Team of 2000's

WinstonSmith

Who are the best fifteen footballers since the year 2000? By the best I mean that their best games (their prime) were played for their county during this decade. For example, even though I consider Anthony Tohill to be better than at least one of the midfielders I have named, I would not name him on this team because he played his best football in the '90's. My team would be:

1. Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
2. Joe Higgins (Laois)
3. Cormac McAnallen (Tyrone)
4. Sean Marty Lockhart (Derry)
5. Tomas O'Se (Kerry)
6. Ciaran McGeeney (Armagh)
7. Philip Jordan (Tyrone)
8. Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)
9. Nicholas Murphy (Cork)
10. Brian Dooher (Tyrone)
11. Ciaran McDonald (Mayo)
12. Brian McGuigan (Tyrone)
13. Stephen McDonnell (Armagh)
14. Kieran Donaghy (Kerry)
15. Ronan Clarke (Armagh)

Obviously there are some contentious issues here. I could almost name another team made entirely of players who nearly made this team to include players such as Declan O'Keefe, Seamus Moynihan, Anthony Lynch, Graham Canty, Kevin Reilly, Darragh O'Se, Colm Cooper, Padraig Joyce, Stephen O'Neill and perhaps I am still forgetting about others who deserve to be on the team ahead of others. What would your teams be?

Pride Fighter

Alan Brogan is better than all the forwards bar Dooher. I'd have Mattie Forde and Dessie Dolan in the squad at least. Same with Michael Meehan, Padraig Joyce and Gooch Cooper.

Your team is still good though, but you have overlooked many great players that should be on it.

blackbelt

To be honest,to make it fairer I'd make up a panel of 30 so that it would be pretty hard to leave out players that would deserve to be there or thereabouts.

Anyway,my pick.

1.Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
2.Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone)
3.Mike McCarthy (Kerry)
4.Noel O Leary (Cork)
5.Davy Harte (Tyrone)
6.Marc O Se (Kerry)
7.Ciaran McKeever (Armagh)
8.Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)
9.Darragh O Se (Kerry)
10.Brian Dooher (Tyrone)
11.Trevor Giles (Meath)
12.Jason Sherlock (Dublin)
13.Graham Geraghty (Meath)
14.Kieran Donaghy (Kerry)
15.Colm Cooper (Kerry)

16.Pascal McConnell (Tyrone)
17.David Henry (Dublin)
18.Graham Canty (Cork)
19.Michael Ennis (Westmeath)
20.Kieran McGeeney (Armagh)
21.David Heaney (Mayo)
22.Tomas O Se (Kerry)
23.Ciaran Whelan (Dublin)
24.Enda McGinley (Tyrone)
25.Cormac Bane (Galway)
26.Dessie Dolan (Westmeath)
27.James Masters (Cork)
28.Conor Mortimor (Mayo)
29.Michael Meehan (Galway)
30.Mattie Forde (Wexford)

derealbadger

blackbelt wrote: »

To be honest,to make it fairer I'd make up a panel of 30 so that it would be pretty hard to leave out players that would deserve to be there or thereabouts.

Anyway,my pick.

1.Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
2.Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone)
3.Mike McCarthy (Kerry)
4.Noel O Leary (Cork)
5.Davy Harte (Tyrone)
6.Marc O Se (Kerry)
7.Ciaran McKeever (Armagh)
8.Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)
9.Darragh O Se (Kerry)
10.Brian Dooher (Tyrone)
11.Trevor Giles (Meath)
12.Jason Sherlock (Dublin)
13.Graham Geraghty (Meath)
14.Kieran Donaghy (Kerry)
15.Colm Cooper (Kerry)

16.Pascal McConnell (Tyrone)
17.David Henry (Dublin)
18.Graham Canty (Cork)
19.Michael Ennis (Westmeath)
20.Kieran McGeeney (Armagh)
21.David Heaney (Mayo)
22.Tomas O Se (Kerry)
23.Ciaran Whelan (Dublin)
24.Enda McGinley (Tyrone)
25.Cormac Bane (Galway)
26.Dessie Dolan (Westmeath)
27.James Masters (Cork)
28.Conor Mortimor (Mayo)
29.Michael Meehan (Galway)
30.Mattie Forde (Wexford)

cant see how you7 can leave out padraig joyce tbh

Pride Fighter

derealbadger wrote: »

cant see how you7 can leave out padraig joyce tbh

He also left out Alan Brogan:eek:

derealbadger

Pride Fighter wrote: »

He also left out Alan Brogan:eek:

how many AI finals has brogan been in joyce bet meath on his own 2001

premierstone

Pride Fighter wrote: »

He also left out Alan Brogan:eek:

In fairness Alan Brogan isnt even the best footballer in hes family never mind the country

Oh yeah and no mention of Declan Browne in any of the selections here :mad:

Pride Fighter

derealbadger wrote: »

how many AI finals has brogan been in joyce bet meath on his own 2001

Not doubting Joyce's quality, in my first response to this I said Joyce should definitely be there. I just rate Alan Brogan so highly, he is the best corner forward in the country. This season he is being played out of position at centre forward and still scoring a lot of scores. This season he is also far more creative than he has ever been.

dxhound2005

I would find a place for Oisin McConville and Peter Canavan. Granted they were going strong in the 90's but they both won All Irelands in the 00's and both topped the Ulster scoring charts in the decade. They are also number 1 and 2 in the all time Ulster scoring charts which is no mean feat.

homerjay2005

this thread will not end well as people will refuse to pick players that they wont like.

anybody that picks a team and leaves arguebly the player of the decade in gooch is not going to be taking seriously, maybe only Sean kavanagh could be classed as having a bigger impact over the course of the decade.

