14. Full forward

Who will ye pick as runner up to Jimmy Keaveney?

I think you would have to put Padraic Joyce here. A big game player who rarely goes missing on the big day.

Matt Connor (Offaly).

I think ye have to accomodate Sean Cavanagh somewhere so I'd nominate him here.

Frank Mcguigan

Where to start on this one. Well, Keaveney, as Jayo started, Liston, Connor, McGuigan, Tony Boyle, Canavan, Joyce, Donaghy, O'Neill.

As he has to be in somewhere I'd go for Canavan here. Oh, and also because I think he was the best full-forward the game has seen.

Much as it goes against the grain and avoiding (in this instance) completely bygone days, I'll nominate Tony McManus of Roscommon...

Yeah, I thought of McManus Boxty, and was going to suggest him in the corner. Very good footballer even though, as you say, he is from Roscommon!

Thomas Clarke wrote:Yeah, I thought of McManus Boxty, and was going to suggest him in the corner. Very good footballer even though, as you say, he is from Roscommon!

Thanks TC...The sight of the hoor warming up was enough to cause dis-integration in our ranks and the audible "groans" from our followers compounded the issue. But a clever,cute and plucky bugger with a talent for green flags....

Thomas Clarke wrote:Where to start on this one. Well, Keaveney, as Jayo started, Liston, Connor, McGuigan, Tony Boyle, Canavan, Joyce, Donaghy, O'Neill.

As he has to be in somewhere I'd go for Canavan here. Oh, and also because I think he was the best full-forward the game has seen.

I note - as a Tyrone man you don't list Sean C here TC. Elsewhere perhaps - or not good enough? I wd have to have SC on my team - and 14 wd be the position I'd take. Despite some excellent ones above.

The experts give us Tom Langan and Sean O'Neill.

In recent times we have the new style full forward, started by O'Neill I suppose, encompassing Canavan and Joyce and others.

I personally loved watching Tony Boyle, and Donaghy is great, but he could play mid field or centre half or whatever.

As a combination of the old fashioned edge of square big lump of a fella and the new play maker version, it must be the Bomber.

He, more than anyone, was the difference between Kerry and the Dubs. Once he arrived, the Dubs were done for.

patrique wrote:
He, more than anyone, was the difference between Kerry and the Dubs. Once he arrived, the Dubs were done for.

Good point P - not the most gracious player - graceful I should say - but damned effective!

Jayo Cluxton wrote: I note - as a Tyrone man you don't list Sean C here TC. Elsewhere perhaps - or not good enough? I wd have to have SC on my team - and 14 wd be the position I'd take. Despite some excellent ones above.

He wouldn't be anywhere near my team Jayo, in any position.

He can't be considered for midfield, as he doesn't play as a traditional midfielder, gets lost when playing at wing-forward (most of 2005) and, in my opinion, isn't as good as most of the others mentioned here at FF. Also worth noting that he has also benefited from playing in an excellent side that is set up to give him the freedom to attack.

That probably sounds harsh, but I'm of the belief that Sean Cavanagh should be contributing more than he does. He should be the finest footballer in Ireland, but (aside from a couple of good games in 2008) his form has been poor over the last 3-4 years. He lets niggly opponents put him off his stride, and his work rate has dropped off from where it was 2003-5. I also think his no-show against Cork probably cost us an all-ireland this year.

Excellent footballer, but still question marks. Has the potential to be one of the all-time greats, but definitely not yet.

Harsh TC - IMO. I would have him in an Arnotts Vodafone jersey anyday!

Don't get me wrong Jayo, he is a very important player to Tyrone, but not an all-time great for me at this stage.

Maybe if I put it this way, if I was picking the best Tyrone side I ever saw, never mind an all-ireland side, Cavanagh would just about make it.

Donaghy & McKenna were better midfielders, Dooher & Brian McGuigan would be better at 10 & 11, Frank McGuigan better at FF, and Canavan & O'Neill would be better options in the corner. Really would only leave No.12 to accomodate him, and even that isn't his best position.

Although, that would have been quite a side!

no mention for Vinny Murphy????

or Brian Stafford - always had a lot of time for this man even though he was from Meath (spit)

Thomas Clarke wrote:Don't get me wrong Jayo, he is a very important player to Tyrone, but not an all-time great for me at this stage.

TC - good post - know exactly what you're saying and therein lies the conudrum! SC has been asked to fit into various roles over the years - very successfully mostly. As such he may have become a 'Jack of all trades, etc' ... Maybe his versatility goes against him then?

vering off the topic a bit but with the forward line that TC named for tyrone what about his own club man ? Gerard Cavlan who has been dogged (sorry couldnt resist) by his problems but was actually a very skilfull footballer who could field with the best of them for no12 ?

i dunno about sean c def one of our best players but suffers from not having a settled position to call his own.

redhandman wrote:vering off the topic a bit but with the forward line that TC named for tyrone what about his own club man ? Gerard Cavlan who has been dogged (sorry couldnt resist) by his problems but was actually a very skilfull footballer who could field with the best of them for no12 ?

Most Tyrone people would agree that Cavlan was the biggest talent we produced since Frank McGuigan. From an attacking perspective, he had everything and, to choose someone of a similar age and playing style, I'd rate him as more naturally gifted than Trevor Giles.

Gerard's biggest problem was always his lack of self-confidence. Even with the club he was actually quiet and shy in the dressing room, almost an outsider, and I think that extended onto the field of play, particularly with Tyrone.

He is now retired with one all-ireland medal (it should have been 3, or even 4 had Art McRory brought him on against Dublin in the 1995 final), but in 20 years time he won't be rememberred by people the way O'Neill, Canavan, Dooher, Mulligan etc will. Shame, as I got more enjoyment out of watching Cavo than any other player.

Cavlan was immense against Meath in 1996, after the others had been "taken out".

Always rated him highly.

Cavanagh, looks great, great runner with the ball, accurate and yet..........?

Something lacking there.

And he is not a full forward.

bit round the middle ... holds the guts?