Stephen McDonnell calls time on his Inter county career

Royal Legend

Just been announced, one of the best forwards in football over the last number of years and one of my all time favourite footballers, he should have had more than one All Ireland to his name.

hsan

LEGEND!! what a player

Kerrydude1981

Royal Legend wrote: »

Just been announced, one of the best forwards in football over the last number of years and one of my all time favourite footballers, he should have had more than one All Ireland to his name.

I agree that Armagh team should have won more then one All Ireland,Stevie McDonnell was a class act,strong powerful forward and when really on his game he was unmarkable imo,has to be up there as one of the best forwards in the game in the past 20 years

deisedude

Only saw him in the flesh playing International Rules but boy was he some deadly forward. Football will be poorer without him

rebel girl 15

Nice message from him on his twitter page thanking the managers and players he played alongside, the supporters from Armagh and all supporters that have respected what Armagh did in his time playing

He'll be a big loss to football - fantastic player, and by all accounts a lovely fella to deal with as well

castletownman

Great player. That Armagh team weren't one of my favourites but appreciated his class. Saw him and Ronan Clarke rip Wexford to shreds in the National League final in 2005. Another legendary player and All-Star retiring since the end of the last championship. The list grows.

MickySticks

Stevie from Killeavy what a fantastic player! He will be a huge loss to Armagh.

ShamoBuc

A real nice fella. Super player. A true Killeavy and Armagh great.

J Cheever Loophole

Some lovely tributes here folks, which as an Armagh fan and Stevie fan, are appreciated.

All good things must come to an end, and thus ends Stevie's inter-county career. So many wonderful, wonderful memories - 2002 looms very large in that, and of course 2003 when he was Player of the Year, and his goals against Tyrone in the drawn Ulster Final and the All Ireland semi-final of 2005.

The greatest forward on our greatest team; one of three truely great players on that side (along with Geezer and McGrane), probably in our top two / three forwards of all time and in my biased opinion on the best fifteen of the last generation.

You are a legend in our house - thank you.

fasttalkerchat

If only he came from a bigger club so we could see more of him!

Flancrest

Have to say I always hated Stevie McDonnell, but thats only because he used to run rings around the Meath full back line. Had the pleasure of seeing him play on many occasions and he really was a class act. His point scoring ability from tight angles of both feet was unreal. He's also a great ambassador for the way the game should be played.

A real legend of the game

aidan24326

Royal Legend wrote: »

Just been announced, one of the best forwards in football over the last number of years and one of my all time favourite footballers, he should have had more than one All Ireland to his name.

But in fairness it's not that easy to even win one! Many a classy footballer has ended his career without one. They had to beat a very good Kerry team just to win that one title in 2002.

Though I can see how Armagh supporters might feel that that team ought to have won another All-Ireland considering it was the best team they've ever had.

Steven McDonnell was a class forward alright but no player can go on forever and he wasn't going to be adding to his medal collection at this stage.

ardmacha

Though I can see how Armagh supporters might feel that that team ought to have won another All-Ireland considering it was the best team they've ever had

Indeed, if Gormley hadn't blocked Stevie's shot on goal in 2003 he might have got one the following year!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDLHctNelXo

If only he came from a bigger club so we could see more of him!

THere is only one "big" club in Armagh football!

fasttalkerchat

aidan24326 wrote: »

But in fairness it's not that easy to even win one! Many a classy footballer has ended his career without one. They had to beat a very good Kerry team just to win that one title in 2002.

And the best Dublin team in decades!