Top 20 hurlers of all time

20. Davy Fitzgerald - Clare
19. JJ Delaney - Kilkenny
18. Nicky English - Tipperary
17. Eddie Brennan - Kilkenny
16. Ger Henderson - Kilkenny
15. Joe Cooney - Galway
14. Lory Meagher - Kilkenny
13. Brian Whelehan - Offaly
12. John Doyle - Tipperary
11. Jack Lynch - Cork
10. Ray Cummins - Cork
9. Eddie Keher - Kilkenny
8. Jimmy Doyle - Tipperary
7. Tommy Walsh - Kilkenny
6. Nicky Rackard - Wexford
5. Jimmy Barry Murphy - Cork
4. Mick Mackey - Limerick
3. Henry Sheflin - Kilkenny
2. Christy Ring - Cork
1. DJ Carey - Kilkenny

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:20. Davy Fitzgerald - Clare
19. JJ Delaney - Kilkenny
18. Nicky English - Tipperary
17. Eddie Brennan - Kilkenny
16. Ger Henderson - Kilkenny
15. Joe Cooney - Galway
14. Lory Meagher - Kilkenny
13. Brian Whelehan - Offaly
12. John Doyle - Tipperary
11. Jack Lynch - Cork
10. Ray Cummins - Cork
9. Eddie Keher - Kilkenny
8. Jimmy Doyle - Tipperary
7. Tommy Walsh - Kilkenny
6. Nicky Rackard - Wexford
5. Jimmy Barry Murphy - Cork
4. Mick Mackey - Limerick
3. Henry Sheflin - Kilkenny
2. Christy Ring - Cork
1. DJ Carey - Kilkenny

I'll have to take the highlighted on historical reference, although the placings of Ring, Mackey and Rackard looks about right. The front three are therefore spot on.
This will need thought, as the inclusions of Ray Cummins, Nicky English and Davy Fitzgerald, while worthy of consideration, may not warrant inclusion in the final adjudication...

How can you have a list of the 20 greatest hurlers and not include Jimmy Smyth. This list has no credability

Always a hard topic when you have to grade players you have never seen by virtue of their legend
Others who may be worth a mention Iggy clarke, Fan Larkin, Joe Hennessy and in my view one of the classiest hurlers ever - Tony O Sullivan

The Puke wrote:How can you have a list of the 20 greatest hurlers and not include Jimmy Smyth. This list has no credability

Reasonable (for once) observation. Smyth to replace Cummins with John Connolly and Ciaran Carey replacing English and Fitzgerald.
Cue howls for Brian Lohan to double the Banner representation...

Boxtyeater wrote:

The Puke wrote:How can you have a list of the 20 greatest hurlers and not include Jimmy Smyth. This list has no credability

Reasonable (for once) observation. Smyth to replace Cummins with John Connolly and Ciaran Carey replacing English and Fitzgerald.
Cue howls for Brian Lohan to double the Banner representation...

Sean McMahon was a far superior hurler to Ciaran Carey who was vastly overrated. A very limited hurler from Clonlara took him for 2 points a few years ago in a challenge match v Patrickswell

The Puke wrote:

Boxtyeater wrote:

The Puke wrote:How can you have a list of the 20 greatest hurlers and not include Jimmy Smyth. This list has no credability

Reasonable (for once) observation. Smyth to replace Cummins with John Connolly and Ciaran Carey replacing English and Fitzgerald.
Cue howls for Brian Lohan to double the Banner representation...

Sean McMahon was a far superior hurler to Ciaran Carey who was vastly overrated. A very limited hurler from Clonlara took him for 2 points a few years ago in a challenge match v Patrickswell

Clonlara is awash with limited hurlers and Carey was surely 43 at the time ...As you might say yourself "Christ Almighty".....

Boxtyeater wrote:

The Puke wrote:

Boxtyeater wrote:

The Puke wrote:How can you have a list of the 20 greatest hurlers and not include Jimmy Smyth. This list has no credability

Reasonable (for once) observation. Smyth to replace Cummins with John Connolly and Ciaran Carey replacing English and Fitzgerald.
Cue howls for Brian Lohan to double the Banner representation...

Sean McMahon was a far superior hurler to Ciaran Carey who was vastly overrated. A very limited hurler from Clonlara took him for 2 points a few years ago in a challenge match v Patrickswell

Clonlara is awash with limited hurlers and Carey was surely 43 at the time ...As you might say yourself "Christ Almighty".....

Carey was deemed good enough to be the full back for the limerick intermediate team in the year in which I took him for two points

So you're giving Carey the nod then....Excellent.

Boxtyeater wrote:So you're giving Carey the nod then....Excellent.

No he was vastly overrated, a very good hurler but nowhere near the best of all time and I would rate the likes of McMahon and Whelahan as far superior hurlers of the same vintage. Carey's legacy is padded by his excellent point in the 1996 game against Clare yet it completely papered over the fact that he was distinctly average that day and Gary Kirby kept Limerick in that match for 50 odd minutes on his own. Once Ollie Baker was taken out of it by Mike Houlahan only then did Limerick get a grip on the game with the likes of Barry Foley making a huge impact off the bench as well. Brian Lohan also gave a masterclass that day

I'm surprised that you haven't attacked the nominees with more vigour, given your acceptable recognition of Lohan's * qualities...

* Brian, not your one-eyed dog mind.

Boxtyeater wrote:I'm surprised that you haven't attacked the nominees with more vigour, given your acceptable recognition of Lohan's * qualities...

* Brian, not your one-eyed dog mind.

I wouldn't waste my time with two jinnets, one of which who thinks Ciaran Carey is one of the 20 greatest hurlers ever to play the game and another who didn't even include Jimmy Smyth on the list yet include Davy Fitz despite the fact he isn't even the greatest keeper Clare have produced

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:20. Davy Fitzgerald - Clare
19. JJ Delaney - Kilkenny
18. Nicky English - Tipperary
17. Eddie Brennan - Kilkenny
16. Ger Henderson - Kilkenny
15. Joe Cooney - Galway
14. Lory Meagher - Kilkenny
13. Brian Whelehan - Offaly
12. John Doyle - Tipperary
11. Jack Lynch - Cork
10. Ray Cummins - Cork
9. Eddie Keher - Kilkenny
8. Jimmy Doyle - Tipperary
7. Tommy Walsh - Kilkenny
6. Nicky Rackard - Wexford
5. Jimmy Barry Murphy - Cork
4. Mick Mackey - Limerick
3. Henry Sheflin - Kilkenny
2. Christy Ring - Cork
1. DJ Carey - Kilkenny

Would not have Carey in top 5 never mind 1. Number 20 is a clear joke. Some excellent names there though.

I would have english in top 10 and carey in on the list.

Great players, leaders and inspirational at times.