Best Midfield of the last 25 years

Tohill and O/'Se. Found it surprisingly straightforward to pick this one.

RMDrive wrote:Tohill and O/'Se. Found it surprisingly straightforward to pick this one.

I know what you mean, and while I'd also be a big fan of Kevin Walsh, there are several names there who, while very good, are a bit behind the top 2-3.

Tohill and O Sé

O'Se is a given here - just curious what would swing it in Tohills favour over someone like John McDermott?

bocerty wrote:O'Se is a given here - jsut curious what would swing it in Tohills favour over someone like John McDermott?

Bald Eagle might be the man to ask on that one!

For me, Tohill would be first midfielder I'd choose. In comparison to McDermott, I'd give Tohill the edge on speed and skill, certainly if you add the long range free-taking.

Big John was a fine player, but I wouldn't rate him as highly as Walsh, for example.

Tohill & O'Se for me here, although i was close to choosing McDermott to partner Anthony here.

For me the description by TC for Tohill is apt, in my bias opinion he was the greatest midfielder of his generation and he brought a kind of grace to the position, people will point to McGilligan for being his foil but i watched in awe one night as Tohill destroyed Big Brian in the Derry SFL in front of a massive crowd.

A wonderfully professional player and a hell of an all round athlete who people still use as a standard bearer today, only player to come close to wiping his **** in the last 25 years is Dara O'Se, hence my choice.

Tohill and O'Sé for me to.

Would also like to point out that McGrane was a fantastic player and leader he spent a lot of his career in McGeeney's shadow and rarely got the recognition he deserved, in that respect it is a shame he and McGeeney came along at the same time.

GAA-Fan wrote:
Would also like to point out that McGrane was a fantastic player and leader he spent a lot of his career in McGeeney's shadow and rarely got the recognition he deserved, in that respect it is a shame he and McGeeney came along at the same time.

I know what you are saying, although, if they hadn't been around together, Armagh would probably still be waiting on their first All Ireland!

McGrane was a fine minor, but I felt that it took him a long time to become a really top senior player. For instance, in 1999, when Armagh won Ulster, he was far from the dominating force that he went on to become. A few years later, his performance in the 2002 final was magnificent.

I think the famous 'balloon catching' training sessions contributed to the making of McGrane, as he became a very powerful fielder after that. He also grew as a leader and, by the mid noughties, he had become the real driving force behind his team.

You'll never guess: Tohill and O'Sé for me as well. I had these picked in my head Tuesday and was thinking up some colourful eulogies, but both cases have been made already.

Thomas Clarke wrote:

bocerty wrote:O'Se is a given here - jsut curious what would swing it in Tohills favour over someone like John McDermott?

Bald Eagle might be the man to ask on that one!  

For me, Tohill would be first midfielder I'd choose. In comparison to McDermott, I'd give Tohill the edge on speed and skill, certainly if you add the long range free-taking.  

Big John was a fine player, but I wouldn't rate him as highly as Walsh, for example.

Gregory McCartan was a useful midfielder with the long range frees too

bocerty wrote:
Gregory McCartan was a useful midfielder with the long range frees too

I thought he was a brilliant player, Boc, and if I'd been listing the 12 most talented midfielders, he'd certainly have been there. The reason I didn't include him was purely due to lack of consistency - he had a real mid career slump, rumoured to be due to commitment. At his best he could compete with anyone.

Thomas Clarke wrote:

bocerty wrote:
Gregory McCartan was a useful midfielder with the long range frees too

I thought he was a brilliant player, Boc, and if I'd been listing the 12 most talented midfielders, he'd certainly have been there.  The reason I didn't include him was purely due to lack of consistency - he had a real mid career slump, rumoured to be due to commitment.  At his best he could compete with anyone.

He was a favourite of mine too TC a big fella and very useful footballer.

I remember meeting him in a Dublin pub right after the All Ireland win in 2005, he was built like a brick outhouse and a sound lad along with it.

I'm going to go for Anthony Tohill as my first choice here. I rate him as the best midfielder to emerge since Jack O'Shea, and one of the best all around footballers in the last 25 years.

Alongside him I'll choose Dara O'Se to edge out Kevin Walsh. McGrane would have been next. On talent, though this is not supported by accomplishments, Niall Buckley would be well up there. He and Tohill were very similar.

Anthony Tohill (Derry) - 1 AI - 4 All Stars - Supreme athlete.  Did everything, even kicking frees

John McDermott (Meath) - 2 AI - 3 All Stars - Engine room of 2 AI sides.  Huge man who ran all day

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:Anthony Tohill (Derry) - 1 AI - 4 All Stars - Supreme athlete.  Did everything, even kicking frees

John McDermott (Meath) - 2 AI - 3 All Stars - Engine room of 2 AI sides.  Huge man who ran all day

A tremendously lucky nominee, never mind a selection.

O' Se and Tohill