Team of the decade 2000-2009

KevinK

Following the GAA's selction of the best team of the 80's* in football and hurling I started thinking about the most recent decade.

* Only players without All- Irelands

1. G.Connaughton (Westmeath)
2. S.M. Lockhart (Derry)
3. B. Owens (Fermanagh)
4. J. Higgins (Laois)
5. D. Freeman (Monaghan)
6. J.Nallen (Mayo)
7. A. Rainbow (Kildare)
8. C. McManus (Offaly)
9. E. O'Hara (Sligo)
10. R.Munnely ( Laois)
11. C. McDonald (Mayo)
12. J. Doyle (Kildare)
13. M. Forde (Wexford)
14. P. Bradley (Derry)
15. D.Browne (Tipperary)

Unlucky to miss out: K. Higgins (Mayo), J. Galvin (Limerick), P. Clancy (Laois) M.Meehan (Galway).

1. G.Maguire (Dublin)
2. G. O'Grady (Clare)
3. S. Lucey (limerick) D.Ryan (wex) if not involved in 1996.
4. O. Canning (Galway)
5. T..Browne (Waterford)
6. K. Mcgrath (Waterford)
7. M. Foley (Limerick)
8. M. Walsh (Waterford)
9. J. Young (Laois)
10. D.Shanahan (Waterford)
11. O. Moran (Limerick)
12. K.Broderick (Galway)
13. J. Mullane (Waterford)
14. J. Canning (Galway)
15. P. Flynn (Waterford)

Unlucky: E.Murphy (Waterford), E.Cloonan (Galway) S. Brick (Kerry), D. O'Callaghan (Dublin).

Any thoughts? I'm sure there are players who jsut completely slipped my mind, can anyone do better?

Moneymaker

M.Walsh

Hurling:

1. Brian Murray
2. Damien Reale
3. Stephen Lucey
4. Ollie Canning
5. Tony Browne
6. Ken McGrath
7. Mark Foley
8. Michael Walsh
9. Ger Farragher
10. Dan Shannahan
11. Paul Flynn
12. Kevin Broderick
13. Damien Hayes
14. Joe Canning
15. John Mullane

Football:

1. Anthony Masterson
2. S.M Lockheart
3. Paddie Christie
4. Keith Higgins
5. Kevin Cassidy
6. James Nallen
7. Coman Goggins
8. Ciaran Whealan
9. Dermot Earley
10. Ross Munnelly
11. Ciaran McDonald
12. Alan Dillon
13. Conor Mortimor
14. Declan Browne
15. John Doyle

grenache

Moneymaker wrote: »

Hurling:

1. Brian Murray
2. Damien Reale
3. Stephen Lucey
4. Ollie Canning
5. Tony Browne
6. Ken McGrath
7. Mark Foley
8. Michael Walsh
9. Ger Farragher
10. Dan Shannahan
11. Paul Flynn
12. Kevin Broderick
13. Damien Hayes
14. Joe Canning
15. John Mullane

Football:

1. Anthony Masterson
2. S.M Lockheart
3. Paddie Christie
4. Keith Higgins
5. Kevin Cassidy
6. James Nallen
7. Coman Goggins
8. Ciaran Whealan
9. Dermot Earley
10. Ross Munnelly
11. Ciaran McDonald
12. Alan Dillon
13. Conor Mortimor
14. Declan Browne
15. John Doyle

Brian Murray? You havin a laugh?!

I'm from Limerick but I'd have Murray nowhere near that hurling team. A very average keeper. Brian Mullins from Offaly would be my pick, superb keeper with great agility.

Wouldn't have Lucey in there either, always thought he performed better for the footballers.

ciarriaithuaidh

My offering fwiw:

1. Gary Connaughton (ĺarmhí)
2. Seán Marty Lockhart (Doire)
3. Kevin McCloy (Doire)
4. Joe Higgins (Laois)
5. Anthony Rainbow (Cill Dara)
6. Anthony Lynch (Corcaigh)
7. Kevin Cassidy (Tír Chonaill)
8. Eamonn O’Hara (Sligeach)
9. Ciarán Whelan (Ath Cliath)
10. John Doyle (Cill Dara)
11. Ciarán McDonald (Maigh Eo)
12. Matty Forde (Loch Garman)
13. Paddy Bradley (Doire)
14. Niall McNamee (Uibh Fháilí)
15. Declan Browne (Tiobraid Árainn)

Wrecked tired, so probably left out someone obvious. Not qualified to comment on the hurling.

