Best footballers since 1970
Cooper, Malone, O’Gorman, Wallace make the grade
IT’S HARD to believe that Wexford has come through the last 50 years and more without a provincial Senior football title – with the most recent success arriving as long ago as 1945.
It’s also a period when Wexford produced just one football All Star, Matty Forde in 2004. The last provincial titles in Minor and Under-21 football were in 1969 and 2011 respectively, with the county having its sole O’Byrne Cup victory in 1995.
It was in the Junior grade that Wexford met with most success since 1970, as six Leinster titles were secured – beating Louth by 0-8 to 0-6 in 1984; Meath by 1-16 to 2-10 in 1992 before adding the All-Ireland crown at Cork’s expense; Dublin by 1-9 to 1-5 in 2000, and again by 1-10 to 1-8 in 2007.
And then there was the double of 2015 and 2016, defeating Meath by 1-10 to 0-12 and Louth by 2-12 to 0-9 respectively
Just to deflect slightly away from the best players of that era, it’s interesting to recall that All-Ireland winning Junior team from 1992, beating Cork by 1-9 to 0-11 in the final in Walsh Park, Waterford:
John Cooper; Seán O’Neill, Tom Gorman, Mick Caulfield; John Casey, John Dunne, Paudge Courtney; Paudge Walsh, Brendan Kavanagh; Jim Byrne, Niall Guinan, Nicky D’Arcy; Seán Dunne, Micheál Furlong, Garry Byrne. Subs. - Michael D’Arcy for S. Dunne, Michael Mahon for M. D’Arcy.
If you had to pick the best 15 footballers of the past 50 years, who would they be?
During that period we’ve seen some excellent sides, packed with individaul quality, but not enough to give us that long-awaited breakthrough at provincial or national level.
It’s not long since we celebrated the centenary of the famous four-in-a-row, since overtaken by Dublin in their historic 2019 campaign.
And it was the Wexford Senior side under the management of Jason Ryan which gave more hope than any other team when reaching the 2008 All-Ireland semi-final, losing out to Tyrone after a marvellous game of football in Croke Park.
It is always a hot topic of discussion in so many different ways when it comes to selecting a top team of any particular era.
In that excellent spell under Ryan, Wexford were coming from a very low rung on the ladder, but it was a year which offered so much hope, particularly following that amazing comeback victory over Meath in Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow.
Wexford went on to lose the provincial final to Dublin, when the hot favourites launched a serious second-half display, having led by just three points at the interval.
But the quality of that Wexford side was demonstrated in the way they recovered through the back door with victories over Down and Armagh before that All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tyrone.
It’s hard to credit that we have come through 50 years with so little footballing silverware, so I believe the time has come for me to pick the best team since 1970.
It’s bound to lead to some intense debate. Well, maybe not really. The wonderful thing about these type of teams is that there is no right answer. It’s all about opinion, which is how it should be for the sports fan.
Now it’s time to get into personnel. This week we’ll decide on goalkeeper and the full-back line, the four best players for those individual positions, no easy task given the talent at one’s disposal.
I was lucky enough to see so many fine players both at club and inter-county, but when it came to goalkeeper I broke it down to a handful of players.
Brendan Duffin was brilliant for both Guserane O’Rahilly’s and the county, with many feeling he was the complete package when it came to netminding. George O’Connor from the Starlights was another to emerge in the number one jersey, while Anthony Masterson shone through in the Jason Ryan era.
Adamstown netminder John Cooper emerged as one to the top shot-stoppers in the game, always inspiring confidence in the players in front of him. Other players to impress in the position were Peter Doyle (Sarsfields), who was the Minor ‘keeper of 1969, Tony Bernie (Ballyhogue), Tony Furlong (St. Anne’s/St. Patrick’s), Vincent Murphy (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy), and Pat Goff (Starlights).
As for the full-back line, so many players emerged with a right to be considered. Pat Leacy of Ballyhogue fame was one to immediately spring to mind, and then there was dual star John Quigley.
What about Liam Fardy, who gave so much to club and county both on and off the pitch, and his club colleague Mick Caulfield?
A St. Anne’s/St. Patrick’s duo, Davy Rowe and John Furlong, had to be considered along with a more recent Anne’s stalwart in Darragh Ryan.
Let’s not forget Jim Roice (Sarsfields), the powerful presence of John O’Gorman (Taghmon-Camross), Philip Wallace (Gusserane O’Rahilly’s), the long-serving Brian Malone (Shelmaliers), along with the much-travelled Tom Foley (Geraldine O’Hanrahans) who also played in county football championships in Cork, Sligo and Kilkenny
JOHN COOPER (Adamstown): Represented his county in the championship on 25 occasions between 1993 and 2007, and played in goal in the Division 1 National League final defeat to Armagh in 2005.
During this period he revolutionised the art of goalkeeping, with his excellent placing of the ball both from kick-outs and general open play, while added a new dimension to his game in becoming a brilliant shot-stopper.
During his time in the county jersey he was always the first player down on the teamsheet as he brought so much consistency and excellence to his role as netminder. He probably played his best football during that era under Laois man Pat Roe in 2005 when Wexford began to emerge from the footballing doldrums.
He was an excellent goalkeeper and would have commanded the number one jersey on any team in the country at the time.
BRIAN MALONE (Shelmaliers): Malone would be equally happy in the half-back sector, but it was from the last line of defence that he produced so many outstanding games. The most capped player in the history of Model county football, having made his debut in 2006, and still an ever-present in the current side.
In my mind he is one of Wexford’s finest-ever players, given his length of service and consistency, along with the quality of his play. He is an example for the young footballers of the future to follow.
He is always available to do a job, no matter how daunting, and is a manager’s dream when it comes to having someone capable of looking after the best opposition attackers.
Another hallmark of his play is his ability to carry the ball forward from defence to deep in attack. He is so strong physically, and always puts his opposite number on the backfoot.
When talking about defenders, I always favour a guy that can do any job requested of him, and Malone most certainly fits that bill.
John O’Gorman (Taghmon-Camross and Dicksboro, Kilkenny): Never appearing to be under pressure, O’Gorman seemed to cruise through his games with a composure that left him one of the top full-backs in Leinster during his period in the number three jersey for his county.
Having made his league debut in 1983, his career continued through to 1997 with some 19 championship appearances, giving incredible service to his county.
An excellent fielder of the ball, his athleticism saw him control the area in front of goal, and he made if hard for any full-forward to get into the game. Virtually every game he went out in, there was a consistent and composed display, while he also possessed excellent skill levels when in possession of the ball.
He was always able to produce the best whenever required and proved an inspirational figure over a long period of time. He was the complete full-back. It was a pity that major success eluded him through such a distinguished career.
Philip Wallace (Gusserane O’Rahilly’s): An incredibly strong player physically, Wallace possessed an ability to win the hard ball, and command his area of defence.
He possessed a high skill level when in possession, while his defensive qualities marked him out as a top-notch player.
He was so strong in the physical stakes, always seemingly in the right place at the right time, and also possessed an ability to carry the ball out of defence, while always delivering a quality supply.
Wallace’s reading of the game was excellent, showing exceptional temperament when faced by any opponent.
He made his championship debut in 1998 and one could list many great games through a span that brought him up to 2008 and that march through to the All-Ireland semi-final.
Remarkably consistent in every game and every year, he was able to produce his very best when the requirement was greatest.
Next week I will shine a light on the half-back line and midfield.