Team of the Decade

Hold on, hold on! Before anyone thinks this is yet another Kerry/Tyrone argument, see below from an online poll:

1 S Cluxton (Dublin)
2 R McMenamin (Tyrone)
3 F Bellew (Armagh)
4 M O Sé (Kerry)
5 S Og De Paor (Galway)
6 K McGeeney (Armagh)
7 S Moynihan (Kerry)
8 S Cavanagh (Tyrone)
9 D O Sé (Kerry)
10 O McConville (Armagh)
11 C McDonald (Mayo)
12 G Geraghty (Meath)
13 C Cooper (Kerry)
14 P Joyce (Galway)
15 P Canavan (Tyrone)

Now ceist uimhir a haon - how in the name of God is Tomás O Sé not on the team??? Most people would have him as their player of the decade! De Paor to lose out for me.

Francie Bellew - the best full back of the decade?! Hmmmm.

Dooher and possibly Galvin losing out in the half forward line?

Thoughts people???

That's the trouble when you ask the public to vote for anything - you get a result like that.

I agree with you about Bellew, quite possibly the most over-rated footballer of the decade who was fortunate enough to play full-back in a side that normally played with 2 centre-backs. For me, Barry Owens was the outstanding full-back of the decade, just as Darren Fay was in the 90s.

De Paor was very good, but I wouldn't have him ahead of O'Se or Jordan, and Conor Gormley must also be unlucky to miss out as he could play in any of the 6 defensive positions. Canty & Lynch would also be worthy additions here.

Dooher should have been a cert at right half forward, as he poduced the goods in almost every big match he played in. McDonald & Geraghty could also be replaced by either Brian McGuigan or Declan O'Sullivan.

And Canavan, who always makes these teams, was past his incomparable best by the turn of the decade - the finest footballer of the 90s, but he wouldn't be on my team of the noughties.

Thomas Clarke wrote:That's the trouble when you ask the public to vote for anything - you get a result like that.

I agree with you about Bellew, quite possibly the most over-rated footballer of the decade who was fortunate enough to play full-back in a side that normally played with 2 centre-backs. For me, Barry Owens was the outstanding full-back of the decade, just as Darren Fay was in the 90s.

De Paor was very good, but I wouldn't have him ahead of O'Se or Jordan, and Conor Gormley must also be unlucky to miss out as he could play in any of the 6 defensive positions. Canty & Lynch would also be worthy additions here.

Dooher should have been a cert at right half forward, as he poduced the goods in almost every big match he played in. McDonald & Geraghty could also be replaced by either Brian McGuigan or Declan O'Sullivan.

And Canavan, who always makes these teams, was past his incomparable best by the turn of the decade - the finest footballer of the 90s, but he wouldn't be on my team of the noughties.

Completely agree with you about all of the above, bar the bit in bold. You were obviously referring to Canavan as the finest footballer of the 90s, bar Maurice.

As for McGuigan/O' Sullivan, I don't know much about McGuigan only from what I've been told and seen in very recent years, but I'm not that much of a fan of O' Sullivan either. Geraghty or McDonald would get the nod ahead of those two for me.

3inarow08 wrote:
Completely agree with you about all of the above, bar the bit in bold. You were obviously referring to Canavan as the finest footballer of the 90s, bar Maurice.

Maurice was the most gifted, certainly, but for consistency of end product and leadership, I'd take Canavan. I was always a massive Fitzgerald fan, even during the days in the early 90s when a lot of people questioned his ability to deliver when it mattered, but I still think Canavan, at his peak of 94-96, was as good a forward as we have seen in the modern era.

Thomas Clarke wrote:

Maurice was the most gifted, certainly, but for consistency of end product and leadership, I'd take Canavan. I was always a massive Fitzgerald fan, even during the days in the early 90s when a lot of people questioned his ability to deliver when it mattered, but I still think Canavan, at his peak of 94-96, was as good a forward as we have seen in the modern era.

You always try and beat me in a debate by talking sense!

Fitzy for me for ever and always, however.

personally i think Moynihan is one of the most overrated players of all time. He was good and thats about it.

Gormley the same, Francie has more than his fair share of critics for fouling etc. I have yet to see a more obvious display of fouling in my life as Gormely against Clarke last year. He should have been gone about half an hour before he actually was sent off.

Sean Cavanagh at midfield? Rubbish, a cert for team of the decade but the vast majority of his work is carried out in the half forwards. If he is such a good midfielder then why do Tyrone pack the midfield so much, ill tell you why because they know he cannot compete against the top midfielders.

anyway here goes.

1. Cluxton
2. McMenamin
3. Canty or bellew
4. Lacey
5. Tomas O Se (player of the decade)
6. McGeeney
7. Jordan rrrrrrrrrrrrrr
8. OSe
9. McGrane
10. Dooher
11. Cavanagh
12. McConville
13. Gooch
14. Clarke
15. ONeill

No Padraig Joyce Samin?

