Greatest Hurlers of Cinderella Counties?

feargale

Would you like to help in naming the greatest hurlers from counties that never won an All-Ireland Senior Hurling title, and also to pick a team of 15 from those?

Skid

feargale wrote: »

Would you like to help in naming the greatest hurlers from counties that never won an All-Ireland Senior Hurling title, and also to pick a team of 15 from those?

I would struggling to be honest, Feargale

But a good starting point might be Antrim. They have had a few All Star Winners.

From Wikipedia

Ciaran Barr (Centre Forward, 1988)
Dessie Donnelly (Left Corner Back, 1989)
Olan McFetridge (Left Wing Forward, 1989)
Terence McNaughton (Midfield, 1991)
Paul McKillen (Midfield, 1993)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_All_Stars_Awards_winners_(hurling)

Dan man

I'm going to move this to the GAA thread....might be more interest in that forum.

phkk

Shane Brick of Kerry, Johnny Nevin of Carlow, Nicky Horan of Meath, Paul Cuddy of Laois were all class hurlers I had the pleasure of seeing. Definitely as good as hurlers that I've seen in my own county

Juniorhurler

Niall Rigney of Laois. Liam Watson of Antrim. Paul Branniff of Down.
Leighton Glynn is also probably a better hurler than he is footballer.

By picking counties that never won an all Ireland is going to stretch the average fans knowledge a long way.

You are talking probably Laois, Carlow, Kerry, Down, Antrim, Westmeath and Mearh as the main candidates.

feargale

Skid wrote: »

But a good starting point might be Antrim. They have had a few All Star Winners.
Ciaran Barr, Dessie Donnelly, Olan McFetridge,Terence McNaughton, Paul McKillen.

That's a good start, Skid. Any All Star must merit consideration. There are only two others, David Kilcoyne, Westmeath 1986 no.13, and Gerard McGrattan, Down 1992, no.10, whose career was cut short by injury. However, a few others such as Joe Henry, Mayo were All Star subs or replacements.

feargale

Dan man wrote: »

I'm going to move this to the GAA thread....might be more interest in that forum.

Thanks, Dan. That's where it should have been in the first place.

feargale

Absolutezero wrote: »

Cinderella counties? She was the wan who got the Prince. You mean the ugly sister counties. Say it clearly: you regard them as second rate losers.

And which county did you play for?

klairondavis

Juniorhurler wrote: »

You are talking probably Laois, Carlow, Kerry, Down, Antrim, Westmeath and Mearh as the main candidates.

Kerry (1891) and Laois (1915) have won hurling All Irelands so that rules them out!

Pat Dunny of Kildare played Railway Cup for Leinster in both hurling and football for five consecutive years winning five medals (four in hurling). He was the best Kildare hurler I've ever seen and could hold his own against any of the half backs I've seen from the traditional counties.

Agree with the posters mentioning David Kilcoyne and Johnny Nevin above.

feargale

klairondavis wrote: »

Kerry (1891) and Laois (1915) have won hurling All Irelands so that rules them out!
Right.
Pat Dunny of Kildare played Railway Cup for Leinster in both hurling and football for five consecutive years winning five medals (four in hurling). He was the best Kildare hurler I've ever seen and could hold his own against any of the half backs I've seen from the traditional counties.
Dunny was one of the best. A serious contender for centre back or corner back.
Agree with the posters mentioning David Kilcoyne and Johnny Nevin above.

Two strong contenders.

feargale

Juniorhurler wrote: »

Niall Rigney of Laois. Liam Watson of Antrim. Paul Branniff of Down.Leighton Glynn is also probably a better hurler than he is footballer.
Very good choices.
By picking counties that never won an all Ireland is going to stretch the average fans knowledge a long way.
True, but let's go where nobody has gone before.
You are talking probably Laois, Carlow, Kerry, Down, Antrim, Westmeath and Mearh as the main candidates.

Dont forget Kildare ( Pat Dunny and Johnny Walsh,) Roscommon ( Gerry O'Malley,) Wicklow ( Don Hyland,)

therunaround

Don hyland was a brilliant hurler is he still playing? He was still going 2 or 3 years ago?Leighton glynn mentioned already and his brother jonathon ( bosco) fine players. Saw the Higgins brothers ( pierce and Keith) play for mayo thought they were very good.
Was at a Connaught final in the 90s ( assume it was the final I was very young) between Galway and Roscommon, was there a very tall fella played around midfield for them? I remember him giving Galway lots of problems..

klairondavis

feargale wrote: »

Dont forget Kildare ( Pat Dunny and Johnny Walsh,) Roscommon ( Gerry O'Malley,) Wicklow ( Don Hyland,)

Were the Walshs originally from Wexford? They both played for Ardclough when they beat Buffers Alley in the Leinster Championship during the late seventies.

