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Why is there ever a debate about who was the best Irish Sports person ever? *READ OP*

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Comments

  • #122
    Strumms
    Registered Users Posts: 24,758 ✭✭✭✭Strumms


    Beechwoodspark wrote: »
    Again I would have to say nobody has equaled the heights Michelle Smith reached in 1996

    3 gold and a bronze in Atlanta.

    Between ‘95 and ‘97 she won 4 gold and 3 silver in those two European championships .

    Great going.


  • #123
    ErnestBorgnine
    Registered Users Posts: 237 ✭✭ErnestBorgnine


    Strumms wrote: »
    3 gold and a bronze in Atlanta.

    Between ‘95 and ‘97 she won 4 gold and 3 silver in those two European championships .

    Great going.

    Hard to disagree, she was an animal.

    Hard as nails, pissed pure whiskey


  • #124
    jaxxx
    Registered Users Posts: 3,230 ✭✭✭jaxxx


    italodisco wrote: »
    I hate to say it, as I can't stand him, but conor mcgregor would certainly be up there on the list


    I'd get myself to Specsavers mate. OP asked who was the greatest Irish sports person, not greatest Irish thug.

    My vote goes to Padraig Harrington, even though i don't like him.

    Nah just kidding.

    Agree with Michelle Smith recommendation above.


  • #125
    Strumms
    Registered Users Posts: 24,758 ✭✭✭✭Strumms


    ErnestBorgnine wrote: »
    Hard to disagree, she was an animal.

    Hard as nails, pissed pure whiskey

    Teachers I believe, well she gave her competitors a hard lesson.


  • #126
    irishguitarlad
    Registered Users Posts: 2,746 ✭✭✭irishguitarlad


    Just saw where someone on this thread said that we would have beaten Brazil in the the 02 world cup with Keane. Not a chance I'm afraid, you are forgeting that the Brazilians had Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, probably one of the best attacking trios to ever play the Game. I actually watched highlights of the 02 wc final today, the scoreline flattered the Germans as the Brazilians had chance after chance in the first half and hit the post and the bar. That second goal by Ronaldo though, when Rivaldo stood over the ball and let It run to Ronaldo, some awareness, brilliant goal.


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  • #127
    Poorside
    Registered Users Posts: 2,098 ✭✭✭Poorside


    irishguitarlad wrote: »
    Just saw where someone on this thread said that we would have beaten Brazil in the the 02 world cup with Keane. Not a chance I'm afraid, you are forgeting that the Brazilians had Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, probably one of the best attacking trios to ever play the Game. I actually watched highlights of the 02 wc final today, the scoreline flattered the Germans as the Brazilians had chance after chance in the first half and hit the post and the bar. That second goal by Ronaldo though, when Rivaldo stood over the ball and let It run to Ronaldo, some awareness, brilliant goal.


    So that's a no.


  • #128
    mrkiscool2
    Registered Users Posts: 5,159 ✭✭✭mrkiscool2


    irishguitarlad wrote: »
    Just saw where someone on this thread said that we would have beaten Brazil in the the 02 world cup with Keane. Not a chance I'm afraid, you are forgeting that the Brazilians had Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, probably one of the best attacking trios to ever play the Game. I actually watched highlights of the 02 wc final today, the scoreline flattered the Germans as the Brazilians had chance after chance in the first half and hit the post and the bar. That second goal by Ronaldo though, when Rivaldo stood over the ball and let It run to Ronaldo, some awareness, brilliant goal.
    Funny how people also forget England should have beaten them in the quarters though. A Seaman howler and numerous missed chances by the English and they were on their way in the weirdestly one sided semis ever.


  • #129
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 13,712 ✭✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    ErnestBorgnine wrote: »
    Hard to disagree, she was an animal.

    Hard as nails, pissed pure whiskey

    You almost made me choke on my popcorn you fcuker.


  • #130
    ChelseaRentBoy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 474 ✭✭ChelseaRentBoy


    sxt wrote: »
    Roy Keane

    There is no other Irish person close. Who ever is second, is a distant second

    He is the most influential sports person in Irish sporting History, and in British football history

    Any objections?

    Keane is a traitor.

    Joey Dunlop and its not even close.