Also, any player that won a player of the year award surely must be good enough to be considered one of the best 15 players over the past 9 years.

i think this is the 15 players who have made the biggest impact, i could add in one or 2 more and lets face it, this team will never play again, so positions are not important, but i also think that this team are not far off and the positions are pretty much bang on.

---

P. McConnell

---

R. McMenimen

---

G Canty

---

M O Shea
T O Shea

---

K McGeeney

---

P Jordan

---

Sean Kavanagh

---

Darragh O Shea

---

B Doohery

---

P Joyce

---

S O Neill

---

C Cooper

---

K Donaghy

---

S Mcdonald--

homerjay2005

premierstone wrote: »

Oh yeah and no mention of Declan Browne in any of the selections here :mad:

id actually love to fit him in as i think he was amazing and one of the best about, but we are talking about Gooch, Star and Mcdonald for his position! those 3 lads cannot be left out.

id rate declan browne as one of the best players of all time, never to win a League, Province or all ireland crowne. he was that good. a real gentleman, an absolute smashing player, one of the best ive ever seen play live and i saw him play 4 or 5 times. had he been born in Kerry or Cork or any of the big counties, he would have been as well known as Gooch for example, however, i feel that not alot of people on here even know who is he or what position he played in.

K-9

homerjay2005 wrote: »

---

P. McConnell

---

R. McMenimen

---

G Canty

---

M O Shea
T O Shea

---

K McGeeney

---

P Jordan

---

Sean Kavanagh

---

Darragh O Shea

---

B Doohery

---

P Joyce

---

S O Neill

---

C Cooper

---

K Donaghy

---

S Mcdonald--

Jaysus, that would be some team. I think that is pretty close. You could argue for 1/2 other players, thinking of Brian McGuigan and Clarke in particular, but it would be difficult to make a case that anyone of them should not be there.

Pride Fighter

premierstone wrote: »

In fairness Alan Brogan isnt even the best footballer in hes family never mind the country

Oh yeah and no mention of Declan Browne in any of the selections here :mad:

Bernard is good, but Alan is better IMO.

Declan Browne is one of the best players I have seen. He is still young enough, early 30's I think. He could add a lot to the current panel who are improving leaps and bounds in the last 2 years.

DARK-KNIGHT

i know im a kildare man but i have to put an oar in for johnnie doyle as he is a fantastic forward!

alan smith is improving all the time and i feel in next few years he will be one of the best forwards in the country.

shame glen ryan wasnt mentioned either but before anyone says it most of his best football was played late 90s!

poster has posted a good team but all top teams in the country and talent can be found through all teams in this country!

good idea for a thread though (me likes it)!!!!!

homerjay2005

K-9 wrote: »

Jaysus, that would be some team. I think that is pretty close. You could argue for 1/2 other players, thinking of Brian McGuigan and Clarke in particular, but it would be difficult to make a case that anyone of them should not be there.

ah ya of course, theres always a case for more, but overall, i think that 15 is the fairest, it contains the 15 players who made the biggest impact all decade and i think contains 7 or 8 player of the year awards!i think moyhinhan is the only POTY that is not in there.(not sure who got 2003 and i assume mcgeeney or mcdonald got it in 2002)

Mcconville is one lad that i could have in there, but i think dooher and o neill are slightly ahead. likewise clarke for FF but Donaghy has been one of the icons of the decade. Gooch and Mcdonal have to be in. Mcguigan maybe could be in there for Joyce, thats perhaps the one doubt i would have. Midfield is no contest and i dont think the backs are.

I would have my 5 subs as

Beclan Browne
Oisin McConville
Brian Mcguigan
Ronan Clarke
Paddy Bradley.

premierstone

homerjay2005 wrote: »

I would have my 5 subs as

Beclan Browne
Oisin McConville
Brian Mcguigan
Ronan Clarke
Paddy Bradley.

Better hope none of the backs get injured

derealbadger

premierstone wrote: »

Better hope none of the backs get injured

iiiiiiii like

K-9

homerjay2005 wrote: »

ah ya of course, theres always a case for more, but overall, i think that 15 is the fairest, it contains the 15 players who made the biggest impact all decade and i think contains 7 or 8 player of the year awards!i think moyhinhan is the only POTY that is not in there.(not sure who got 2003 and i assume mcgeeney or mcdonald got it in 2002)

Mcconville is one lad that i could have in there, but i think dooher and o neill are slightly ahead. likewise clarke for FF but Donaghy has been one of the icons of the decade. Gooch and Mcdonal have to be in. Mcguigan maybe could be in there for Joyce, thats perhaps the one doubt i would have. Midfield is no contest and i dont think the backs are.

I would have my 5 subs as

Beclan Browne
Oisin McConville
Brian Mcguigan
Ronan Clarke
Paddy Bradley.

I'll probably get slated for this, but if anybody in the FF line had to go, think it would be Donaghey. I'd have Mattie Forde ahead of Bradley on the subs, but both are exceptional footballers. I rate Clarke higher than McDonnell, but it's hard to argue with his goal scoring record.

I like Kieran McDonald, so I'd have him on the bench too.