Hammer Archer

Nicky Horan and Pat Potterton from Meath anyway.
Nicky Horan was one of the top scorers in the 2002 championship (behind the likes of Tipp's Eoin Kelly and Shefflin). He also scored 2-15 in one game against Kildare.

Browning

The Walsh's are from Marshallstown outside Enniscorthy County Wexford. Johnny won Best Player of the All-Stars trip in 1977 and also played in the railway cup. Both Johnny and Ned has both 10+ Senior Hurling Championship Medals with Ardclough and both played Inter County well into their 40's and club hurling into their 50's. Both Played Inter County Hurling and Football for Kildare.

klairondavis

Browning wrote: »

The Walsh's are from Marshallstown outside Enniscorthy County Wexford. Johnny won Best Player of the All-Stars trip in 1977 and also played in the railway cup. Both Johnny and Ned has both 10+ Senior Hurling Championship Medals with Ardclough and both played Inter County well into their 40's and club hurling into their 50's. Both Played Inter County Hurling and Football for Kildare.

They don't breed them like that anymore! Richie Cullen was another fine hurler on that team.

krazyklown

Coming from Mayo, Joe Henry was a brilliant hurler during the eighties and one if the very few non Galway hurlers to play regularly for Connacht. Holder of I believe 23 county medals and famously gave Sean Silke the runaround in croke park in a Fitzgibbon cup final.
Current Mayo allstar Keith Higgins is a very skillful hurler and would comfortably compete at senior intercounty but for his footballing commitments. As mentioned already, his brother Pearse is also highly regarded.
From Sligo, if you ever saw Paul Seevers play you wouldn't help but think he was wasted at the lower end of hurlings spectrum. A wonderful hurler who also specialised in long range freetaking. Never got the recognition he deserved at provincial level. Current Sligo player, Keith Raymond is deserving of a mention and recently helped his club Calry to a Connacht Junior title over Skehana of Galway. He also won the Connacht pic fada a couple of years back.
From Roscommon, you couldn't ignore Colm Kelly of Oran. Tall, strong and lethal in front of goal, I saw him give an exhibition in full forward play in the latter end of his career. I never saw him play but i believe Micky Cunniffe was also an excellant hurler.

Meaths Nicky Horan was a player of outstanding ability and racked up some incredible scoring feats. Johnathan O Neill of Wicklow is another fine hurler at Christy Ring level.

rossie1977

joe henry would the first person to spring to mind, joe was my PE teacher in secondary school, 1991 article http://www.hoganstand.com/Mayo/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=49071

Swiper the fox

Henry Downey the great Derry footballer was a very fine hurler,
Already mentioned but Shane Brick is a fabulous hurler also'
David Kilcoyne has a brother called Mick who played for Blackrock in Cork as a midfielder for many years in the 80s, wouldn't have been many better around in that position at the time, no hindrance to have played in the same part of the field as Frank Cummins, Tom Cashman, Jim Cashman and Der McCurtain in those teams I suppose.

lala88

A few from Kerry. Shane Brick has already been said was one of the top scoring Munster players in the 2003 championship as was Michael Slattery another great player. One of Kerry's greatest was Christy Walsh, played in Kilkenny and was asked to join them in the early 90's. Another would be Brendan O Sullivan. All of them played With Munster and Walsh and O Sullivan both won Railway Cup medals.

At the moment with Kerry Tom Murnane is a great player played with Munster last year and with the Shinty team for the last 2 years. Shane Nolan is another good young player only 21 and played with Munster also last year. Darragh O Connell a very skillful hurler and as good as anyone else his age.

cat in the sack

John Taylor laois was a fine hurler, David Kilcoyne and don't forget
Tipps Lar...........................:D:D:D

Dirty Dingus McGee

James Young from Laois was a top class player.

feargale

klairondavis wrote: »

They don't breed them like that anymore! Richie Cullen was another fine hurler on that team.