  • #131
    begbysback
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,910 ✭✭✭begbysback


    jaxxx wrote: »
    I'd get myself to Specsavers mate. OP asked who was the greatest Irish sports person, not greatest Irish thug.

    My vote goes to Padraig Harrington, even though i don't like him.

    Nah just kidding.

    Agree with Michelle Smith recommendation above.

    Think those suggesting Michelle smith were taking the piss mate


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  • #132
    begbysback
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,910 ✭✭✭begbysback


    Galwayguy35 wrote: »
    I think Michelle Smith got a bit of a raw deal, she did win the medals but the controversy after overshadowed her achievement.

    Oh cmon ffs, Lance Armstrong was cleaner than Michelle smith


  • #133
    valoren
    Registered Users Posts: 5,458 ✭✭✭valoren


    Strumms wrote: »
    I am a massive Irwin fan, one of the best fullbacks of the modern age.

    Just using the EPL for convenience....Roy Keane averaged one red card every 52 premier league games for United. He simply wasn’t sent off routinely. People forget that while yes he was a physical player. 7 red cards in 366 United Premier League games, that’s not dirty, that’s not excessive.

    He was booked 69 times in 366 appearances. He wasn’t really booked routinely in fact he wasn’t even for the position and style he had...

    He was booked in 18.8% of League games.

    It's feasible to say that, taking into account the red and yellow cards and the FA suspension for the biography in 2002 and disregarding injuries, Keane was suspended for the equivalent of a full season of league games over the course of his United career?

    There was also the infamous suspension where he missed out on the crowning achievement of that era at the Nou Camp. I guess when Keanes modus operandi was tackling to regain possession then suspensions were an occupational hazard but you can be an excellent player and captain but it's all irrelevant unless you're on the pitch.


  • #134
    BagheeraBlue
    Closed Accounts Posts: 109 ✭✭BagheeraBlue


    Liam Brady and Giles are far better footballers than Keane ever was


  • #135
    Pherekydes
    Registered Users Posts: 16,109 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    valoren wrote: »
    Rory McIlroy.
    Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »
    Harrington without a doubt.

    Come on guys! Neither play a sport!


  • #136
    Water John
    Registered Users Posts: 21,103 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    The best soccer player would be between McGrath and Brady. Watching Brady play esp in Italy he was in the class of Platini. Keane was good engine but not a midfield maestro.


  • #137
    valoren
    Registered Users Posts: 5,458 ✭✭✭valoren


    Pherekydes wrote: »
    Come on guys! Neither play a sport!

    Sport

    noun

    an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

    McIlroy's average driving distance? 312 yards.
    Try hitting a golf ball that distance and tell me you didn't physically exert yourself. Try doing it with some semblance of accuracy and tell me it didn't involve skill.

    If sponsors are putting up millions of dollars as reward (ie. Sport) for being able to do the above successfully then you'll be hard pressed to find those who compete for it to be anything but athletic and thus involved in a sport.


  • #138
    Pherekydes
    Registered Users Posts: 16,109 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    cj maxx wrote: »
    Eamon Coughlan
    Lorcanber1 wrote: »
    Eamon Coughlan would have to be my choice
    Chairman of the boards!

    Facepalm. :mad:
    ahnowbrowncow wrote: »
    He's a good shout. However, Ray Flynn holds the national record for 1500m and the mile

    How many times did he beat Coghlan (see what I did there?)?


  • #139
    Water John
    Registered Users Posts: 21,103 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    We had a number of world class male middle distance runners. The one with the most natural talent but handicapped by injury and sadly deceased was Fanahan McSweeney. Sorry for the side track.


  • #140
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 13,712 ✭✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    valoren wrote: »
    Sport

    noun

    an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

    McIlroy's average driving distance? 312 yards.
    Try hitting a golf ball that distance and tell me you didn't physically exert yourself. Try doing it with some semblance of accuracy and tell me it didn't involve skill.
    Guy Boros. Professional "athlete"


  • #141
    Quantum Erasure
    Registered Users Posts: 8,151 ✭✭✭Quantum Erasure


    begbysback wrote: »
    Think those suggesting Michelle smith were taking the piss mate

    They weren't the only ones...