Michael Donnellan and Kevin Walsh where fine footballers too, but probably suffer because that Galway team straddles the late 90's and early 00's, same with Meath and as for Cormac McAnallen, I'd say he'd still be on that Tyrone team, maybe even in midfield, RIP.

I'd give a mention to Martie McGrath of Fermanagh too as without him, I don't think Fermanagh would have achieved what they did this decade.

Jugs82

blackbelt wrote: »

To be honest,to make it fairer I'd make up a panel of 30 so that it would be pretty hard to leave out players that would deserve to be there or thereabouts.

Anyway,my pick.

1.Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
2.Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone)
3.Mike McCarthy (Kerry)
4.Noel O Leary (Cork)
5.Davy Harte (Tyrone)
6.Marc O Se (Kerry)
7.Ciaran McKeever (Armagh)
8.Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)
9.Darragh O Se (Kerry)
10.Brian Dooher (Tyrone)
11.Trevor Giles (Meath)
12.Jason Sherlock (Dublin)
13.Graham Geraghty (Meath)
14.Kieran Donaghy (Kerry)
15.Colm Cooper (Kerry)

16.Pascal McConnell (Tyrone)
17.David Henry (Dublin)
18.Graham Canty (Cork)
19.Michael Ennis (Westmeath)
20.Kieran McGeeney (Armagh)
21.David Heaney (Mayo)
22.Tomas O Se (Kerry)
23.Ciaran Whelan (Dublin)
24.Enda McGinley (Tyrone)
25.Cormac Bane (Galway)
26.Dessie Dolan (Westmeath)
27.James Masters (Cork)
28.Conor Mortimor (Mayo)
29.Michael Meehan (Galway)
30.Mattie Forde (Wexford)

Cormac Bane?? He's not bad but on the team of the 2000's i certainly wouldnt go for him personally

1. Stephen Cluxton
2. Ryan Mcmenimen
3. Barry Owens
4. Joe Higgins
5. Philip Jordan
6. Kieran McGeeney
7. Thomas O'Se
8. Darragh O'Shea
9. Sean Cavanagh
10. Dessie Dolan
11. Ciaran McDonald
12. Brian Dooher
13. Declan Brown
14. Padraig Joyce
15. Mattie Forde

Left Canavan, Donnellan & Canty off but they were close calls

Hacks

WinstonSmith wrote: »

1. Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
2. Joe Higgins (Laois)
3. Cormac McAnallen (Tyrone)
4. Sean Marty Lockhart (Derry)
5. Tomas O'Se (Kerry)
6. Ciaran McGeeney (Armagh)
7. Philip Jordan (Tyrone)
8. Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)
9. Nicholas Murphy (Cork)
10. Brian Dooher (Tyrone)
11. Ciaran McDonald (Mayo)
12. Brian McGuigan (Tyrone)
13. Stephen McDonnell (Armagh)
14. Kieran Donaghy (Kerry)
15. Ronan Clarke (Armagh)
quote]

This (the first post) looks the best team to me, only changes i'd have would be O'Shea, Brogan & definately Paddy Bradley in for Murphy, McDonald & McGuigan.
Maybe Anthony Lynch in for Joe Higgins and although Cormac McAnallen was a great player i dont think he played enough in the 00's to make the team............i dont mean to sound cruel there either as i'm sure if he was still around he'd be one of the first names on the team.

Hacks

Also.........how can anyone justify having Trevor Giles in their team of the 00's ?? He was overrated to begin with and is finished years !!!

corcaigh07

homerjay2005 wrote: »

---

P. McConnell

---

R. McMenimen

---

G Canty

---

M O Shea
T O Shea

---

K McGeeney

---

P Jordan

---

Sean Kavanagh

---

Darragh O Shea

---

B Doohery

---

P Joyce

---

S O Neill

---

C Cooper

---

K Donaghy

---

S Mcdonald--

thats up there definitely. i would have some slight doubts about Canty as he was never fully comfortable there. Not sure who else id put there though, maybe seamus moynihan, Darren Fay or Barry Owens. id also have anthony lynch in instead of Marc O Se. just personal preference of course, that team is still awesome.

maybe a few more possible contenders: Cormac Sullivan, Cluxton, Diarmuid Murphy for goalie. Declan Meehan, Sean Og De Paor, Conor Gormley, Micheal McCarthy in the backs. Paul Mcgrane, Ciaran Whelan, enda mcginley for midfield. Micheal Donnellan, Paul Galvin(even though he's a prick and a half, he can play), Ciaran McDonald, Mattie Forde, Colin Corkery for the forwards.

derealbadger

i think ja fallon would be very close

Het-Field

Hacks wrote: »

Also.........how can anyone justify having Trevor Giles in their team of the 00's ?? He was overrated to begin with and is finished years !!!

Never overrated in the 1990s. Himself, Greaghty, and Ollie Murphy were the holy trinity ten years ago

K-9

Hacks wrote: »

Also.........how can anyone justify having Trevor Giles in their team of the 00's ?? He was overrated to begin with and is finished years !!!

True, I'd rate Geraghty higher, but then the same question arises, who for?

Bradley couldn't replace McGuigan though. Different type of players, one's a playmaker, the other is an exceptional finisher.

Corkery, I could find a place for! Definitely.

I suppose it comes back to Tyrone and Kerry being the teams of the decade with Armagh, Dublin and Cork trailing behind, with probably Armagh ahead on points due to an AI. Galway and Meath suffer because of the era.