Smartguy

Colin Corkery should be in there I think.

ciarriaithuaidh

Smartguy wrote: »

Colin Corkery should be in there I think.

Was at his peak in the 90s really. Was decent in 2000 and 2002 (up to AI semi final) but not enough overall IMO. Would definitely make the 90s equivalent though.

Syferus

Michael Meehan and Dessie Dolan are both no-brainers and would easily make my first 15, OP.

Gerry91

ciarriaithuaidh wrote: »

Was at his peak in the 90s really. Was decent in 2000 and 2002 (up to AI semi final) but not enough overall IMO. Would definitely make the 90s equivalent though.

Where was Corkery in 1999 actually? Was he injured? Remmeber seeing that match again recently and he wasn't involved at all

Gerry91

Moneymaker wrote: »

Hurling:

1. Brian Murray
2. Damien Reale
3. Stephen Lucey
4. Ollie Canning
5. Tony Browne
6. Ken McGrath
7. Mark Foley
8. Michael Walsh
9. Ger Farragher
10. Dan Shannahan
11. Paul Flynn
12. Kevin Broderick
13. Damien Hayes
14. Joe Canning
15. John Mullane

Football:

1. Anthony Masterson
2. S.M Lockheart
3. Paddie Christie
4. Keith Higgins
5. Kevin Cassidy
6. James Nallen
7. Coman Goggins
8. Ciaran Whealan
9. Dermot Earley
10. Ross Munnelly
11. Ciaran McDonald
12. Alan Dillon
13. Conor Mortimor
14. Declan Browne
15. John Doyle

Meehan >>>>> Mortimer

Syferus

Frankie Dolan > Thriller

Dessie > Thriller

Trevor Mort > Thriller

Meehan > Thriller

Andy > Thriller

The list goes on. He was a very tricky corner forward but there's too many options to place ahead of him that he'd make the cut.

thinkstoomuch1

M.Walsh

Gerry91 wrote: »

Where was Corkery in 1999 actually? Was he injured? Remmeber seeing that match again recently and he wasn't involved at all

Injured,we only had two forwards really,joe kavanagh and philip clifford.


Cork with corkery could have won.I agree with the kerryman,while he did play in this decade,captained us in 02,hes better decade was the 90,s.

He however was sublime on hes day in the late 2000's as shown by hes wonderful point for Nemo to win the club final,out by the sideline.

Corkery,our greatest forward ever,32 goals in 32 games.He had a heart operation also.


In relation to this decade,a point could be made for joe kavanagh as he played up to 2002.but again better in the previous decade.

Hes two superb-as good as final goals you will ever see in 93 and 99 should get him on one team of the decade.

I would throw in ciaran o sullivan,right half back.The best and most stylish half back to ever play for cork to this day,from Urhan.Won an all star in 99 but played great for poor cork teams up to 2005, when he had to retire due to a cruciate.He was plagued by injury.

A wonderful footballer,that wouldnt have looked out of place on a kerry team.Thats how stylish and good he was.

Gerry91

thinkstoomuch1 wrote: »

Injured,we only had two forwards really,joe kavanagh and philip clifford.


Cork with corkery could have won.I agree with the kerryman,while he did play in this decade,captained us in 02,hes better decade was the 90,s.

He however was sublime on hes day in the late 2000's as shown by hes wonderful point for Nemo to win the club final,out by the sideline.

Corkery,our greatest forward ever,32 goals in 32 games.He had a heart operation also.


In relation to this decade,a point could be made for joe kavanagh as he played up to 2002.but again better in the previous decade.

Hes two superb-as good as final goals you will ever see in 93 and 99 should get him on one team of the decade.

I would throw in ciaran o sullivan,right half back.The best and most stylish half back to ever play for cork to this day,from Urhan.Won an all star in 99 but played great for poor cork teams up to 2005, when he had to retire due to a cruciate.He was plagued by injury.

A wonderful footballer,that wouldnt have looked out of place on a kerry team.Thats how stylish and good he was.

Big loss was he out all season that year?

Philip Clifford was some prospect was only about 19 that year iirc. Injuries was it that hampered his progress?

thinkstoomuch1

M.Walsh

Gerry91 wrote: »

Big loss was he out all season that year?

Philip Clifford was some prospect was only about 19 that year iirc. Injuries was it that hampered his progress?

