Ballers of the 1990s
tional captain, known for his hard work and general reliability.
Brian Corcoran, Cork
A dual player of renown, who was clever and quick to close down attackers. He was excellent in the air, and read the game well.
Martin O’Connell, Meath
MARTIN was deceptively quick as a half back with great composure. He was fearless in the tackle, and had good tactical vision. Like all Meath players, he was physically tough.
D.J.Kane, Down
THE captain of the great Down team of ’94. A hugely competitive footballer, with bags of energy and a-never-say-die attitude.
MIDFIELDERS Larry Tompkins, Cork LARRY first made his name in football in the fertile lands of Co. Kildare. A chance meeting for a job interview landed him in Cork, where his football ability was soon discovered. He played in four consecutive All-Ireland senior football finals, winning two of them. A gifted footballer with great hands who dominated the centre of the field position.
Anthony Molloy, Donegal ONE of the most influential midfielders of all time, his immense physical power enabled him to win a phenomenal amount of ball around the middle of the field. Anthony was a central figure in Donegal’s All-Ireland glory.
FORWARDS Trevor Giles, Meath ONE of the greatest half-forwards of his generation, Trevor had the capacity and vision to made that killer pass, a trait that only a minority of players have.
Padraig Conway, Clare 1992 was great year for Clare football when they were crowned Munster football champions. Padraig was appointed captain, and proved to be an excellent choice with his scoring feats.
Martin McHugh, Donegal THE ‘wee man’ from Kilcar oozed class with everything he did on the pitch. Martin was equally effective with both feet, which made him difficult to handle. A player who enlightened spectators with his blistering pace and scoring opportunities.
Declan Darcy, Leitrim DECLAN will always be remembered in Leitrim as the captain of the team that brought glory to the county, winning the Connacht title in ‘94. Quite a dynamic player, who was capable of kicking long range points at vital times of the game.
Greg Blaney, Down
AN absolutely brilliant forward, with a telepathic understanding with other forwards, particularly Mickey Linden. He was very much a team player, more interested in creating chances for colleagues rather than receiving plaudits himself.
Ger Houlahan, Armagh
A prolific scoring machine for Armagh, unfortunately just missing out on All Ireland glory with the ‘Orchard’ county in the noughties. He also excelled at soccer, playing with Sligo Rovers in the mid-nineties.
Mickey Linden, Down ONE of the longest serving members of the Down football team, Mickey had it all, speed, ability and courage. A remarkably gifted footballer with an eye for goal. Every time he got the ball, there was a buzz in the crowd.
Colm Corkery, Cork FOR a big man, Colm was a nippy corner forward, who could play anywhere, but was most commonly utilised in the full forward line. A great target man, who used his strength to score spectacular goals.
Padraic Joyce, Galway
A footballer of immense quality, who had the ideal temperament as a player, when hard knocks were par for the course. Padraig was pivotal in the Galway attack, and one of the most prolific and stylish footballers ever to grace the game.
Liam McHale, Mayo
A magnificent footballer, and also a very talented basketball player, Liam was a powerful built tall man, with great aerial ability. The grace and courage with which he soared for high balls was wonderful to see.
Maurice Fitzgerald, Kerry THE complete footballer, tall, stylish and blessed with suburb shooting ability and tremendous creative skill, Maurice had foresight and vision, and would have stood out in any football era.
Paul Taylor, Sligo PAUL played with Sligo for over 14 years and was the county’s most prolific scorer during the nineties. He represented Connaught in the Railway Cup competition on many occasions.
I have found this decade quite difficult to pass judgement on, and struggled to select my best team. There were so many excellent players, particularly around the centre of the field.
Selections normally generate a certain amount of controversy, and I’m sure this one will not please everybody.
Take care, and bye for now.