Speaking of which, no Francie yet! Not the fanciest corner back but he'd do a job on any corner forward, in his peak.

derealbadger

K-9 wrote: »

True, I'd rate Geraghty higher, but then the same question arises, who for?

Bradley couldn't replace McGuigan though. Different type of players, one's a playmaker, the other is an exceptional finisher.

Corkery, I could find a place for! Definitely.

I suppose it comes back to Tyrone and Kerry being the teams of the decade with Armagh, Dublin and Cork trailing behind, with probably Armagh ahead on points due to an AI. Galway and Meath suffer because of the era.

Speaking of which, no Francie yet! Not the fanciest corner back but he'd do a job on any corner forward, in his peak.

galway have been in two all irelands won one how do they belong behind dublin or cork

homerjay2005

theres some good names here being mentioned and most with valid claims, but also, some lads who should be nowhere near the team! remember, this is the best 15 players over almost 10 years. to be on this, you need to have surely have a this -

a player of the year award
or
2/3 all stars

then, if people are tied, playing well in all ireland finals would decide. Kerry played in 7 of them, winning 4. Tyrone played in 3, winning 3. these 2 counties should make up the majority.

Armagh had 2 finals, winnin 1 and had 2 of the players of the decade, as on my team

galway had 2 finals, winning 1 and have one player on the team (declan meehan would be a good back up defender)

Mayo had 2 finals, but none of their players are in the top 15 for the decade as they failed to deliever both as teams and individuals on the big day.

Cork had one final and have one on the team.
Meath had one final, but their players were at their peak 96 to 99 and no doubt would have had 2 or 3 players on the 90s team such as Fay/Mcdermot and one or 2 more maybe like murphy and maybe giles/gerro.

but in all fairness, this is an individal based team and is down to how they played and not their own team.

homerjay2005

i think this would be a good poll to have, like the soccer forum had 2 weeks ago?

15 polls, with the nominees coming from this thread. we could have one poll every 3 or 4 days and the close it.

jpt77

blackbelt wrote: »

To be honest,to make it fairer I'd make up a panel of 30 so that it would be pretty hard to leave out players that would deserve to be there or thereabouts.

Anyway,my pick.

1.Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
2.Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone)
3.Mike McCarthy (Kerry)
4.Noel O Leary (Cork)
5.Davy Harte (Tyrone)
6.Marc O Se (Kerry)
7.Ciaran McKeever (Armagh)
8.Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)
9.Darragh O Se (Kerry)
10.Brian Dooher (Tyrone)
11.Trevor Giles (Meath)
12.Jason Sherlock (Dublin)
13.Graham Geraghty (Meath)
14.Kieran Donaghy (Kerry)
15.Colm Cooper (Kerry)

16.Pascal McConnell (Tyrone)
17.David Henry (Dublin)
18.Graham Canty (Cork)
19.Michael Ennis (Westmeath)
20.Kieran McGeeney (Armagh)
21.David Heaney (Mayo)
22.Tomas O Se (Kerry)
23.Ciaran Whelan (Dublin)
24.Enda McGinley (Tyrone)
25.Cormac Bane (Galway)
26.Dessie Dolan (Westmeath)
27.James Masters (Cork)
28.Conor Mortimor (Mayo)
29.Michael Meehan (Galway)
30.Mattie Forde (Wexford)

ha ha. Cormac Bane, Michael Ennis, Noel O Leary, Conor Mortimer. No Joyce.

eagle eye

Well the way I look at things like this is that you have to look at the spine of the team first and then pick the rest.

I wouldn't go against Cluxton as goalkeeper even though there are many fine candidates for the position. I will say this though, he is the only Dublin player that would be in contention for my first team.

The full back has to be Darren Fay, the guy was simply outstanding.
Centre half back is another one with a certain first choice in Kieran McGeeney
Darragh O'Sé is first choice and Sean Cavanagh is second choice for midfield.

For me this is the hardest position to pick on a team of the decade but Peter Canavan would certainly fit the bill.

It depends on what you are looking for in your full forward, clearly Kieran Donaghy brings power and great fielding skills but I see my team not needing to hit high balls into the forward line so I wouldn't have him. The player who would be my no.1 if he hadn't such a horrible injury record is Stephen O'Neill. In the end though the best for me in that position over the last decade had been Padraig Joyce.

Now that I've done that here is my team.

---

Stephen Cluxton

Marc Ó'Sé

---

Darren Fay

---

Michael McCarthy

Declan Meehan

---

Keiran McGeeney

---

Phillip Jordan

---

Darragh Ó'Sé

---

Sean Cavanagh

Brian Dooher

---

Peter Canavan

---

Declan Browne

Colm Cooper

---

Padraig Joyce

---

Mattie Forde

Pride Fighter

eagle eye wrote: »

Well the way I look at things like this is that you have to look at the spine of the team first and then pick the rest.

I wouldn't go against Cluxton as goalkeeper even though there are many fine candidates for the position. I will say this though, he is the only Dublin player that would be in contention for my first team.

The full back has to be Darren Fay, the guy was simply outstanding.
Centre half back is another one with a certain first choice in Kieran McGeeney
Darragh O'Sé is first choice and Sean Cavanagh is second choice for midfield.

For me this is the hardest position to pick on a team of the decade but Peter Canavan would certainly fit the bill.

It depends on what you are looking for in your full forward, clearly Kieran Donaghy brings power and great fielding skills but I see my team not needing to hit high balls into the forward line so I wouldn't have him. The player who would be my no.1 if he hadn't such a horrible injury record is Stephen O'Neill. In the end though the best for me in that position over the last decade had been Padraig Joyce.

