark Foley Ollie Moran (Limerick)
Dermot earley senior or Gerry o malley would have to have a strong shout.
Ciaran Carey for Limerick hurling…class act
Probably being biased.ciaran Whealen?
Was he not in his first year in 95?
Joined in 96 actually.
I don’t see how going missing constantly in big games qualifies him as the greatest player never to win an All Ireland.
R u mad? Totally over rated. Declan Browne and Leighton Glynn should get a mention
So do hillybillies not think ciaran whelan deserved AI medal ?
Sorry Leighton Glynn is a good footballer butim not sure he stands out from the crowd that much. Ciaran McDonald from mayo? John galvin from limerick was a super midfielder too
a legend
John galvin yeah a good shout. Sean Marty Lockhart as well
Ciaran Carey hurling
Ciaran Whelan football
Sambo McNaughton, a very skilful player, as good as any of his generation, played the game during very difficult times, told stories of UVF road blocks on way home from training, taking his hurls etc.
Val Daly brilliant player during 80′s and early 90′s.
Surprised I have not seen John Galvin yet.
Here’s my go at a football team. Only players I’ve seen live or on video so nobody pre 1980ish and most are from 1990 onwards. Hard to pick out only 6 forwards,
GK
Gary Connachton, Westmeath
Backs
Seamus Clancy, Clare
Pat Holmes, Mayo.
Sean Marty Lockhart, Derry
Antony Rainbow, Kildare
James Nallen, Mayo
Coman Goggins, Dublin
Midfield
D Early Sr, Roscommon
Plunket Donaghy, Tyrone
Forwards
B Coulter, Down
C McDonald, Mayo
Eamon o Hara, Sligo
Dec Brown, Tipp
Liam McHale, Mayo
J Doyle, Kildare
Liam Mchale full forward, I like it.
How in the name of God can you leave out Willie Joe Padden from that midfield?? Ronaldson and McStay would also get in miles before McHale.
Michael Meehan
Silly question. Pick a team in both codes, that would be more interesting
You’re welcome to do that if you like Simon, that’s the beauty on a open thread.
My point is we can all mention someone in both hurling and football. Just think it would be fun to pick two teams, no offence!
Oh I know that, what I’m saying – and I think we’re in agreement on this – is that if enough people contribute different players in different positions, we could make a starting XV for both codes.
Will keep an eye on it. Working out my ow two teams!
Val daly Galway.
Nudie Hughes Monaghan, 2 Allstars, 3 Ulsters,
Connie Murphy the greatest kerry footballer not to win an all ireland with his county, he did win the club all ireland with crokes in 92, he was a brilliant servant to the county during the lean years
Brendan Murphy, Carlow! Still playing but has never and will never win an all Ireland playing for carlow.
Hurling Iggy Clarke, 3 All stars, National League, U21 All Ireland, on the losing side in 3 All Ireland senior hurling finals, missed out through injury when Galway won in 80.
Ollie Canning, Ken McGrath,Sean Stack,Joe Rabbitte,John Mullane,Seamus Durack also come to mind.
Iggy Clarke has an All Ireland medal
Ciarian Whelan
He shied away when it mattered man. He never stepped up against the likes Darragh O’Se, John McDermott and Paul McGrane (he did score a great goal against Armagh in 2002) when the we needed him the most.
Tony Browne by a mile
Ciaran Whelan
There’s a thumbs up for ya Karl. I think you’ll be a while waiting for a second one on this site!
Ciarán Whelan, Jack Sheedy, Declan Browne, Mattie Forde,…. the list is endless.
Without doubt one man that should be on the list us Roscommon’s Dermot Early snr. Probably the best midfielder of his generation with a couple of Allstars to his name…..
http://www.hoganstand.com/Mayo/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=80292.
Article from 1993 about John Nallen of Mayo, Galway, Meath and Cavan. Was never able to make then final step and win an elusive all Ireland title.
I wish old people had smartphones – they’d laugh at all these suggestions from the last 30 years. In Offaly hurling, people talk about Paddy Molloy from the 60s. Must be the same in football for Armagh, Tyrone, Donegal etc.
Joe Canning…probably!
Kieren Mcdonald. …. would thread the ball through the eye of a needle, Mac would work wonders today with our attacking half back line…
#2006 winning score V Dublin will live long in the memory
Yea I was on the hill that day James, super point from Ciaran, magician. The man took serious abuse as well and never responded
ciaran Carey and benny coulter
Mark Carpenter, Carlow, Was a brilliant footballer and Was instrumental in Carlow O’Byrne cup win all the way back in 2000.
Ciaran o sullivan great wing back
BOD definately!!!!!
BOD is a rugby player so can’t see him ever fitting in on the gaa football or hurling scene.
For me it has to be Matty Forde – Wexford .Pure genius. Could kick scores all day long and was phenomenal in that run to all Ireland semi finals In 2008.
Dermot Mc Cabe from Cavan was a top class midfielder. Good midfielder with buckets of talent and a massive workrate..
Setanta O Halpin
Keith Higgins – Mayo
PAUL FYLNN!!
As a huge Kilkenny supporter in south Kilkenny and going to school in waterford(getting all the banter in there with waterford supporters) I was literally made to be against Waterford and constantly make little of anything they did,but Paul in my eyes was the most perfect example of the way a person should play the game.He was just unreal,had everthing.I respect him just as much as Henry and Brian Cody.As much as he was praised he was still really unrated and never have I seen him loose his temper on the pitch.
Frank McGuigan-Tyrone. His 11 points from play against Armagh in the 84 Ulster final was a thing of sheer class. 5 with the left, 5 with the right and 1 with the fist.
David Russell Clare
some great players from 1950/1960s like Mickey Kearns, Sligo;Packie McGarty, Leitim; Gerry O Malley ,Roscommon- latter county also had later greats like Dermot Early and Tony McManus.
Joe Kavanagh and Colin Corkery at inter county level. Have won club AI’s to be fair but no inter county All Ireland
The great Ted Joyce from carlow. The last surviving link to the Carlow team which won the county’s lone Leinster senior football championship title in 1944, who passed away last February. Joyce, at 20, was the youngest member of the Carlow team who defeated Dublin in Geraldine Park, Athy by 2-6 to 1-6 in the provincial final of ’44. The Borris man played at left half-back.
Get your red thumbs ready my cousin marrying friends. Ciaran Whelan
Aye sure pick two teams there lads and we’ll get them to play against other..
Pat Crowley – Was one of the best footballers i saw for Galway but blighted by injury
Eamon O’hara – Sligo
Forde most lethal footballer I have ever seen and I seen a lot of him!
T.J Kilgannon. centre half back… midfield or centrehalf forward.
Connie Murphy for Kerry, surely a no brainer here!!
Dermot early sr all the way.
HON THE ROSSIES!!!!!!!!!!!!