Best footballer I ever saw ....

Talking live games here - and unfortunately I go back a bit further than a lot of you (except Jim !) Who is the player that stands out for you? Who is the guy that you would have paid money just to see him alone - if you know what I mean. Who is the guy (if not one of your own) that you wished was wearing your county's jersey? Who is the guy that made it all look easy? Who is the guy that you would show the kids and say - that's how to play the game.

I am not sure myself yet and am thinking about it - so make your case. Guys who fall tick the boxes of most of the questions answered above are Padraig Joyce, Graham Geraghty, Stephen McDonnell and Gooch. Not surprisingly they are all forwards. Not unusual for forwards to be the 'entertainers'. But there have been some wonderfully natural players at the back too - Paul Curran, Mc Geeney.

But there are lots of others so make our case!

McDonnell use to be able to kick points without looking at the posts. He dosent do that anymore, its ever since he became a dad. Bloody distractions!!

Would it not be "Best footballer I ever seen"???? Tenses can be confusing but its seen not saw, is it not?

Ollie Murphy, Jody Devine, Evan Kelly, Jimmy McGuinness and Graham Geraghty were my favourites from Meath. But the best was possibly Trevor Giles, well in my opinion, he was very very good for sure. His passing and vision were something else, he used to see things only he could see. His 50 yard pass for Ollie Murphy's goal in the 1999 Leinster Final almost defined him. Darren Fay worth a mention too.

Gooch is class for Kerry outside of Meath as was Dessie Dolan for Westmeath. They would be my two other favourites. I liked Jim Gavin from Dublin a lot too, arguably my most favourite dub.

I'd say it would have to be Padraic Joyce. Galways best footballer of the last 30 years.

I am happy to leave 'I ever saw' - and I was gonna name check TG who is also in my mix but I couldn't have 2 Royals so I name checked GG to brighten up your afternoon!

ps Thread is a tribute to a book called 'The Best Player I Never Saw'.

Firstly i have to say I don't rate Joyce as highly as some of you - a gifted footballer but one i would have classed as lazy.

As far as the best i saw - it's hard to call, i know its predictable but Canavan would have to get a mention others would include Giles, Greg Blaney, James Mc Cartan, Mickey Linden, Anthony Tohill Brian Mc Gilligan Eugene Mc Kenna Barney Rock.

Brian Stafford is another

hard to separate them to be honest

joyce, canty, corkery, mattie forde,maurice fitz, cairan mc donald

Remember Trevor Giles used to cut the sleeves off his shirt like he was playing Aussie rules.

Peter Canavan would be the stand-out for me. The best finisher I've ever seen and tough as nails with more skills in his arsonry than most teams have collectively.
Maurice Fitzgerald and the Gooch also spring immidiatly to mind and as defenders go I would rate Seamus Moinaghan and Darren Fay way up there.
As for my native county Paraic Joyce is the one whos been up there with the best of them for so long now and if anything is playing some of his best football currently. The man is simply pure class and Liam Sammon faces a dillema I feel this year as in how to get the most out of PJ with some arguing he should swap him with Meehan at full forward. Not entirely convinced myself as part of Joyces roll at the center is in creating moves and distribution which he does better than anyone else in the country imo.
Mikey Donnelan was another truly great player back in the late 90s, early 00s, one who is represants fully the truth of that saying 'worth the admission price alone'. No one could match him in full flight and was possibly the best kicker of the ball I've ever seen.
Tomás Mannion was the best defender Iv'e seen play for Galway, Great player, and Kevin Walsh the best midfielder by some distance.

Age can be beneficial at times - hence I can say the greatest I've ever seen has been Séan Purcell of Galway. This guy had absolutley everything. Two-footed, fielding ability par-excellence, vision, power and a true on-field leader.
He had an ability that he shared with Mick O'Connell, in that he could soar for a catch
and land running toward the opponents goal before others knew what was going on.

Slightly before my time Boxty - but consistently touted as one of the all time greats!

I always felt that Ciaran McDonald was the most naturally gifted player in recent times, but I don't think he's ever been consistent enough to be ranked as an all-time great.

The best player I've seen would have to be McGeeney, he had solid ability, but his work-rate determination and leadership puts him above the others in my opinion. He's the closest thing to Roy Keane that I've seen on a GAA pitch

maurice fitzgerald is the best forward i ever seen

Geezer or tony scullion the best defender

I'm sure few will agree with me on this but Mark Grimley was the greatest fielder of a ball i ever seen. Although the Most complete midfielder would probably go to Jack o Shea.

Kieran Mc Keever Derry was another great defender - Canavan never got any change out of him

that tells me more about Canavan than it does about McKeever, never got much out of Enda McNulty either. Not trying to wind you up but i always thought Canavan was overrated (to be fair probably in later stages of career) 95 he was unreal.

Samin10 thats a fair point and I respect your opinion - I wouldnt say Canavan was over rated, at the end of the day he was a hell of a footballer but i often thought he got maybe too much credit at times - it was almost as if Tyrone football revolved around him and him only and for years it was perhaps our downfall.

He certainly was a very good footballer and was always up there with the best but i always thought there was too much made of everything he did. Another player might do the same thing and commentators never mentions it. Canavan did it and it was the greatest bit of skill ever witnessed. If i see that 21 yard free kick that he scored against us in 2005 one more time ill scream. He was certainly an excellent player but by 2005 i was far more worried about facing ONeill, Mulligan and Cavanagh than i ever was about him,

Maurice Fitz by a mile!

Was never so happy as the day he retired!!!!!

I remember the London Galway game in the 2009 C'ship. Galway were winning well at half time and London introduced this Ronaldo lookalike (the Portuguese one) at half time. He played in attack and his name was Mac!!! He scored 3-8 .... amazing ....