..
Possibly excluding Antrim in the 1940s and 1980s/90s that Kildare team of the seventies was surely the finest that ever represented any of these counties, with Dunny, the Walshes, the Carews, Tom Christian etc.. In the 1976 Leinster semi-final they led Wexford by 7 points at half-time, Johnny Walsh having uncharacteristically missed an open goal, only to have to face the legendary Wexford comeback in the second half and lose by four. Wexford went on to win Leinster and gave a good account of themselves in losing the All-Ireland final.
Kildare collapsed as a force about a year later. I wouldn't be sure, but I think they probably concentrated on their senior team that was doing so well and forgot about youth and the future.
They were wronged out of promotion to Division One, when the goalposts were moved mid-league to keep them down.

Juniorhurler

feargale wrote: »

Dont forget Kildare ( Pat Dunny and Johnny Walsh,) Roscommon ( Gerry O'Malley,) Wicklow ( Don Hyland,)

Had Leighton Glynn from Wicklow

LeoB

Great idea for a thread

1) Niall Patterson Antrim
2)
3) Henry Downey Derry (altough I think he may have played midfield for hurlers and center back for Football
4) Keith Higgins. Mayo
5) John Taylor Laoise
6) Sambo McNaughton Antrim
7) Keith Raymond Sligo
8) James Young Laoise
9) Brian McGilligan Derry
10)Leighton Glynn Wicklow or Gerard McGratton Down
11) Paul Seever Sligo
12) Liam Watson Antrim
13) Johnny Nevin Carlow
14) Don Hyland Wicklow
15) Nicky Horan Meath

Have seen these lad play and thought they were excellent. Saw Don Hyland playing in Aughrim in a mud bath and he was just brilliant. Saw Seever and Raymond play for Sligo against Fingal and both were outstanding. Seever scored about 7 or 8 points and Raymond was brilliant in defense.

Louth have a player Dunne, there are a few brothers but one in particular is very good. Armagh are also improving big time and Paul McGrane is well worth a shout. There was an O'Neill from Wicklow mentioned. Is he the one who went to Dublin and the moved back? A very good hurler.

Gerry O'Malley was also mentioned he played football with Roscommon in 1944. I know Gerry quite well and from what I was told he would have got his place on any team in Ireland.

Anyway Im missing a corner back????

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

therunaround wrote: »

Was at a Connaught final in the 90s ( assume it was the final I was very young) between Galway and Roscommon, was there a very tall fella played around midfield for them? I remember him giving Galway lots of problems..

Could have been Micky Cunniffe, one of the best hurlers roscomomn ever produced.

feargale

Also worthy of consideration are Ollie Collins ( Derry,) Noel Keith ( Down,) Noel Sands ( Down,) and Paddy Quirke ( Carlow.)

feargale

cormac halpin wrote: »

FFS, do any of you read previous posts? klairondavis already pointed out that Laois have won an All Ireland Title. :rolleyes:

OK. Yes, Kerry and Laois are excluded, but we won't get excited about people naming players from those counties. Maybe we will also select a team including Kerry and Laois.

feargale

1984 Team of the Century of players who never won a Senior All-Ireland had only two from relevant counties, John "Jobber" McGrath, Wesrmeath, no. 9, and Kevin Armstrong, Antrim, no. 12.
To whom it concerns, it also included Christy O'Brien, Laois, no. 14.

jjcahill78

feargale wrote: »

Also worthy of consideration are Ollie Collins ( Derry,) Noel Keith ( Down,) Noel Sands ( Down,) and Paddy Quirke ( Carlow.)

Paddy Quirke by far the greatest hurler form Carlow, great metalwork teacher and all round good egg too

DEFTLEFTHAND

Wayne O'Gorman of Wicklow. I remember seeing run riot in an All Ireland B final which Wicklow won years back. He also played football for the county.

Swiper the fox

jjcahill78 wrote: »

Paddy Quirke by far the greatest hurler form Carlow, great metalwork teacher and all round good egg too

Has Mark Mullins been mentioned yet, Carlow man who played for Cork in the 1990s

king size mars bar

Swiper the fox wrote: »

Has Mark Mullins been mentioned yet, Carlow man who played for Cork in the 1990s

and if memory serves me right he was captain one year for cork!

lala88

feargale wrote: »

..
Possibly excluding Antrim in the 1940s and 1980s/90s that Kildare team of the seventies was surely the finest that ever represented any of these counties, with Dunny, the Walshes, the Carews, Tom Christian etc.. In the 1976 Leinster semi-final they led Wexford by 7 points at half-time, Johnny Walsh having uncharacteristically missed an open goal, only to have to face the legendary Wexford comeback in the second half and lose by four. Wexford went on to win Leinster and gave a good account of themselves in losing the All-Ireland final.
Kildare collapsed as a force about a year later. I wouldn't be sure, but I think they probably concentrated on their senior team that was doing so well and forgot about youth and the future.
They were wronged out of promotion to Division One, when the goalposts were moved mid-league to keep them down.