Yeah he was.

Clifford was plagued by injuries,ever watch old games,you will see a big blue bandage on he's knee.

randd1

In hurling:

1. Brian Mullins (Offaly)

2. Damien Reale (Limerick)
3. Darragh Ryan (Wexford)
4. Ollie Canning (Galway)

5. Tony Browne (Waterford)
6. Ken McGrath (Waterford)
7. Mark Foley (Limerick)

8. Michael Walsh (Waterford)
9. Rory Hanniffy (Offaly)

10. James Young (Laois)
11. Dan Shanahan (Waterford)
12. Tony Griffin (Clare)

13. John Mullane (Waterford)
14. Joe Canning (Galway)
15. Damien Hayes (Galway)

Dirty Dingus McGee

KevinK wrote: »

Following the GAA's selction of the best team of the 80's* in football and hurling I started thinking about the most recent decade.

* Only players without All- Irelands

1. G.Connaughton (Westmeath)
2. S.M. Lockhart (Derry)
3. B. Owens (Fermanagh)
4. J. Higgins (Laois)
5. D. Freeman (Monaghan)
6. J.Nallen (Mayo)
7. A. Rainbow (Kildare)
8. C. McManus (Offaly)
9. E. O'Hara (Sligo)
10. R.Munnely ( Laois)
11. C. McDonald (Mayo)
12. J. Doyle (Kildare)
13. M. Forde (Wexford)
14. P. Bradley (Derry)
15. D.Browne (Tipperary)

Unlucky to miss out: K. Higgins (Mayo), J. Galvin (Limerick), P. Clancy (Laois) M.Meehan (Galway).

1. G.Maguire (Dublin)
2. G. O'Grady (Clare)
3. S. Lucey (limerick) D.Ryan (wex) if not involved in 1996.
4. O. Canning (Galway)
5. T..Browne (Waterford)
6. K. Mcgrath (Waterford)
7. M. Foley (Limerick)
8. M. Walsh (Waterford)
9. J. Young (Laois)
10. D.Shanahan (Waterford)
11. O. Moran (Limerick)
12. K.Broderick (Galway)
13. J. Mullane (Waterford)
14. J. Canning (Galway)
15. P. Flynn (Waterford)

Unlucky: E.Murphy (Waterford), E.Cloonan (Galway) S. Brick (Kerry), D. O'Callaghan (Dublin).

Any thoughts? I'm sure there are players who jsut completely slipped my mind, can anyone do better?

John Galvin ahead of McManus in midfield, I'm from Offaly but I'd pick Galvin every time.If you wanted a more balanced half forward line i.e a workhorse type player then McManus would fit in there nicely ahead of Ross Munnelly, although Munnelly is a classier footballer than McManus.

John Keane from Westmeath could be in the defence aswell.

Dirty Dingus McGee

grenache wrote: »

Brian Murray? You havin a laugh?!

I'm from Limerick but I'd have Murray nowhere near that hurling team. A very average keeper. Brian Mullins from Offaly would be my pick, superb keeper with great agility.

Wouldn't have Lucey in there either, always thought he performed better for the footballers.

I wouldnt have Mullins on it.Great shot stopper and brilliant at making spectacular saves but you never felt safe with him and he let in a few under his legs on occasions aswell.

Lemlin

Dermot McCabe anyone?

I'd have him in it for this game alone:

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GAA%3A+McCABE+THE+SUPERSUB+RETURNS+TO+BLITZ+DOWN%3B...-a0117412836

Best individual display I've ever seen by a footballer.

Surprised to see people leaving out another star from that game, Benny Coulter, also.

Gerry91

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

I wouldnt have Mullins on it.Great shot stopper and brilliant at making spectacular saves but you never felt safe with him and he let in a few under his legs on occasions aswell.