Now that I've done that here is my team.

---

Stephen Cluxton

Marc Ó'Sé

---

Darren Fay

---

Michael McCarthy

Declan Meehan

---

Keiran McGeeney

---

Phillip Jordan

---

Tomás Ó'Sé

---

Sean Cavanagh

Brian Dooher

---

Peter Canavan

---

Declan Browne

Colm Cooper

---

Padraig Joyce

---

Mattie Forde

You accidentally called Darragh O'Se Thomas O'Se.

grenache

1. Alan Quirke (Cork)
2. Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone)
3. Seán Marty Lockhart (Derry)
4. Anthony Lynch (Cork)
5. Tomas O'Se (Kerry)
6. Kieran McGeeney (Armagh)
7. Sean óg de Paor (Galway)
8. Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)
9. John Galvin (Limerick)
10. Brian Dooher (Tyrone)
11. Ciaran McDonald (Mayo)
12. Graham Geraghty (Meath)
13. Colm Cooper (Kerry)
14. Paddy Bradley (Derry)
15. Matty Forde (Wexford)

Subs:
16. Diarmuid Murphy (Kerry)
17. Paddy Christie (Dublin)
18. Eamon O'Hara (Sligo)
19. Declan Browne (Tipperary)
20. Peter Canavan (Tyrone)

K-9

derealbadger wrote: »

galway have been in two all irelands won one how do they belong behind dublin or cork

True, but then you are going back to the first 2 years of the decade. That team, same with Meath, belongs in the 90's. Galway haven't done anything of note since 01, not even an AI Final, though I still include Joyce in my team.

homerjay2005 wrote: »

theres some good names here being mentioned and most with valid claims, but also, some lads who should be nowhere near the team! remember, this is the best 15 players over almost 10 years. to be on this, you need to have surely have a this -

a player of the year award
or
2/3 all stars

then, if people are tied, playing well in all ireland finals would decide. Kerry played in 7 of them, winning 4. Tyrone played in 3, winning 3. these 2 counties should make up the majority.

Armagh had 2 finals, winnin 1 and had 2 of the players of the decade, as on my team

galway had 2 finals, winning 1 and have one player on the team (declan meehan would be a good back up defender)

Mayo had 2 finals, but none of their players are in the top 15 for the decade as they failed to deliever both as teams and individuals on the big day.

Cork had one final and have one on the team.
Meath had one final, but their players were at their peak 96 to 99 and no doubt would have had 2 or 3 players on the 90s team such as Fay/Mcdermot and one or 2 more maybe like murphy and maybe giles/gerro.

but in all fairness, this is an individal based team and is down to how they played and not their own team.

I'd agree with your basis, but All Stars are generally down to the 2 AI Finalists. 10-12 players with 3/4 exceptions. The likes of Bradley, Forde, Browne etc. get them because they can't be ignored over a few years. Them 3 are different type of players as they usually carry a team. You could argue Donaghey/Cooper and O'Neill/Mulligan failed on those terms this decade.

eagle eye wrote: »

---

Stephen Cluxton

Marc Ó'Sé

---

Darren Fay

---

Michael McCarthy

Declan Meehan

---

Keiran McGeeney

---

Phillip Jordan

---

Tomás Ó'Sé

---

Sean Cavanagh

Brian Dooher

---

Peter Canavan

---

Declan Browne

Colm Cooper

---

Padraig Joyce

---

Mattie Forde

Not too much wrong with that except positioning of a few. Dara has to be in there as does Tomas, except in the half back line. Fay, I'd give a spot to before Geraghty or Giles.

Though an honorable mention to Karl Lacey seeing as my own county never got mentioned. A man marker but can also attack, ala McMenanmin and McMahon.

I'd sway Joyce with Browne but again, it is who you are missing that sticks out. McDonnell for one sticks out. No better goal getter in the country.

Pride Fighter

1. Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
2. David Henry (Dublin)
3. Paddy Christie (Dublin)
4. Stephen O'Shaughnassey (Dublin)
5. Barry Cahill (Dublin)
6. Bryan Cullen (Dublin)
7. Collie Moran (Dublin)
8. Ciaran Whelan (Dublin)
9. Shane Ryan (Dublin)
10. Bernard Brogan (Dublin)
11. Jason Sherlock (Dublin)
12. Tomas Quinn (Dublin)
13. Alan Brogan (Dublin)
14. Dessie Farrell (Dublin)
15. Conal Keaney (Dublin)

;);):D:D:D

Now my real team


1. Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
2. Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone)
3. Graham Canty (Cork)
4. Mark O'Se (Kerry)
5. Davy Hart (Tyrone)
6. Kieran McGeeny (Armagh)
7. Philip Jordan (Tyrone)
8. Darragh O'Se (Kerry)
9. Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)
10. Brian Dooher (Tyrone)
11. Padraig Joyce (Galway)
12. Jason Sherlock (Dublin)
13. Alan Brogan (Dublin)
14. Dessie Dolan (Westmeath)
15. Colm Cooper (Kerry)

Bit different to some others but that is the best team IMO.

yerayeah

There's a serious lack of Seamus Moynihan here, despite playing out his twilight years in this decade I'd have thought he would at least have got a mention at this stage.