Its interesting how so called weaker teams always seem to have good spells. During the 90's Kerry were quite competitive. Played in Div 1 for most of the 90's and got results with the likes of Clare and Kilkenny. They only won the one championship game at that time in 93 but had there been a back door at the time could have got a few more wins. They also had a good team in the 70's running Galway close in an All Ireland Q/F

ebbsy

"Bosco"O 'Neill and Don Hyland from Wicklow ( both already mentioned ). I know Leighton has been mentioned but his brother Enan is a fine hurler as well.

feargale

cormac halpin wrote: »

Either do it right or don't do it at all. Rules are what makes games more fun.

OK, we won't do it at all. Now do you want to nominate a player?

DARK-KNIGHT

Weaken morale??..

In a lot of cases weaker counties morale might not be the strongest. Is it not a case that teams will improve by getting inter county experience?? Maybe it's just me but if it meant team could gain experience by playing games then losing some matches would be no harm to weaker counties. I'm including my own county in that by the way.

Think this thread has great potential to be very interesting well done OP

coreb_KK

Reyna Delightful Steam wrote: »

Could have been Micky Cunniffe, one of the best hurlers roscomomn ever produced.

Yeah, Roscommons best was Mickey Cunniffe, won a Railway Cup medal playing in mid-field with Connacht.

rebel girl 15

I have deleted all of the off topic posts on this thread. Because I'm at work I will be coming back and reviewing the off topic posts and handing out bans and infractions as merited. Do not take this thread off topic again

rebel girl 15

There is a lot of Cinderella hurlers out there, from counties that have not won the All Ireland in years, such as Waterford spring to mind. You have Ken McGrath and Tony Browne, two fantastic hurlers that never won an All Ireland - not quite a Cinderella story, because in the end she meets prince charming, whereas Waterford got the ball (final) but were comprehensively beaten.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056016409 is a thread from a while ago that is worth a look through of the greatest hurlers that never won an All Ireland

feargale

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

I have deleted all of the off topic posts on this thread. Because I'm at work I will be coming back and reviewing the off topic posts and handing out bans and infractions as merited. Do not take this thread off topic again

Thanks for that rebel girl. And not too soon! Too many good threads are ruined by petty point scoring etc. and I was beginning to fear that this one was going to get lost in the same nonsense.

feargale

krazyklown wrote: »

Coming from Mayo, Joe Henry was a brilliant hurler during the eighties and one if the very few non Galway hurlers to play regularly for Connacht. Holder of I believe 23 county medals and famously gave Sean Silke the runaround in croke park in a Fitzgibbon cup final.

Wexford born Dave Synnott was Mayo's regular goalkeeper for years, played about 5 years for Connacht and won two railway cup medals. He was, I think, the only non-Glway hurler to win more than one with Connacht. He died too young about 10 years ago, aged 40 or 41. Joe Henry was indisputably Mayo's greatest hurler, but had Adrian Freeman not died tragically at 24 he might ultimately have wrested that crown from Joe. They were both from that great little club Tooreen, which ultimately spawned its great rival club in Ballyhaunis, and Keith Higgins. Mayo hurling has had its share of tragedy in recent years. Tony Henry, Joe's brother, wasn't a bad hurler either.

therunaround

Anyone familiar with any notable hurlers from the likes of Donegal, Tyrone etc? Or players from cinderrella counties who hurled with London and New York?

feargale

LeoB wrote: »

Louth have a player Dunne, there are a few brothers but one in particular is very good.

Louth bagged one or two good Tippmen in the past, Jim Lane no. 11 in the 60s, John Kennedy in the 80s/90s. [/Quote] Armagh are also improving big time and Paul McGrane is well worth a shout. [/Quote] John Corvan in the 80s? [/Quote] There was an O'Neill from Wicklow mentioned. Is he the one who went to Dublin and the moved back? A very good hurler. [/Quote] Jonathan O'Neill [/Quote]Anyway Im missing a corner back????[/Quote] It's an unfair world. ( Corner ) backs always get less notice, credit, moments in the sun than ( corner ) forwards. You could pick Dessie Donnelly (Antrim,) Paddy Braniff (Down,) Pat Dunny ( Kildare,) or Gary O'Kane ( Antrim.) Also, John Nevin (Carlow) was equally adept in attack or defence.

lala88

therunaround wrote: »

Anyone familiar with any notable hurlers from the likes of Donegal, Tyrone etc? Or players from cinderrella counties who hurled with London and New York?