He was really enigmatic. Stopped some incredible efforts yet let in the odd daft one. Not for me.

manofwisdom

Football

1. Brendan McVeigh (Down)
2. Keith Higgins (Mayo)
3. B. Owens (Fermanagh)
4. J. Higgins (Laois)
5. F Grehan (Roscommon)
6. J.Nallen (Mayo)
7. A. Rainbow (Kildare)
8. C. McManus (Offaly)
9. Dermot Earley (Kildare)
10. A Dillon (Mayo)
11. C. McDonald (Mayo)
12. J. Doyle (Kildare)
13. M. Forde (Wexford)
14. M.Meehan (Galway)
15. D.Browne (Tipperary)

Subs: Fergal Byron (Laois) Ciarán Whelan (Dublin) Adrian Sweeney (Donegal) Eamonn O'Hara (Sligo) Dessie Dolan (Westmeath), Frankie Dolan (Roscommon) Conor Mortimer (Mayo) Benny Coulter (Down) Paddy Keenan (Louth) John Galvin (Limerick) Ross Munnely (Laois)

Lemlin

manofwisdom wrote: »

Football

1. Brendan McVeigh (Down)
2. Keith Higgins (Mayo)
3. B. Owens (Fermanagh)
4. J. Higgins (Laois)
5. F Grehan (Roscommon)
6. J.Nallen (Mayo)
7. A. Rainbow (Kildare)
8. C. McManus (Offaly)
9. Dermot Earley (Kildare)
10. A Dillon (Mayo)
11. C. McDonald (Mayo)
12. J. Doyle (Kildare)
13. M. Forde (Wexford)
14. M.Meehan (Galway)
15. D.Browne (Tipperary)

Subs: Fergal Byron (Laois) Ciarán Whelan (Dublin) Adrian Sweeney (Donegal) Eamonn O'Hara (Sligo) Dessie Dolan (Westmeath), Frankie Dolan (Roscommon) Conor Mortimer (Mayo) Benny Coulter (Down) Paddy Keenan (Louth) John Galvin (Limerick) Ross Munnely (Laois)

No Larry Reilly or Dermot McCabe? Some of the forwards mentioned wouldn't lace their boots!

Warper

I went for Mullane. He was a fabulous player and really got the Waterford crowd going. A legend, one of the best forwards i have even seen.

Canning shouldnt even be on that list - 2000-2009

premierstone

T.Browne

Warper wrote: »

Canning shouldnt even be on that list - 2000-2009

You have got to be joking right?? The best corner back I have ever seen and winner of four All stars on an under performing team, he gets my vote for the overall winner of this poll tbh.

Moneymaker

M.Walsh

premierstone wrote: »

You have got to be joking right?? The best corner back I have ever seen and winner of four All stars on an under performing team, he gets my vote for the overall winner of this poll tbh.

I agree Ollie Canning is the best corner back i've seen in my lifetime watching hurling. Unreal player. Ken McGrath got my vote though.

Warper

premierstone wrote: »

You have got to be joking right?? The best corner back I have ever seen and winner of four All stars on an under performing team, he gets my vote for the overall winner of this poll tbh.

Sh1t, my bad, i misread, thought it was Joe.

0028673

can't believe so many good/great players never won an all ireland medal.

Malmedicine

He may not be like but Graham Geraghty was consistantly excellent throughout the period.

ColeTrain

Malmedicine wrote: »

He may not be like but Graham Geraghty was consistantly excellent throughout the period.

He won an All-Ireland in '96.

sid waddell

Benny Coulter is a glaring omission from the football teams picked so far. Arguably would be on a team of the decade of all players.

Amprodude

ColeTrain wrote: »

He won an All-Ireland in '96.

And 1999.

ColeTrain

Amprodude wrote: »

And 1999.

Mentioning the one was enough :pac:

sid waddell

1. Brendan McVeigh (Down)
2. Andy Mallon (Armagh)
3. Paddy Christie (Dublin)
4. Joe Higgins (Laois)
5. Shane Ryan (Dublin)
6. Tom Kelly (Laois)
7. Kevin Cassidy (Donegal)
8. Ciaran Whelan (Dublin)
9. Dermot Earley (Kildare)
10. Johnny Doyle (Kildare)
11. Ciaran McDonald (Mayo)
12. Benny Coulter (Down)
13. Mattie Forde (Wexford)
14. Paddy Bradley (Derry)
15. Michael Meehan (Galway)

Hurling

1. Brian Mullins (Offaly)
2. Damien Reale (Limerick)
3. Stephen Lucey (Limerick)
4. Ollie Canning (Galway)
5. Tony Browne (Waterford)
6. Ken McGrath (Waterford)
7. Mark Foley (Limerick)
8. Michael Walsh (Waterford)
9. Eoin Kelly (Waterford)
10. Tony Griffin (Clare)
11. Ollie Moran (Limerick)
12. Liam Watson (Antrim)
13. John Mullane (Waterford)
14. Dan Shanahan (Waterford)
15. Paul Flynn (Waterford)