Not to mind the Players of the year from 2006 (Kieran Donaghy), 2007 (Marc O Se) or 2009 (Paul Galvin).

Tomas O'Se missing is a joke.

Personally I would also have Jordan on any team I picked from the decade.

I had a bit of time for Francie, but not at this level, and certainly not Oisin McConville.

patrique wrote:certainly not Oisin McConville.

Please explain as to why not...

Oisin Mcconville to me was a free taker, not a bad forward, but mainly a free taker. Marsden to me was Armagh's most effective forward, and Stevie Mac and Clarke would be better from open play than Oisin.

A good player no doubt, but not on a team of the decade.

3inarow08 wrote:No Padraig Joyce Samin?

Not to mind the Players of the year from 2006 (Kieran Donaghy), 2007 (Marc O Se) or 2009 (Paul Galvin).

Any selection of "team of the decade" that excludes Joyce is fundamentally flawed.....This effort therefor is null and void..

I agree with Patrique on McConville, having always found him difficult to rate as one of the very best forwards in the Country.

If you assess McConville's career in its entirity, you will see huge score tally's, remarkable consistency and countless big scores. However, I if we are talking about the absolute best in the business over the last decade, then I think that the stats are somewhat misleading.

I mean, I don't think McConville was ever as remotely as good as Stevie O'Neill at his best, or even Mattie Forde or Declan Browne. To take it a notch down, I wouldn't have feared McConville on the opposition teamsheet as much as Stevie McDonnell, Benny Coulter or Paddy Bradley, and it is even doubtful that he was ever as brilliant as Eoin Mulligan was in August/Sept 2005. Yet he outscored all those guys over the last 15 years, hence the dilemna I've always had when rating him.

Overall, I'd have McConville down as a very good inter-county forward (and a great club forward) who had a great career, but I don't think he was ever amongst the absolute best forwards in Ireland, the guys that could beat you on their own when on song.

Thomas Clarke wrote:I agree with Patrique on McConville, having always found him difficult to rate as one of the very best forwards in the Country.

If you assess McConville's career in its entirity, you will see huge score tally's, remarkable consistency and countless big scores. However, I if we are talking about the absolute best in the business over the last decade, then I think that the stats are somewhat misleading.

I mean, I don't think McConville was ever as remotely as good as Stevie O'Neill at his best, or even Mattie Forde or Declan Browne. To take it a notch down, I wouldn't have feared McConville on the opposition teamsheet as much as Stevie McDonnell, Benny Coulter or Paddy Bradley, and it is even doubtful that he was ever as brilliant as Eoin Mulligan was in August/Sept 2005. Yet he outscored all those guys over the last 15 years, hence the dilemna I've always had when rating him.

Overall, I'd have McConville down as a very good inter-county forward (and a great club forward) who had a great career, but I don't think he was ever amongst the absolute best forwards in Ireland, the guys that could beat you on their own when on song.

That my friend to use one of your beloved flowers up there is poppy cock.
McConville could beat you on his own he knocked over the frees and really punished you if you transgressed against any team he was on.
Teams of years/decades etc are all subjective and very rarely you will get people agreeing on them.
to cut to the chase those that get to wear and continue to wear those county geansai's deserve respect instead of this that and the other.
Highest scorer in the ulster inter county champ and club champ missed feck all I would have him any day

JimWexford wrote:

Thomas Clarke wrote:I agree with Patrique on McConville, having always found him difficult to rate as one of the very best forwards in the Country.

If you assess McConville's career in its entirity, you will see huge score tally's, remarkable consistency and countless big scores. However, I if we are talking about the absolute best in the business over the last decade, then I think that the stats are somewhat misleading.

I mean, I don't think McConville was ever as remotely as good as Stevie O'Neill at his best, or even Mattie Forde or Declan Browne. To take it a notch down, I wouldn't have feared McConville on the opposition teamsheet as much as Stevie McDonnell, Benny Coulter or Paddy Bradley, and it is even doubtful that he was ever as brilliant as Eoin Mulligan was in August/Sept 2005. Yet he outscored all those guys over the last 15 years, hence the dilemna I've always had when rating him.

Overall, I'd have McConville down as a very good inter-county forward (and a great club forward) who had a great career, but I don't think he was ever amongst the absolute best forwards in Ireland, the guys that could beat you on their own when on song.

That my friend to use one of your beloved flowers up there is poppy cock.
McConville could beat you on his own he knocked over the frees and really punished you if you transgressed against any team he was on.
Teams of years/decades etc are all subjective and very rarely you will get people agreeing on them.
to cut to the chase those that get to wear and continue to wear those county geansai's deserve respect instead of this that and the other.
Highest scorer in the ulster inter county champ and club champ missed feck all I would have him any day

Jim he was a dead ball specialist - but give him a ball and ask him to take on a few defenders or make something out of nothing and his success rate was poor. Mark Harte was great from dead balls too, would i have him in my team - definitely not

Most of the time Oisin didnt have to take on defenders he would put the ball over their heads. McDonnell in his day didnt even have to look at the posts, he would have a defender on his back and still kick scores.