Picking a team like this is an impossible task so I'm not even going to try:pac:

Hacks

Pride Fighter wrote: »

Now my real team

1. Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
2. Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone)
3. Graham Canty (Cork)
4. Mark O'Se (Kerry)
5. Davy Hart (Tyrone)
6. Kieran McGeeny (Armagh)
7. Philip Jordan (Tyrone)
8. Darragh O'Se (Kerry)
9. Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)
10. Brian Dooher (Tyrone)
11. Padraig Joyce (Galway)
12. Jason Sherlock (Dublin)
13. Alan Brogan (Dublin)
14. Dessie Dolan (Westmeath)
15. Colm Cooper (Kerry)

Bit different to some others but that is the best team IMO.

3 Dubs who have not won an All-Ireland (Jayo's was over 10 yrs ago) and only 3 Kerry & 1 Armagh ??????
Come down from the hill there and re-think that team there dude. A third of your team haven't won an All-Ireland !!

K-9

yerayeah wrote: »

There's a serious lack of Seamus Moynihan here, despite playing out his twilight years in this decade I'd have thought he would at least have got a mention at this stage.

Picking a team like this is an impossible task so I'm not even going to try:pac:

And he probably suffers too like Galway and Meath because there was no team of the 90's, like Tyrone and Kerry.

Fine player, no question. An obvious exception I think. I'd nearly put him in the half back line.

eagle eye

K-9 wrote: »

True, but then you are going back to the first 2 years of the decade. That team, same with Meath, belongs in the 90's. Galway haven't done anything of note since 01, not even an AI Final, though I still include Joyce in my team.

I disagree that the Galway players belong in the ninties, they burst on the scene in 98 and a lot of those lads played most of their football in this decade like Joyce, Donnellan, Meehan etc.

K-9 wrote: »

Not too much wrong with that except positioning of a few. Dara has to be in there as does Tomas, except in the half back line. Fay, I'd give a spot to before Geraghty or Giles.

Though an honorable mention to Karl Lacey seeing as my own county never got mentioned. A man marker but can also attack, ala McMenanmin and McMahon.

I'd sway Joyce with Browne but again, it is who you are missing that sticks out. McDonnell for one sticks out. No better goal getter in the country.

As pointed out by another poster, I meant to have Darragh in midfield, I was just thinking about Tomás when I was doing it and he was pretty savage but in fairness McGeeney was the best centre half back I've ever seen and thats in all eras, well Kevin Moran might have been better way back in the day, McGeeney was there for years upon years and brilliant all through.
McDonnell was the other guy I was thinking of, but for the left full forward position. When it came down to it though for me Joyce had to be the full forward and then Mattie Forde had to get in as well. McDonnell would be my first choice replacement. I forgot to mention him in my bit before I named the team.

Actually both Stephen and Tomás would be my first choice replacements.

eagle eye

K-9 wrote: »

And he probably suffers too like Galway and Meath because there was no team of the 90's, like Tyrone and Kerry.

Fine player, no question. An obvious exception I think. I'd nearly put him in the half back line.

We think very alike:), Moynihan would be my second choice behind Fay for full back. He didn't play at half back this decade, well I don't think he did anyways.

Pride Fighter

Hacks wrote: »

3 Dubs who have not won an All-Ireland (Jayo's was over 10 yrs ago) and only 3 Kerry & 1 Armagh ??????
Come down from the hill there and re-think that team there dude. A third of your team haven't won an All-Ireland !!

All Irelands are not the be all and end all. There are quality players everywhere in Ireland, players who have won zero All Irelands and are better than players with 5 All Irelands. I'll be honest and say I only put Sherlock there as I have a soft spot for him as a player, everyone else I feel is there on merit. Tyrone have the most on my team, reflecting their superiority this decade, Kerry are second in representation.

I think it is a good team. I could not find a place for some excellent footballers, such as Donaghy, Stephen O'Neil, Michael Meehan, Corkery, Declan Browne, Peter Canavan, Gary Connaughton, many excellent players and many more I have not mentioned.

K-9

eagle eye wrote: »

We think very alike:), Moynihan would be my second choice behind Fay for full back. He didn't play at half back this decade, well I don't think he did anyways.

LOL, it's funny how Moynihan and Francie got forgotten! Too quite for their own good but boy, would you want them in the FB line.

True on the HB line, but I think it was a big debate in Kerry circles at one stage.

EAGLE EYE wrote:

I disagree that the Galway players belong in the ninties, they burst on the scene in 98 and a lot of those lads played most of their football in this decade like Joyce, Donnellan, Meehan etc

I disagree except for Pa who I have in my team.

Meehan, would you put him ahead of Star, Gooch, Mattie, Bradley, Corkery, McDonnel, Clarke, O'Neill, Mulligan, Canavan, et all?

McDonnell and Donaghy I could see as replaceable but it's hard to argue with Stevies goal record.

Hacks

K-9 wrote: »

Meehan, would you put him ahead of Star, Gooch, Mattie, Bradley, Corkery, McDonnel, Clarke, O'Neill, Mulligan, Canavan, et all?

McDonnell and Donaghy I could see as replaceable but it's hard to argue with Stevies goal record.

Why do you call these players by their nicknames/shortened names ?? Star, Gooch & Stevie ?? Are you friends with them ??

No offence to you really but it boils my blood when i hear the likes of Ger Canning & Marty Morrissey at this.

This isn't america where a player is a brand like Becks, Shaq or A-Rod

K-9

Hacks wrote: »

Why do you call these players by their nicknames/shortened names ?? Star, Gooch & Stevie ?? Are you friends with them ??

