Great Players of the 1980's

fearruanua

Well lads and ladies. I'm doing a bit of research at the moment for a friend of mine for a future project. Question I have is..

Who do ye think are some of the greatest footballers and hurlers who played in the 1980's never to win an all-ireland medal?

Thanks in advance. Players and counties.

I'll start by saying

Willie Joe Padden (Mayo)

SureYWouldntYa

as usual in these discussions and rightfully so, the late great Dermot Earley of Roscommon

Juniorhurler

Plunkett Donaghy and Kevin O Brien

megadodge

Tony McManus and Harry Keegan, both Roscommon.
Dessie Barry (Longford).
Frank McGuigan (Tyrone) father of Brian.

Martin567

Sean Stack & Ger Loughnane (Clare) and Mick Jacob (Wexford).

klairondavis

Colm Browne (Laois) and Ollie Crinnigan (Kildare)

Thinkstoomuch

Kevin Kehily Cork footballer
Retired in mid 80's.

Won an all star at full back.in 80 and Corner back on 82.

Not old enough to see him. Play but heard me father talk enough about him.Teak tough defender who often done well on the Bomber Liston.


Dont think any of our hurlers apply as any old players won medals in 76-78 while younger lads from 80s upwards won medals in 84 and 86 etc.

Fr Tod Umptious

At a stretch you could include Liam McHale.
Even though he is better known for his exploits in 1996 he played in a semi and final in 1988 and 1989

manofwisdom

Kevin McCabe (Tyrone)
Joe Kernan (Armagh)
Tony Scullion (Derry)*
Danny Murray (Roscommon)
Dermot Flanagan (Mayo)
Val Daly (Galway)



*Did when All Ireland in 93 after years of trying in the 80s

Tom Joad

Am biased of course but Stephen King (Cavan) was up there in a very bad period for Cavan football.

Nudie Hughes was at the height of his powers in a very good Monaghan team that won Ulster in 1985 and 1988 along with the league in 1985 - Nudie was a beast and won three All Stars in that era.

padd b1975

Tony McManus jnr. Roscommon.

Tony Doran. Wexford.

slegs

padd b1975 wrote: »

Tony McManus jnr. Roscommon.

Tony Doran. Wexford.

Tony Doran won an All Ireland in 1968

Ash.J.Williams

Kevin O'brien, dermot early snr, dermot early jnr.

J Cheever Loophole

Tom Joad wrote: »

Nudie Hughes was at the height of his powers in a very good Monaghan team that won Ulster in 1985 and 1988 along with the league in 1985 - Nudie was a beast and won three All Stars in that era.

Being an Armagh supporter dating back to the seventies, I recall Nudie in his prime, and it is but right that he gets mentioned here. Furthermore, Nudie is one of a very select few who have won All Stars both as a defender and attacker, which in my opinion adds to his credentials.

With that in mind, I would have to mention our own Paddy Moriarty who played well into the 1980s and was a holder of two All Stars - one at corner forward, and the other at centre half back.

And while I'm being totally parochial, I should also mention our own Johnny Corvan who was an exceptional talent. He only ever made an All Star trip as a replacement, but was the first name mentioned by Charlie Nelligan as a guest on "Know Your Sport", when asked by Jimmy Magee as to who were the best forwards he had ever come up against.

Edit - Peter McGinnity of Fermanagh is also worthy of mention - an All Star in 1982.

sasol

Seanie O'Leary, Tony O'Sullivan, Jimmy Barry Murphy, and John Fenton : Cork

Pete Finnerty, Tony Keady : Galway . You could include Gerry McInerney here also, although I don't know how much of the 80's he was around for.

Christy Heffernan, Ger Fennelly : Kilkenny

John Callinan : Clare

Joe McKenna : Limerick

Nicky English : Tipp

Syferus

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

Kevin O'brien, dermot early snr, dermot early jnr.

:eek:

premierstone

sasol wrote: »

Seanie O'Leary, Tony O'Sullivan, Jimmy Barry Murphy, and John Fenton : Cork

Pete Finnerty, Tony Keady : Galway . You could include Gerry McInerney here also, although I don't know how much of the 80's he was around for.

Christy Heffernan, Ger Fennelly : Kilkenny

John Callinan : Clare

Joe McKenna : Limerick

Nicky English : Tipp

All fine hurlers listed but I don't think you read the OP very carefully, esp the bolded part!

Thinkstoomuch

sasol wrote: »

Seanie O'Leary, Tony O'Sullivan, Jimmy Barry Murphy, and John Fenton : Cork

Pete Finnerty, Tony Keady : Galway . You could include Gerry McInerney here also, although I don't know how much of the 80's he was around for.

Christy Heffernan, Ger Fennelly : Kilkenny

John Callinan : Clare

Joe McKenna : Limerick

Nicky English : Tipp

The cork lads won in 84 and 86 so you are wrong here.

premierstone

Thinkstoomuch wrote: »

The cork lads won in 84 and 86 so you are wrong here.

John Callinan is the only one on the list that hasn't won one, as I said above he clearly didn't read the OP correctly, Callinan is a good shout though!

sasol

premierstone wrote: »

All fine hurlers listed but I don't think you read the OP very carefully, esp the bolded part!