If memory serves me correctly, Oisin had brilliant accuracy, 2005 ulster final first match he pin pointed McDonnell and placed the ball literally in his hands and did the same again 5 minutes later.

Every team needs a dead ball specisalist, if Fermanagh had one a few seasons ago they would have had their first Ulster championship by now.

I would love to see Oisin come back, Armagh havent been hammered out of the championship in past few seasons (apart from the 2006 Kerry match). The 2008 match against Wexford, he would have made the difference but McDonnell was an arsehole that day and brought on a defender did he not?

dead ball specialist what team doesn't carry one.
The reason why they are worth there weight in gold and sorry he has proved himself over a nd over again.
a lot of people seem to have missed the name TEAM of the decade.
A team is not made up of 15 flair players because if it was the wouldn't be worth a sh8t soccer teams have proved this in the past.
You need a shot stopper as well as a dead ball specialist as well.
Hence as the top scorer from frees etc he has more than proved his worth, and more than justified his position on any team selected in the land

Thomas Clarke wrote:I agree with Patrique on McConville, having always found him difficult to rate as one of the very best forwards in the Country.

If you assess McConville's career in its entirity, you will see huge score tally's, remarkable consistency and countless big scores. However, I if we are talking about the absolute best in the business over the last decade, then I think that the stats are somewhat misleading.

I mean, I don't think McConville was ever as remotely as good as Stevie O'Neill at his best, or even Mattie Forde or Declan Browne. To take it a notch down, I wouldn't have feared McConville on the opposition teamsheet as much as Stevie McDonnell, Benny Coulter or Paddy Bradley, and it is even doubtful that he was ever as brilliant as Eoin Mulligan was in August/Sept 2005. Yet he outscored all those guys over the last 15 years, hence the dilemna I've always had when rating him.

Overall, I'd have McConville down as a very good inter-county forward (and a great club forward) who had a great career, but I don't think he was ever amongst the absolute best forwards in Ireland, the guys that could beat you on their own when on song.

Post of the year, by a full solid mile....*
*Wer'e still in the nougties then...

Every team does indeed need a free taker, and if we look at the rest of the "team of the decade" well Cooper, Joyce or Canavan can hit the frees.

Most Armagh people I know always thought Marsden was special, and then stevie Mac, and then Clarke and Oisin. John McEntee as well, but he played a different role.

But was Oisin better than say Kevin Madden, leading scorer in the national league year after year? And no-one would even think about having Kevin on a team of the decade, fine player and all that he was.

But if I think solely about Ulster forwards in the decade, from the big two, well Oisin would be well down my list.

NFL vs Championship football Partique, there isnt a comparison. Look and Ryan Henderson, scored 4 goals in his opening NFL game and never played any part in the championship.

Actually he might have got 5 minutes against Monaghan.

just a dead ball specialist?

2-4 from play in an ulster final (a record)

1-6 from play against seamus moynihan in all-ireland semi final.

goal that got armagh back into game in all ireland final

not bad for a man being carried to take frees

JimWexford wrote:
to cut to the chase those that get to wear and continue to wear those county geansai's deserve respect instead of this that and the other.

I'm pretty sure if you re-read what I posted you'll see that I have a lot of respect for McConville. In fact, I was very complimentary about him. But I don't rate him as good as McDonnell as several other tops forwards over the last decade ( including a couple of his own team-mates).

sammin 2-4 in an ulster final is not a record 0-11 all from play five off the right five off the left and a fisted one for good measure is a record.

redhandman wrote:sammin 2-4 in an ulster final is not a record 0-11 all from play five off the right five off the left and a fisted one for good measure is a record.

you're right. The 2-7 is a record not all from play though

Thomas Clarke wrote:

JimWexford wrote:
to cut to the chase those that get to wear and continue to wear those county geansai's deserve respect instead of this that and the other.

I'm pretty sure if you re-read what I posted you'll see that I have a lot of respect for McConville. In fact, I was very complimentary about him. But I don't rate him as good as McDonnell as several other tops forwards over the last decade ( including a couple of his own team-mates).

TC post wasn't aimed at you in particular.
Hate this sh8t of this lad is better than the other but if they don't play in the same system/team/management very hard to compare me thinks.
How can you say this that and the other about what they would/could might of done.
All this boys(and girls seen as one of us won an all ireland over the last month) play to a set system which can heighten some aspects of there play whilst diminishing others.
Mcconville possibly had more of a free reign with crossmaglen than armagh for instance.

But sure I'm only an ole edjit from loch garman

Slightly off-topic, doesn't Paddy Bradley have some sort of record in Ulster as well? Is he the highest scorer ever in the Ulster Championship? Maybe he's worth a shout in the team as well?