Players and their little "thing"...your faves?

entropi

Was just thinking about this and i ask the same of the GAA forum: when you watch an inter-county game, what little thing about players do you look out for? be it a certain sideline cut, the way a free is taken, or just block/bat downs or other skills certain players seem to favour geared to their own playstyle?

grenache

I didn't know what to think of this when i saw the thread title

From a Limerick hurling & football perspective, i love when Mark Foley does his sidestep spinning shimmy, for a player who wouldn't be blessed with pace, he certainly knows how to navigate an opponent. I also love when John Galvin goes on these marauding runs with the ball, brushing all opposition players aside (and then kicks the ball wide )

In hurling I enjoying watching Joe Canning, i love to see him get the ball into his hand and turn a man, you can feel the stadium come alive when he's in possession. I used to greatly admire Tommy Dunne too for Tipp, lovely hands, such a stylish hurler, 'wristy' as Cyril Farrell would say Declan Ryan and Brian Corcoran were two other great players, you always knew they would do something clever on the ball, great men to lay off a pass. I liked the guys who would run at defences too, players like Ciarán Carey and Jamesie O'Connor, fantastic to watch. And Davy Fitz, becos he was and still is wired to the moon, how many times did he cause commotion with opposition players, refs and umpires, his mouth is as dangerous as his hurl! Fantastic keeper though.

In the football i like watching Tyrones Eoin Mulligan, he has the potential to do something genial at any time. Offaly's Ciaran McManus too, great player who'd go on these foraging runs and scorer of some magnificent long range points and a few craicing goals to boot. Maurice Fitz becos he had a sweet right foot and could seemingly score from anywhere. And who could forget GAA's own version of Jorge Campos, Roscommon's Shane Curran! When he came out the field with the ball you didn't know what would happen! He stuck a few goals away at the other end too though. What a character!!

Kalashnikov_Kid

Gooch and his 3-incher

Sorry Ill leave now...

JamieK

Okay just going to mention two Tipp men here!!

When Eoin Kelly was in his prime, just amazing couldn't put a foot wrong...little flicks touches and his "over the shoulder" points!

Also I don't know if anyone else notices...every time Shane McGrath scores a sideline cut...has a little laugh with a teammate and whips out a chain from around his neck and gives it a little shake! ...off he goes then to give another masterclass!

brandon_flowers

The Ja Fallon sidestep - there is a clip of Maurice Fitz doing something similar on Youtube against Tipp but Ja had it down to a fine art. Its actually something you see a lot more of in club football than inter-county nowadays.

In Hurling probably the way Tipp's Eoin Kelly can kill the ball running full speed against it and it just seems to drop into his paw.

LeoB

Despite the fact I dont like their style, Tyrone player Stephen O'Neill is. Simpley class. He knows where the posts are keeps it simple wins ball turns and shoots without kicking the ball up over the clouds.
He must have watched me when he was a child

In hurling I admire just about every player who plays. The are great men. However Tommy Walsh K.K, Joe Dooley Offaly and John Carroll Tipp

grenache

I forgot to mention 2 others. Offaly's John Troy, he used to tap the ball from the ground into his hand, fantastic to watch. Along with Joe and Johnny Dooley, these were Offaly's 3 magicians. And cant forget Galway's half back line of the late 80s/early to mid 90s. Fellas like Linnane, McInerney, Finnerty......human closelines!! They took no prisoners.

LeoB

grenache wrote: »

Fellas like Linnane, McInerney, Finnerty......human closelines!! They took no prisoners.

Ok you are being diplomatic......... LINNANE

Its not so much they didnt take prisioners they took scalps.

sos33

i loved watching brian lohan catch a ball thru a forrest of hurls,plough thru 2-3 players ,the old cooper helmet half on his head strap loose and sent it 80 yards up the pitch ,brillant full-back ,tough as nails
in football i have to say watching ciaran mcdonald spray the ball around with both feet ,short or long passes looked so effortless could put it on a 2p especially when it was one of the outside of the boot