Greatest footballers to never have won Sam 1990-2015?

hardy_buck

Hi folks title is self explanatory, who in your opinion are amongst the best players to never have lifted Sam?
Considering that 31 teams don't win it every year, that obviously leaves us with a huge pool of players to choose from, who is the first that comes to mind for you?

For me, Michael Meehan is up there. He was a Michael Owen type figure of immense talent but crippled with injury and unfortunate enough to have missed the boat of a golden generation which was the Galway team of the late 90's.

Johnny Doyle is definately another who IMO would have strolled onto any of the best teams over the last few years.

BonnieSituation

hardy_buck wrote: »

Hi folks title is self explanatory, who in your opinion are amongst the best players to never have lifted Sam?
Considering that 31 teams don't win it every year, that obviously leaves us with a huge pool of players to choose from, who is the first that comes to mind for you?

For me, Michael Meehan is up there. He was a Michael Owen type figure of immense talent but crippled with injury and unfortunate enough to have missed the boat of a golden generation which was the Galway team of the late 90's.

Johnny Doyle is definately another who IMO would have strolled onto any of the best teams over the last few years.

^^^That guy there^^^

And Mattie Forde... and Ciaran McDonald

Browney7

hardy_buck wrote: »

Hi folks title is self explanatory, who in your opinion are amongst the best players to never have lifted Sam?
Considering that 31 teams don't win it every year, that obviously leaves us with a huge pool of players to choose from, who is the first that comes to mind for you?

For me, Michael Meehan is up there. He was a Michael Owen type figure of immense talent but crippled with injury and unfortunate enough to have missed the boat of a golden generation which was the Galway team of the late 90's.

Johnny Doyle is definately another who IMO would have strolled onto any of the best teams over the last few years.

Yeah would agree on johnny Doyle. Remember he put over a Maurice Fitz style point from a sideline on the 45 against us in Limerick. Not much made of it due to it being a qualifier.

I'd add John Galvin to the list. Nearly single handedly brought Limerick to their first Munster in 100 odd years and was an exceptional competitor and sportsman. Class act.

Dessie Dolan is probably worthy of inclusion also.

AndyBoBandy

From a Dub perspective:

Ciaran Whelan

rebel girl 15

Declan Browne from Tipperary, former All Star

Confused Accountant

Ciarán McDonald - one of the greatest talents of the last few years. Carried a mayo team for a few years and is still banging them over for club!

phkk

Declan Browne, Dessie Dolan, Joe Higgins, Beano McDonald, Tom Kelly, Ciaran McDonald, James Nallen, Dermot Early,Johnny Doyle +1, Mattie Forde, John Galvin, Johnny Nevin.......from top of my head oh and Paul Barden

hardy_buck

Johnny Doyle is unarguably one of the best to never have done it but I think he comes to mind sooner because Kildare were always a competetive team and got the exposure, especially after a few last minute heartbreaks over the years.

I would actually rate Emyln Mulligan one of the best too considering he plays for one of the most disadvantged and demoralised teams in the country.

It's a shame that there are so many talented players that never get a look in because they never make it out of provincial qualifiers..

castletownman

GK-Gary Connaughton/Fergal Byron

Sean Marty Lockhart
Barry Owens
Keith Higgins

John Keane
James Nallen
Tom Kelly

John Galvin
Ciaran Whelan

Paul Barden
Ciaran McDonald
Johnny Doyle

Declan Browne
Michael Meehan/Dessie Dolan
Matty Forde

Serious team

Paranoid Mandroid

Mayo ;-)

alphasully

Ciaran O Suilleabhain, Cork. Was one of the best footballers of the 90's.

Jippo

hardy_buck wrote: »

For me, Michael Meehan is up there. He was a Michael Owen type figure of immense talent but crippled with injury and unfortunate enough to have missed the boat of a golden generation which was the Galway team of the late 90's.

