Greatest footballing performance of all time?

The likes of Mick O'Connell, Sean Purcell, Jack O'Shea, Peter Canavan and Ciaran McDonald are widely regarded as the games' greatest Gaelic Footballers.

But I've often wondered what player has produced the best individual display of football over the course of seventy minutes in a single game. There a few obvious candidates, Frank McGuigan in the 1984 Ulster Final, Peter Canavan in the 1995 All-Ireland Final, Maurice Fitzgerald in the 1997 All-Ireland Final. In a way, these were the defining moments of these players' careers. So if you were to pick one man from every Man of the Match there's ever been, who would it be?

As with a lot of these type of discussions, backs rarely get a mention and I don't expect them too get many mentions here either. But if there are any, fire away.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:The likes of Mick O'Connell, Sean Purcell, Jack O'Shea, Peter Canavan and Ciaran McDonald are widely regarded as the games' greatest Gaelic Footballers.

But I've often wondered what player has produced the best individual display of football over the course of seventy minutes in a single game. There a few obvious candidates, Frank McGuigan in the 1984 Ulster Final, Peter Canavan in the 1995 All-Ireland Final, Maurice Fitzgerald in the 1997 All-Ireland Final. In a way, these were the defining moments of these players' careers. So if you were to pick one man from every Man of the Match there's ever been, who would it be?

As with a lot of these type of discussions, backs rarely get a mention and I don't expect them too get many mentions here either. But if there are any, fire away.

Loyal thats a myth canavan 95- couldn't put him in there what did he score from play..

Its tough to pick 1 for 70 mins.

Paraic Joyce 2001 All-Ireland Final

mossbags wrote:Paraic Joyce 2001 All-Ireland Final

Think loyal said 70 mins

mossbags wrote:Paraic Joyce 2001 All-Ireland Final

I thought you'd give him a mention. As good and all as he was that day, I think his overall performance is a small bit over-rated.

It must be said that whilst marking Darren Fay, he scored one point from a free and as a whole, played quite poorly in the first half. When switched to the corner for the second half, he went on fire against an under-par Mark O'Reilly. It was a tactically astute move from O'Mahony knowing that Fay would never leave the edge of the square.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:

mossbags wrote:Paraic Joyce 2001 All-Ireland Final
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I thought you'd give him a mention. As good and all as he was that day, I think his overall performance is a small bit over-rated.

It must be said that whilst marking Darren Fay, he scored one point from a free and as a whole, played quite poorly in the first half. When switched to the corner for the second half, he went on fire against an under-par Mark O'Reilly. It was a tactically astute move from O'Mahony knowing that Fay would never leave the edge of the square.

The devil is in the details loyal, as I explained to you the last time we debated this over a year ago. On the other hand the truth never lies

All-Ireland Final 2001
Good Guys 0-17 Meath 0-8
Paraic Joyce 0-10,
God is good

Graham Geraghty 1996 All Ireland Semi-Final Unreal.

AnMhí7 wrote:Graham Geraghty 1996 All Ireland Semi-Final Unreal.

Touchy subject on this forum RoyalGirl.

Who stood on who's head?

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:

AnMhí7 wrote:Graham Geraghty 1996 All Ireland Semi-Final Unreal.

Touchy subject on this forum RoyalGirl.

Who stood on who's head?

Think Big John may have lightly touched Brian Dooher's head with his boot and Dooher just made a big deal out of it

mossbags wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:

mossbags wrote:Paraic Joyce 2001 All-Ireland Final
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I thought you'd give him a mention. As good and all as he was that day, I think his overall performance is a small bit over-rated.

It must be said that whilst marking Darren Fay, he scored one point from a free and as a whole, played quite poorly in the first half. When switched to the corner for the second half, he went on fire against an under-par Mark O'Reilly. It was a tactically astute move from O'Mahony knowing that Fay would never leave the edge of the square.

The devil is in the details loyal, as I explained to you the last time we debated this over a year ago. On the other hand the truth never lies

All-Ireland Final 2001
Good Guys 0-17 Meath 0-8
Paraic Joyce 0-10,
God is good

Bit childish moss bags loyal asked for 70 mins not 35...

Loyal will take what he gets round here young 'un, don't you be worrying about it.

mossbags wrote:Loyal will take what he gets round here young 'un, don't you be worrying about it.

i ain't worried

Maurice Fitz 1997 final v Mayo. sheer class.

mullins wrote: "Loyal thats a myth canavan 95- couldn't put him in there what did he score from play...

I'd agree with that Mullins. Canavan kicked his frees brilliantly that way (many won due to fouls on himself), but Tyrone had so little possession in midifield Dublin were able to smother him and he wasn't able to get on the ball as much in open play. His performance in destroying Derry's Keiran McKeever in the Ulster Semi-final that year was much better. Would side with Loyal on the Joyce issue, that it was as much O'Mahony outfoxing Boylan as anything, as Fay had him very well shackled in the first half.

Best I have seen live would be Pat Spillane '86 v Tyrone. Maurice Fitzgerald '97 v Mayo. Frank McGuigan v Armagh in '84, and his son v Kerry in 2005. Would also throw in Mickey Linden v Derry in 1994, as the perfect example of corner forward play. Best 20 minutes would be Colm O'Rourke's cameo in the 1991 All-Ireland final.

Best defensive performaces that I've seen live would be McGeeney v Kerry in 2002, or Martin O'Connell v Cork in 1988 replay.

Best
Frank McGuigan 1984

Best in an AI final
Shay Fahy 1990

Best on a losing team in an AI final
Bernard Flynn 1991

Best Donegal Performances

Tommy Ryan Ulster final 1992
Colm Anthony McFadden v Tyrone 2004

Enda Gormley in the 93 All Ireland, not 70 mins but definately a brilliant 50 odd, thanks to Niall Cahalan!!

I'm often told about Jimmy Barry in 73' against Galway.

The best performances i have seen would be:

Stephen Oneill against Armagh in 2005 Ulster final (10 points)

Oisin McConville against Kerry in 2000 semi final (1-9, 1-6 from play of Moynihan)

Oisin against Down in 1999 ulster final. (2-7, a record that still stands)

Eugene Mc Kenna All Ireland s/f v Galway 1986

One of the best I've seen in the flesh was the Gooch against Mayo in the '04 final. That goal he scored was absolutely brilliant.

Ger Cavlan. 1996 all Ireland semi final.

patrique wrote:Ger Cavlan. 1996 all Ireland semi final.

I was going to include that one Patrique, but felt I may have been biased. An outstanding performance by a 20 year old on a side that was being completely outplayed and out-hit.

Enda McManus lashed out and kicked him from behind (off-the-ball) after about 60 minutes, and Cavlan struggled with injuries for a long time after that, but his point scoring was awesome for the first hour.

Surely this has to go to Patrique? GTs greatest ever player and a legend of the GAA.

pick any game canavan played from 1994 to 2000 he carried the whole county on his back at that time andwas vary nearly the first man to win an allireland on his own. if he only had cush half fit we would have won , or paul donnelly picked to start C redmond wouldnt have acted the b0llix with baldie paulie about.