I made a balls of that.

I didn't read the "never to win an all-Ireland" part

paul71

Leo Turley - Laois

Stefan White - Louth

Kevin O'Brien - Wicklow (already mentioned)

There is a Down and a Leitrim player neither of whose names I recall at the moment who I will look up.

Mike Guide 69

Matt Connor - Offaly. One of the most natural and gifted players of his generation, part of the famous 1982 Offaly team that beat Kerry in the final. His playing career was sadly cut short by a car accident, but he was a remarkable footballer. Maurice Fitzgerald was the closet i've seen to matching his style and football abiliity

Dirty Dingus McGee

Mike Guide 69 wrote: »

Matt Connor - Offaly. One of the most natural and gifted players of his generation, part of the famous 1982 Offaly team that beat Kerry in the final. His playing career was sadly cut short by a car accident, but he was a remarkable footballer. Maurice Fitzgerald was the closet i've seen to matching his style and football abiliity

Every season Matt Connor played Intercounty football he was the top scorer in ireland in league and championship.

paul71

Mike Guide 69 wrote: »

Matt Connor - Offaly. One of the most natural and gifted players of his generation, part of the famous 1982 Offaly team that beat Kerry in the final. His playing career was sadly cut short by a car accident, but he was a remarkable footballer. Maurice Fitzgerald was the closet i've seen to matching his style and football abiliity

He has an All-Ireland medal so does not qualify.

Mike Guide 69

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Every season Matt Connor played Intercounty football he was the top scorer in ireland in league and championship.

Sorry just read the title, players who havent won an All Ireland medal, but in fairness, he was a player that should have won more. If he did not have that accident , who knows how many more winning medals he would have collected...

feargale

Those deemed the 15 best hurlers of the 1980s never to win an All-Ireland will be honoured at the final next Sunday. Two that I thought unlucky to lose out were Sean Hehir and Joe Henry,

padd b1975

feargale wrote: »

Those deemed the 15 best hurlers of the 1980s never to win an All-Ireland will be honoured at the final next Sunday. Two that I thought unlucky to lose out were Sean Hehir and Joe Henry,

That guy was a one man team throughout the 1980s, shame he never got a run out in the Railway Cup I always thought.

feargale

padd b1975 wrote: »

That guy was a one man team throughout the 1980s, shame he never got a run out in the Railway Cup I always thought.

He did actually, and won two, I think, with Connacht.

Username2011

fearruanua wrote: »

Well lads and ladies. I'm doing a bit of research at the moment for a friend of mine for a future project. Question I have is..

Who do ye think are some of the greatest footballers and hurlers who played in the 1980's never to win an all-ireland medal?

Thanks in advance. Players and counties.

I'll start by saying

Willie Joe Padden (Mayo)

Interesting - http://comms.irishtimes.com/stars-of-the-80s/2013/.ashx

buck65

Neil PAtterson Antrim. Slip of a thing.

fearruanua

Hurling team was announced for Sunday!

http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/2608131633-hurling-stars-of-the-80s-team-confirmed/

fizzyboy

I was surprised Mick Jacob didn't make the team of the 80s unless he won a medal in 68 as a sub. Other than that I wouldn't have too may complaints with the team

fizzyboy

My football team:

Brian McAlinden
Harry Keegan
Kevin Kehily (presume he wasn't a sub in 73??)
Dermot Flanagan
Kevin McCabe
Paddy Moriarty
Seamus McHugh
Willie Joe Padden
Dermot Earley snr
Peter McGinnitty
Eugene McKenna
Joe Kernan
Eugene Hughes
Frank McGuigan
Tony McManus

Would like to find a place for Kevin O'Brien...

FatherTed

fizzyboy wrote: »

I was surprised Mick Jacob didn't make the team of the 80s unless he won a medal in 68 as a sub. Other than that I wouldn't have too may complaints with the team

1 P. Nolan
2 T. Neville
3 E. Kelly
4 N. Colfer
5 V. Staples
6 D. Quigley (c)
7 W. Murphy
8 P. Wilson
9 D. Bernie
10 P. Lynch
11 T. Doran
12 C. Jacob
13 J. O'Brien
14 S. Whelan
15 J. Berry

Sub used
J. Quigley for S. Whelan

Subs not used
P. Nolan
T. O'Connor
M. Jacob
M. Kinsella
S. Barron
N. Buggy
M. Browne
J. Furlong
Manager
P. Kehoe

Selector
N. Rackard
Trainer
N. Power

hotd

Mick Kennedy. A stalwart at corner back for Dublin

Syferus

fizzyboy wrote: »

My football team:

Brian McAlinden
Harry Keegan
Kevin Kehily (presume he wasn't a sub in 73??)
Dermot Flanagan
Kevin McCabe
Paddy Moriarty
Seamus McHugh
Willie Joe Padden
Dermot Earley snr
Peter McGinnitty
Eugene McKenna
Joe Kernan
Eugene Hughes
Frank McGuigan
Tony McManus

Would like to find a place for Kevin O'Brien...