Why the need for the soccer comparison? Why not write this:

hardier_buck wrote: »

For me, Michael Meehan is up there. He was a player of immense talent but crippled with injury and unfortunate enough to have missed the boat of a golden generation which was the Galway team of the late 90's.

hardy_buck

Jippo wrote: »

Why the need for the soccer comparison? Why not write this:

I dunno, because it's valid I guess? Don't let me stop you turning this into another soccer v GAA thread though, I don't think the sports forums have ever seen that...

seanhynes

James Horan won an all star I think in 1999 he was good for a number of years for Mayo ,Liam Mchale was a great midfielder he would have been worthy of 1-2. Dermot Mcabe of Cavan

Redsoxfan

From Donegal - Adrian Sweeney and Kevin Cassidy.

From Down - Benny Coulter. Martin Clarke probably hasn't played enough to qualify.

Hulk Hands

Was gonna say Anthony Tohill, didnt realise he was old enough to be playing in 93. Eamonn O'Hara, Keith Higgins, Emlyn Mulligan, Barry Owens, Lockhart, Val Daly, McD, Forde and Doyle all stand out. None moreso than Declan Browne however, what a player

The barber of chewbacca

Dub fan here. Everyone I thought of mentioned already. Forde, Browne, Doyle McDonald, Meehan, Owens... I must add Wicklow's Kevin O'Brien.

Ceist_Beag

Redsoxfan wrote: »

From Donegal - Adrian Sweeney and Kevin Cassidy.

I'd include Damien Diver in there as well RSF.

Clareman

Francis McInerney from Clare, classy footballer who misses out on an All Star in 92 cause of the silly rule that if you were sent off in the year you couldn't get 1.

shanemkelly

The barber of chewbacca wrote: »

... I must add Wicklow's Kevin O'Brien.

100% +1!
Unbelievable speed off the mark - seemed to create space out of nothing. Incredible to watch live - even when he played into his later years. Immense football brain.

Also add Leighton Glynn - still playing and still has that "how the hell did he do that?" factor! Dual player too, but I'm only talking football (can't comment on his hurling prowess; though equally good with the stick I believe).

Yes, perhaps my choices are a bit parochial, but anyway...

dats_right

Ciaran Whelan has been mentioned already but what a servant and warrior of Dublin football. Desperately unlucky to have started his senior career in 1996 and finished in 2010 one year either side of a Dubs All Ireland victory. I agree with many of the names mentioned already and would add to the mix Dermot Earley, a serious talent.

The barber of chewbacca

Paddy Christie is another one that deserves a mention.

ixus

Glen Ryan.

Faugheen

Leighton Glynn was the first person that came to mind when reading this. Phenomenal player.

J Cheever Loophole

Aaron Kernan and Andy Mallon - Armagh,
Enda Muldoon and Paddy Bradley - Derry.

bazermc

Me.

Hesh's Umpire

Ciaran McManus of Offaly. What a player. Would've walked onto any team.

Saw a lot of Mattie Forde too - great player.

And from my own county I'd have to mention Ross Munnelly.

Grueller

Niall Buckley
Vinny Claffey
Benny Coulter
Eamonn O Hara should be named too despite appearing to have the finest opinion of himself that I have ever seen. The hatchet job he did on Kevin Walsh on the Synday game a couple of years back still rankles with me but I digress.

All of the above were outstanding players, however the one we have all missed and was a real top class footballer despite not looking like even the relative of an athlete was Colin Corkery. What a footballer. As Micheal O Muircheartaigh once said "Colin Corkery, the man who made a lazarus like recovery from a heart condition, lazarus was a great man too, but he couldn't kick points like Colin Corkery."
I can never forgive my own county man Brian White for allowing Seamus Moynihan to absolutely molest him in 2001 I think, before sending Corkery off late on for dissent caused by pure frustration from getting no protection from him.

Edited to say just reading back and I see both Benny Coulter and Eamonn O Hara mentioned. Carry on.

castletownman

castletownman wrote: »

GK-Gary Connaughton/Fergal Byron

Sean Marty Lockhart
Barry Owens
Keith Higgins

John Keane
James Nallen
Tom Kelly

John Galvin
Ciaran Whelan

Paul Barden
Ciaran McDonald
Johnny Doyle

Declan Browne
Michael Meehan/Dessie Dolan Paddy Bradley
Matty Forde

Serious team

Edited to include Paddy Bradley. Knew I had forgotten someone

feichin

Paddy Keenan - 2010 Allstar as consolation for the worst refereeing decision in living memory

Andre 3000

Paddy Bradley is a great shout in terms of lads you'd forget. The likes of Ciaran Mcdonald and Matty Forde would always be stand outs but Bradley was incredible for Derry.