No offence to you really but it boils my blood when i hear the likes of Ger Canning & Marty Morrissey at this.

This isn't america where a player is a brand like Becks, Shaq or A-Rod

Agreed! Francie is a true legend though!

There is only one Francie!

Hacks

I used to have bets with my mates on whether Francie would get booked every time we watched a game..........the result became too obvious after a few years though so we changed it to "What minute will he get booked?" and the closest to it won. I made many a quick buck from a dirty Francie Bellew foul !!

eagle eye

K-9 wrote: »

Meehan, would you put him ahead of Star, Gooch, Mattie, Bradley, Corkery, McDonnel, Clarke, O'Neill, Mulligan, Canavan, et all?

McDonnell and Donaghy I could see as replaceable but it's hard to argue with Stevies goal record.

Eh, the Meehan I have in my team is at halfback and his name is Declan.

I think you are talking about Michael?

Morgans

I think Eagle eye is by a long way the closest to the best team IMO. There are about 5 or 6 certainties. I feel its not really worth reading the rest of the team that doesnt contain these definites

Keiran McGeeney
Darragh O'Se
Sean Cavanagh
Brian Dooher
Peter Canavan (the most contentious of this list but given he won his last AI in 2005, not simply a 90s player for me)
Colm Cooper

How you fit O'Neill, Browne, Joyce, Donaghy, Clarke, McGuigan around the full forward line with those certainties is really a matter of playing style, opposition etc.

I'm constantly amazed by the adulation that Cluxton gets. Nearly got lobbed by a 45 yard punt last time out, antics cost Dublin on more than one occasion, hardly the greatest kick outs either and just because it somehow appears that he wouldnt be out of place in a soccer goals, he is somehow assumed as the best. Give me someone dependable any day.

Old_-_School

Cluxton
M Ó Sé, Canty, Lynch
T Ó Sé, McGeeney, Moynihan
D Ó Sé, Kavanagh
Browne, Joyce, Dooher
Cooper, McDonnell, Canavan

homerjay2005

will we start a poll on each position every few days/once a week?

WinstonSmith

There have been a lot of really interesting arguments and points made here and I must admit that I have been persuaded by some of them so I'm going to re-post my team and give explanations for my decisions. There will be some changes from the original.

1. Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
There not just because his shot-stopping ability is good (I most certainly do not buy into the talk of him looking decent enough for a soccer kepper crap), but also his kick-outs are often tactical, instead of just lobbing them out the middle as so many goalkeepers at club and county level blindly do. Whilst his manager undoubtedly has some control over this, he has the brains to adjust his kick-outs mid-match if things aren't working or contexts change. Beats the nearest contenders of Alan Quirke and Declan O'Keefe precisely for his intelligence on the pitch.

2. Sean Marty Lockhart (Derry)
Is obviously a good player but what makes him stand out for me is his ability to mark thee top players of the country out of the game. I'm thinking particularly of his tussles with Peter Canavan in the early years of the decade when the latter got very little change out of him. Not many people can claim to have done that. One of the few people to have no All-Ireland medals, although has been rightly credited with a few All-Stars.

3. Cormac McAnallen (Tyrone)
Not the sympathy vote! Was very good for Tyrone in the first few years of the decade, the captainship of the side rewarding this. Had all the main physical attributes and footballing skills and when he was needed out of position he excelled there even further. At full-back instead of midfield because he undoubtedly had a career at full-back ahead of him, where many more all-stars would have been received. If he hadn't have died when he did, Tyrone would not have slipped off the centre stage for a while post-2003, not least because their problems at full-back would be non-existant. The nearest contender is Seamus Moynihan who owned the early seasons of 00/01 for his displays, but loses out because he was skinned by Clarke in '02. The next nearest is Darren Fay but I consider his prime to be the '90's and he would certainly be my pick for full-back on that team.

4. Anthony Lynch (Cork)
Included for the same reasons as Lockhart: Never skinned; able to hold the top forwards in the country scoreless, and on this latter point I'm thinking particularly of his recent tussles with the Gooch. Again no AI medals for his troubles but this coould be the year and he has several All-Stars and Compromise Rules appearances. Nearest Contenders of Joe Higgins, Mike McCarthy, Marc O'Se and Ryan MacMenamin lose out because whilst they have had good games against some of the best forwards, they just haven't reached the heights of these two, who are able to consistently hold their own against the best.

5. Tomas O'Se (Kerry)
A shoe-in for this spot. Beats the nearest contender of Seamus Moynihan simply because the latter's best position was full-back. Was phenomenal in the mid-decade years where his pace, and strength caused all sorts of problems for teams when he was running at them. Also strong when on the back foot and integral in the breaking ball category.

6. Kieran McGenney (Armagh)
The best No. 6 I've ever seen. Performance like his I've never seen before. I live in Armagh (not an Armagh fan before I'm accussed of bias) and the stories I would hear of his dedication would sen shivers fown my spine. His constant determination to lead by example, strength, passing ability have been unmatched in my generation. A giant of the game in every possible sense. I'm thinking particularly of one game where he covers fifty meter to make a block on his own end-line that could have ended in the net. Never shirked his reponsibilities. Whilst the nearest candidates of Conor Gormley, Sean Og De Paor, David Heaney, Kevin Reilly are all good, they are in the second division in comparison to 'Geezer'!