Brendan & Michael Hennessyfrom Ballyduff in Kerry were great players in New York in the 50's & 60's. Brendan is regraded as the best to play in New York, also often picked on St. Flannan's beat ever team.

LeoB

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

There is a lot of Cinderella hurlers out there, from counties that have not won the All Ireland in years, such as Waterford spring to mind. You have Ken McGrath and Tony Browne, two fantastic hurlers that never won an All Ireland - not quite a Cinderella story, because in the end she meets prince charming, whereas Waterford got the ball (final) but were comprehensively beaten.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056016409 is a thread from a while ago that is worth a look through of the greatest hurlers that never won an All Ireland

Guilty and Apologies Rebel girl 15.. I attempted to justify why I included that Midlands county, with the blue and white jerseys. My spelign was not up to scratch earlier:mad:

feargale wrote: »

Thanks for that rebel girl. And not too soon! Too many good threads are ruined by petty point scoring etc. and I was beginning to fear that this one was going to get lost in the same nonsense.

Sometimes its hard not to slip off topic when no matter what some of us post we have people who like a niggle to make themselves look somewhat clever AND PEOPLE LIKE ME BITE.

As for the corner back I was missing I will go with Sean Delargy of Antrim. Chatting to a county man of his this evening and he says he is an exceptional hurler.

feargale

therunaround wrote: »

Anyone familiar with any notable hurlers from the likes of Donegal, Tyrone etc? Or players from cinderrella counties who hurled with London and New York?

A McLoughlin from Burt in Donegal held Jimmy Doyle scoreless from play in a Railway Cup match. His first name escapes me at the moment. V. Owens (Tyrone) played for Ulster in a Railway Cup final. A McShea of Fermanagh also hurled for Ulster. In the twenties Pat McDonald of Cavan won Fitzgibbons with UCD. I believe he was a Dublin sub afterwards and may have won All Irelands in that capacity.
Dare I say it? Brendan Hennessy from Ballyduff, Kerry had an illustrious career with New York in the 50s/60s. Also one or two Roscommon Connaughtons hurled with New York at that time.

feargale

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

There is a lot of Cinderella hurlers out there, from counties that have not won the All Ireland in years, such as Waterford spring to mind.http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056016409 is a thread from a while ago that is worth a look through of the greatest hurlers that never won an All Ireland

Yes but I've looked at that tread and that topic, including Waterford, is well covered there. We are trying to do something different here i.e. limit the quest to COUNTIES that have never won an All Ireland. Absent friends were upset by mention of Kerry and Laois. Introducing a county as successful as Waterford could cause apoplexy. I propose that we proceed as per the very first post here, and when that's done pick another team from counties that never won Liam McCarthy, ( first played for in 1921. ) That neatly admits Kerry and Laois. All agreed?

feargale

DARK-KNIGHT wrote: »

In a lot of cases weaker counties morale might not be the strongest. Is it not a case that teams will improve by getting inter county experience?? Maybe it's just me but if it meant team could gain experience by playing games then losing some matches would be no harm to weaker counties. I'm including my own county in that by the way.
Think this thread has great potential to be very interesting well done OP

Thank you Dark-Knight. IMO every county should be in two competitions, one where they play mostly better counties, and so learn and improve, the second where they play mostly weaker counties and have the potential to win some silverware and help morale.

rebel girl 15

feargale wrote: »

Yes but I've looked at that tread and that topic, including Waterford, is well covered there. We are trying to do something different here i.e. limit the quest to COUNTIES that have never won an All Ireland. Absent friends were upset by mention of Kerry and Laois. Introducing a county as successful as Waterford could cause apoplexy. I propose that we proceed as per the very first post here, and when that's done pick another team from counties that never won Liam McCarthy. That neatly admits Kerry and Laois. All agreed?

Can I point out that Waterford have actually only won it twice. Add London to that list as well, they won the All Ireland back in the early 1900's afaik.

feargale

feargale wrote: »

I propose that we proceed as per the very first post here, and when that's done pick another team from counties that never won Liam McCarthy. That neatly admits Kerry and Waterford. All agreed?

SORRY! That should, of course read Kerry and Laois not Kerry and Waterford. My mistake! I've corrected it in 23.41 post.