There's one guy that stands out for me though. Colin Corkery of Cork. Probably the most accurate footballer I have ever seen play the game, he was flawless off both feet and could kick points from any angle and from outrageous distances. For a guy who looked pretty out of shape he was always great to get to the ball before his man and there was little chance of getting it off him. Sometimes he'd almost single handedly try and beat Kerry and sometimes he did. Used always be a nightmare for Moynihan. He was fantastic for Nemo too and was a big reason why they were so dominant in Cork, Munster and Ireland. Phenomenal talent.

Andre 3000

Frankie Dolan of Roscommon is another. An absolute genius.

Andre 3000

I hate to triple post, but this has rattled my brain and made me remember some absolute gems. In terms of more recent lads, Tommy Freeman of Monaghan and Niall McNamee of Offaly would have walked onto any intercounty team.

johnny osbourne

johnny doyle

aidan o shea

cian ward

Grueller

Marty McGrath is also worth a mention.

cgeaney

Connie Murphy of Kerry and Dr. Crokes would have to make any team. His attacking prowess and his defensive displays were a site to behold.

J Cheever Loophole

I don't think he's been mentioned - Conor McManus of Monaghan would be worth a shout.

eigrod

alphasully wrote: »

Ciaran O Suilleabhain, Cork. Was one of the best footballers of the 90's.

Yes. Him and Joe Kavanagh, from a Cork perspective.

cilles man

I guess to add to this list you can throw the recently retiree Stephen Bray of Meath , along with Colin Kelly of Louth , two forwards of pure class that all irelands never came their way.

seligehgit

Keith Higgins
Conor McManus
Paddy Bradley

Xenophile

I guess you can throw in two young footballers from Tipperary,

Colin O'Riordan who is now plying is trade in Australia

and

Michael Quinlivan who on his day will give any full back in the country a roasting.

Utopia Parkway

Xenophile wrote: »

I guess you can throw in two young footballers from Tipperary,

Colin O'Riordan who is now plying is trade in Australia

and

Michael Quinlivan who on his day will give any full back in the country a roasting.

In fairness they are both very early in their careers. I would imagine a thread like greatest players to have never won Sam would be for retired players or players with most of their playing career behind them.

PressRun

Ciaran McDonald seems an obvious choice.

Conor McManus is surely one of the best footballers in the country today, with or without an All-Ireland medal.

Keith Higgins might get his yet, but right now he must be one of the best to come so close and still not have one.

danganabu

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

In fairness they are both very early in their careers. I would imagine a thread like greatest players to have never won Sam would be for retired players or players with most of their playing career behind them.

And one of their careers is actually over before ever really getting going, O'Riordan will almost certainly make the grade in Australia.

Xenophile

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

In fairness they are both very early in their careers. I would imagine a thread like greatest players to have never won Sam would be for retired players or players with most of their playing career behind them.

danganabu wrote: »

And one of their careers is actually over before ever really getting going, O'Riordan will almost certainly make the grade in Australia.

All the more reason why Colin O'Riordan should be listed here as we may never see him again playing Gaelic.

Quinlivan scored two goals against Kerry last year in the championship and caused a big re-think among the Kerry mentors about their full back line.
He also scored the injury time goal against Nemo Rangers that knocked Nemo out of this year's Club Championship.

I don't think we should wait to acknowledge the above players as their chances of ever playing in an All Ireland are very slim.

Say Your Number

Surprised Ross Munnelly hasn't been mentioned yet

Seamus Quinn from Leitrim.

Johnny Davey and Mark Breheny from Sligo.

Anthony Rainbow should be on the list too.

Felexicon

Hesh's Umpire wrote:

And from my own county I'd have to mention Ross Munnelly.

Say Your Number wrote:

Surprised Ross Munnelly hasn't been mentioned yet

He was 4 months ago

Say Your Number

I went through the effort of reading through this thread and I somehow managed to miss that, fecksake