7. Philip Jordan (Tyrone)
Beats some very close competition, mainly for his staying power. Has the ability to excel, such as his last few games in the Tyrone shirt, but it is very, very seldom that this man is skinned alive by anyone. Again, he is key to the breaking ball game for Tyrone. Strong, fast, fit and fearless, he often chips in with a point or two. His intelligence on the field of play stes him in good company with the rest of this defence, which consists of members who have played in two of the meanest defences Ireland has seen this decade: Armagh and Tyrone, with Kerry in third. The nearest contenders were Declan Meehan and Davy Harte because they both lack strength whenever it comes to being able to make a hard, crucial tackle.

8. Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)
Tyrone’s dominance over teams in the middle third of the park is rightly demonstared on this team as their players consist of half the positions in this middle third. Cavanagh didn’t explode onto the scene but his power and athleticism has led him to become one of the best midfielders I’ve ever seen. A stronger runner than Darragh O’Se, more influential than Nicholas Murphy. Has consistently been in contention for man of the match, seldom having a bad game. Last time he failed to score in the championship was approximately 4 years ago. A forward would be excused if he broke this, but a midfielder is unthinkable.
9. Darragh O’Se (Kerry)
Beats Nicholas Murphy by a whisker. Played his best football at the start of this decade, when he almost won Munster Championships on his own. Remember him constantly plucking balls from under the crossbar, winning kick-outs and leading by example. His running power is often under-rated, as proven this year, but his importance to the team is valuable and Kerry will be at a loss without him. Murphy only misses out because, whilst he did get the better of him, it was never when O’Se was in his prime.

10. Brian Dooher (Tyrone)
Tyrone’s dominance of the middle third continues. Every county needs a scrappy ball winner. Kerry have Paul Galvin (who just missed out), Armagh have Martin O’Rourke ( who would be pushing for a place on the panel of thirty but perhaps not the team), but Tyrone have Brian Dooher. Wins breaks ball, breaks up attacks, takes the big hits, gets up, takes the ball around a few of Kerry’s best players then scores a point off the outside of his boot from an impossible angle. His class defies his age and his competitors for this position.

11. Ciaran McDonald (Mayo)
On the team on merit. Often outspoken, had the ability to make a pinpoint fifty metre pass that would crack a nut, never mind the best defence in the country! Played his best football around ’04 and proved a constant threat to teams. Was awarded with All-Stars and Compromise rules slots and destroyed whoever the opposition put on him. The second best playmaker of the decade, and it took something special to beat him. Also had a good shot and was surprisingly strong. Beats the nearest opposition of Michael Donnellan because he had a more rounded game and Trevor Giles who played his best football in the previous decade.

12. Brian McGuigan (Tyrone)
The best playmaker this decade has seen. A pity he has been so racked by injuries these last few years, but credit to the determination he shows to be back playing football when he was told he wouldn’t. His performances in 2003 will live in infamy particularly against Kerry and Armagh. They would not have won AI that year without him. Simple as.

13. Stephen McDonnell (Armagh)
His record speaks for itself. The best forward in the country in the middle of the decade. Often destroyed teams single-handedly. Almost won Armagh the two in a row. Has begun to fade but some of his earlier performances will live in the minds of many, picking a score from an impossible angle, effortlessly floating in behind Clarke’s touch-down to him. The two were inseperable. Beats Peter Canavan because his best football was played in the ‘90’s and Gooch because he has the strengths and tackling ability that Gooch doesn’t have.

14. Kieran Donaghy (Kerry)
His deployment at full-forward in ’04? Revolutionised the way people will look back at the football played in this decade. Armagh had Clarke, Cork had Corkery, but nothing scared the sh*t outta defenders (even Francie Bellew) more than big Star. Kerry can be seen to be struggling without him, which is testimony to his ability. His basketball skills transferred across to Gaelic and he had the feet and the Gaelic brains to match. O’Connor is said to have jumped with delight when Donaghy said he wanted the ball delivered in to him so that he could run onto it, and when defenders saw it, they must have ran with fright! Donaghy was in a class of his own.

15. Ronan Clarke (Armagh)
No doubt a contentious choice. Beats Forde, Bradley, Browne, Meehan, Joyce (who I’d love to have picked as I’m a big fan), Stephen O’Neill, Alan Brogan, Johnny Doyle, Mugsy, Dessie Dolan. He did bust onto the scene in ’02 and was the vital missing link for Armagh. He is quite possible one of the cleverest football players I’ve ever seen (surprising for somebody so dumb off the pitch) and his ability to catch or knock down under pressure was and still is unparalleled. Roasted Moynihan in his debut season which is damn nigh impossible enough, but has developed into one of the best target men in the game.

homerjay2005

i think its safe enough to say that the following are the general consensus -

5 - Thomas O Shea
6 - Kieran McGeenry
7 - Philip Jordan
8 - Darragh O Shea
9 - Sean Kavanagh
10 - Brian Dooher
13 - Colm Cooper (as to how anybody can leave him off is shocking, he and Cavanagh are the 2 "greats" of this generation)
15 - Stevie Mcdonald.

the others are stilll open.

blackbelt

I think we should go ahead with the polls for each position.This thread could really go on forever with people nit-picking each others selections and questioning why this player over the over and exclusions of others.I think this is a good thread that could settle this "best 15 of the decade" selection.

So what I am going to do is run a poll which should last for 5 days for each position.If we start this today,the team should be finished by 4th October.I'll run the poll for each position and edit the poll when each duration is finished.I will post up the winner of each position of which shall be final.