Great stuff Fizzy, you were very close to the official team:

1. BRIAN McALINDEN (Armagh / Sarsfields): First-choice goalkeeper with Armagh from 1976 until late 1980s. Won 4 Railway Cup medals and in 1986 was reserve ‘keeper for the International Rules series in Australia. Formerly joint county manager with Brian Canavan.

2. HARRY KEEGAN (Roscommon / Castlerea): Regarded as one of the greatest corner backs to play with Roscommon, he was named on their ‘Best Team of the Last 25 years.’ Won All Star awards in 1978, 1980 and 1986.

3. KEVIN KEHILLY (Cork / Newcestown): Played in 1974 and 1983 All-Ireland semi-finals with Cork. Winner of five Railway Cup medals and All Stars in 1980 and 1982. Was trainer with Cork’s treble-winning hurling team of the seventies.

4. SÉAMUS McHUGH (Galway / Headford): Made senior debut with Galway in 1975 and captained team in the 1983 All-Ireland final. An All Star winner in 1981 and 1984, he played eight games in the International Rules Series, including the inaugural Australian tour in 1986.

5. JIM REILLY (Cavan / Kingscourt): A household name in Cavan all through the eighties, he played in all three tests in the 1987 International Rules Series. He won Railway Cup medals in 1983, 1984 and 1989.

6. CIARÁN MURRAY (Monaghan / Clones): Member of the Monaghan team which won the League title in 1985, he played six games in the International Rules series. An All Star award winner in 1985, in later years he gained notoriety as physiotherapist to the Irish soccer team.

7. COLM BROWNE (Laois / Portlaoise): Won an All-Ireland club medal in 1983 and Railway Cup medals in 1985, 1986 and 1987 – when he played in the final test against Australia. Won an All Star award in 1986 and managed Laois and Tipperary.

8. DERMOT EARLEY (Roscommon / Michael Glaveys/Sarsfields, Newbridge, RIP): Played with Roscommon for twenty years and is regarded as one of the greatest footballers never to win an All-Ireland, A member of the last Connacht team to win the Railway Cup in 1969, he won the county’s first All Star in 1974 and another in 1979. Managed Roscommon and Kildare.

9. WILLIE JOE PADDEN (Mayo / Belmullet): Voted fourth best ever midfielder in a national poll, he was especially renowned for his high-fielding ability. Won an All Star in 1985 and another in 1989, when he played with Mayo in the All-Ireland final.

10. PETER McGINNITY (Fermanagh / Roslea): Won county medals in his native Fermanagh and Antrim – lining out with St. John’s in the 1978 All-Ireland club final. Winner of Railway Cup medals in 1979, 1980, 1983 and 1984 and the county’s first All Star winner in 1982. Co-commentator with BBC Ulster in their TV coverage.

11. EUGENE McKENNA (Tyrone / Augher): Tyrone’s captain in their first All-Ireland senior final appearance in 1986, he won All Star awards in 1984, 1986 and 1989 and won Railway Cup medals in 1983, 1984 and 1989. Involved with Art McRory in the management of the county team in the late 90s.

12. KEVIN O’BRIEN (Wicklow / Baltinglass): Played four times for Ireland, including the tour to Australia in 1990 – when he was Wicklow’s first All Star recipient and won an All-Ireland club medal. A Railway Cup medal-winner in 1986 and 1996, he was a selector with Mick O’Dwyer.

13. EUGENE ‘NUDIE’ HUGHES (Monaghan / Castleblaney): Monaghan’s first All Star in 1979 and again honoured in 1985 and 1988 – one of a select group to win awards in defence and attack. Member of NFL-winning side of 1985 and Railway Cup winner in 1980, 1983 and 1984.

14. FRANK McGUIGAN (Tyrone / Ardboe): A legend in Tyrone, forever remembered for his 0-11 in the 1984 Ulster final, he won an All Star and Railway Cup medal the same year. Captain in the 1972 All-Ireland minor final, he played in the senior semi-final the following year. Career interrupted when he spent several years in the US and ended prematurely by a serious injury.

15. TONY McMANUS (Roscommon / Clan na nGael): An All-Ireland Under-21 medal winner with Roscommon in 1978. Won six Connacht senior medals and a key figure in his club’s pre-eminence in the province in the 80s. An All Star winner in 1989, he won three Sigerson Cup medals with UCD.

fizzyboy

In fairness I did use the All-Stars as a guide......couldn't really quibble with the team I have to say.

I'm sure there'll be something similar for the 90s in a few years time which will have us guessing again.......

J Cheever Loophole

fizzyboy wrote: »

In fairness I did use the All-Stars as a guide......couldn't really quibble with the team I have to say.

Well then your picking of Brian McAlinden is deserving of respect.

One of the great injustices was McAlinden never getting an All Star. He really should have had one I thought in 1977 - two brilliant saves in the semi-final replay against Roscommon got us over the line in a one point match - the highlight of a very good season for him (although on reflection he may have suffered for shipping the five goals in the final, one of which was a "speculative effort" from Jimmy Keaveny).

He was though at the forefront of goal-keeping for a decade or more but missed subsquent opportunities to be rewarded at All Star level due to Armagh's poor form.