8 & 9 - Midfield

Jacko, Mullings, Tohill, Cavanagh - this will be some fun!

Jack O'Se and Anthony Tohill for me. Watching the great Kerrys team of the 70's and 80's was brilliant and O'Se was my dream footbaler at that time. Even as a fairly young lad, I knew I was watching something spectacular.

Tohill is Tohill I suppose. I really like the man off the pitch as well. Soft-spoken and knowledgeable.

Kevin Walsh and Sean Kavanagh for me in the centre. Kavanagh just beats O Se to the other spot.

John McDermott and Tohill

Two players from the same county.

One from Cahirciveen, the other from Valentia Island.

Has to be Jack O'Shea and Mick O'Connell.

Jack O se
John McDermott

The master Brian Mullins the only player to come close to him would be Jack o shea so ill give jack no8..

mullins wrote:The master Brian Mullins the only player to come close to him would be Jack o shea so ill give jack no8..

Being that bit older it has to be Jacko as a stick on and partnered my your good self Mullins for me!

Mullins, McKeever, McGrane, Jack O'Shea, Darragh O'Se, Carolan, the great McAlarney, Mcginnity, McKenna, there are loads of them.

To pretend to be a purist, Mick O'Connell, and the best of them all, Tohill. Immense player.

samin10 wrote:John McDermott and Tohill

I concur. Have yet to see a midfielder as influential as tohill.

And no mentions for McGrane?

this is a tough one as there have been so many down the years I'd probably go for O' Shea (note the spelling lads) and Tohill. Though Cavanagh, Mullins Mc Dermott Anthony Molloy and big Gregory Mc Cartan can all count themselves unlucky not to be included. Mentions also go to Stephen King and Dermot Mc Cabe Plunkett Donaghy and Pascal Canavan

Lots of fine players already mentioned (not sure I'd agree with Pascal being in that company though Boc - as a half-back maybe, but not at midfield!).

My choices here would be Jack O'Shea, still the most complete footballer I have ever seen, and Mullins. Mullins was a colossus for Dublin. Everyone knows of his recovery from a car crash to win his 4th all-ireland, but he also chipped a bone in his foot less that 3 weeks before the 1974 final, but still starred in it. His will was as strong as his body.

The best of the rest for me would be Tohill, followed by Dermot Earley Snr. I was also a big admirer of Niall Buckley, who had just about all the skills that Tohill possessed.

I've always thought John McDermott over-rated.

I dunno TC, Pascal was very rarely outplayed when he did feature at M/F for Tyrone - i think he suffered a bit though from his versatility.

No one mentioned big McHale from Mayo or Shay Fahy from Kildare, sorry i meant Cork

Yeah Boc, Pascal was too versatile for his own good. Always thought wing-half back was his natural position, and he was as good as any Tyrone player I have seen there. In my opinion, he was just too small for midfield, although I agree that he did have some good games there. Fine player though, and a shame he retired in 2002.

McHale was good, but so inconsistent. Outstanding in the drawn final of '96, but rarely dominated like that. I agree with you on Gregory McCartan though, who was so talented, and McCabe also had so much potential. Others not mentioned, well Brian McGilligan was another excellent midfielder, as were McEntee & Hayes of Meath.

Pascal Canavan?

On a serious note, did any of the rest of you ever see Colm McAlarney? a brilliant player.

patrique wrote:Pascal Canavan?

On a serious note, did any of the rest of you ever see Colm McAlarney? a brilliant player.

yes P thats right Pascal Canavan - not the tall imposing midfielder like most mentioned here but a wonderfully gifted footballer with the intelligence many are not blessed with - could handle himself too

Pascal Canavan was an OK player, no doubt about it.

But this discussion is about the best mid fielders.

Reminds me of a conversation back in 1980 with a crowd about the best soccer player we had ever seen. Di Stefano, Pele, Best, Cruff, all had been mentioned, and somebody suddenly threw in Tony Green.

Eugene Mckenna turned out at mid field for Tyrone, great player, Frank at times, Plunkett, and evnen Cavanagh, would all be better than Pascal.

Very surprised that big Brian McGilligian hasn't got a mention, at his peak easily the best midfielder of his time and possibily the reason Anthony Tohill became the best midfielder in Ireland and that we won the All Ireland.

Numerious Derry Championships in football, an Ulster Club Championship, throw in a few National Leagues, Ulster Senior Championships and an All Ireland to boot as well as being the main reason for each of those successes for club and county.

All in all, not bad for a hurler!!

patrique wrote:Pascal Canavan?

On a serious note, did any of the rest of you ever see Colm McAlarney? a brilliant player.

Agreed on McAlarney here Pat...fine player. It must be Jacko and Mullins for me though....

[quote="Boxtyeater"]

patrique wrote:Pascal Canavan?

On a serious note, did any of the rest of you ever see Colm McAlarney? a brilliant player.

Agreed on McAlarney here Pat...fine player. It must be Jacko and Mullins for me though....




Jacko and Mullins yes. But Pascal Canavan, and even McGilligan, someone will be suggesting Frank Fitzimmons next, star of Antrim, Ulster, and Captain of H8 in the Long Kesh championship.