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  • #142
    Strumms
    Registered Users Posts: 24,758 ✭✭✭✭Strumms


    valoren wrote: »
    It's feasible to say that, taking into account the red and yellow cards and the FA suspension for the biography in 2002 and disregarding injuries, Keane was suspended for the equivalent of a full season of league games over the course of his United career?

    There was also the infamous suspension where he missed out on the crowning achievement of that era at the Nou Camp. I guess when Keanes modus operandi was tackling to regain possession then suspensions were an occupational hazard but you can be an excellent player and captain but it's all irrelevant unless you're on the pitch.

    He was suspended for the Nou Camp, so was Paul Scholes.

    Greats of the game who also missed Champions League Finals due to suspensions... Alessandro Costacurta, Xabi Alonso are two off the top of my head. It happens, Keane was a physical player, as was Scholes.


  • #143
    Tomaldo
    Registered Users Posts: 587 ✭✭✭Tomaldo


    Stephen Cluxton


  • #144
    Strumms
    Registered Users Posts: 24,758 ✭✭✭✭Strumms


    Tomaldo wrote: »
    Stephen Cluxton

    Leinster titles
    15
    All-Irelands
    7
    NFL
    5
    All Stars
    6

    He has scored 66 points too in inter county football

    Meet the guy and you’d never even get the impression he’d won a goldfish in a fairground. 27 titles, fuçk !


  • #145
    Truthvader
    Registered Users Posts: 1,826 ✭✭✭Truthvader


    A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »
    Michelle Smith de Bruin

    Really?

    She was so jacked back in the day she could have won the Grand National.

    Disqualified


  • #146
    Truthvader
    Registered Users Posts: 1,826 ✭✭✭Truthvader


    mrkiscool2 wrote: »
    Its between Taylor and Padraig Harrington for me. I think with what KT has done she edges it but I will always have a soft spot for Paddy.

    Sorry "golf" is not a sport. Auld lads walk and a chat


  • #147
    Quantum Erasure
    Registered Users Posts: 8,151 ✭✭✭Quantum Erasure


    Ken Doherty


  • #148
    Truthvader
    Registered Users Posts: 1,826 ✭✭✭Truthvader


    Would pick pretty much any footballer before Kean.

    No matter how good you are you have to show up. When the wet hour came Kean had hissy fit because his pillow was too hard or the training ground wasn't mowed the way he wanted it or whatever. Maybe a good football player but fails the "Irish" test by putting his sulky little self first.

    Ronnie Delaney for me. Gold medal when Sport was still sport for sport. Did the business then got on with his life. Gentleman

    Can't buy class; as the likes of Kean, McGregor, De Bruin, McIlroy will never know


  • #149
    Strumms
    Registered Users Posts: 24,758 ✭✭✭✭Strumms


    Quantum Erasure wrote: »
    Ken Doherty

    Been in 17 ranking tournament finals including 3 world championships finals, only won 6 out of the 17, 35% success rate just, that’s very poor having done the hard work to get there, so regularly to a final.... seemed that when pressure was telling he lost it a bit... great player at his peak but I remember in those finals him missing reasonably straight forward pots and I wonder was it his nerve or temperament letting him down, the ability was there.


  • #150
    ShatterAlan
    Registered Users Posts: 2,807 ✭✭✭ShatterAlan


    sxt wrote: »
    Roy Keane

    There is no other Irish person close. Who ever is second, is a distant second

    He is the most influential sports person in Irish sporting History, and in British football history

    Any objections?


    Big fan of Roy but Robbie scored more goals.


    I don't think his tally will ever be beaten again unless we get some Mo Salah immigrant playing for the national team.


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  • #151
    Tomaldo
    Registered Users Posts: 587 ✭✭✭Tomaldo


    Strumms wrote: »
    Leinster titles
    15
    All-Irelands
    7
    NFL
    5
    All Stars
    6

    He has scored 66 points too in inter county football

    Meet the guy and you’d never even get the impression he’d won a goldfish in a fairground. 27 titles, fuçk !
    Sadly I've never met him, but I admire him so much, but I shud a mentioned The Gooch as well, why wasn't he born in Tallaght or Ballymun


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