View Full Version : Who is the best irishman never capped at full international level?
Dodge
22/11/2006, 12:10 AM
He's either the Da or uncle to Wayne Henderson. They're a bit of a goalkeeping dynasty. Daves has a brother, Stphen I think, played LOI and up the north. Dave's Da Paddy is friend of my bro. There's another one in the underage set up at Villa too. Stephen jr.
Dave, Stephen and Wayne are all brothers. Stephen is currently manager of Cobh. Paddy (the da) played with Rovers in the 60s. Stephen's son is the keeper with Villa
dodgycanadian
22/11/2006, 6:02 AM
Kevin Nolan :D
Or wait is he irish or dutch?
youngirish
22/11/2006, 9:02 AM
He is not up against any of these for a spot. :confused:
He is up against the likes of O'Shea, O'Brien, McShane, Dunne and co. The first two don't have many fans on this site & the third can't currently get a game in the Championship. So I suggest he may have a hope.
He plays in central midfield also and has done numerous times in his career. As for central defence McCarthy is better than him as is McShane and Heath St Ledger. O'Shea and O'Brien are terrible I agree.
bennocelt
22/11/2006, 9:32 AM
Kevin Gallen was a disgrace. They're from a fine London Irish family too and he didn't have the balls to play for us.
dont know much about him, just that he is a QPR legend, and you often see him as linesman for the odd GAA game in london (which i find funny!)
Krstic
22/11/2006, 10:38 AM
Mick Neville, Paul Doolin and Brendan Bradley.
Lionel Ritchie
22/11/2006, 10:48 AM
[QUOTE=Lionel Ritchie;579031]But we won't rush to judge or anything. :rolleyes:
Why not judge him? All he does now is coach the kids at QPR and guess how many international caps he has on his mantelpiece? ZERO.
Sit on the fence as much as you like. I generally don't.
I'll agree he'd have had a decent international career if he'd been capped by us. He made a bad call ...possibly didn't think his U21 (friendly???) cap would exclude him from playing for Ireland -if so he was ill-advised and poorly served by those around him -many of whom, it's worth bearing in mind, worked for QPR and had a vested interest in "keeping him English" so to speak.
Gallen has expressed his desire to play for Ireland several times, I even remember him once having a letter published in hot press where he sought to put John O'Brien straight on a few points relating to his situation.
Oh ...and I've just thought of someone else ...Noel Whelan -great prospect as a young striker with Leeds United and Coventry who then slipped to unremarkability with Boro and Aberdeen. Still would've been a great asset to any Irish manager.
gustavo
22/11/2006, 11:30 AM
The thread is titled "Best Irishman never to be capped at full internaltional level" , not best player that was possibly eligle to play for us but didnt!
Lionel Ritchie
22/11/2006, 12:18 PM
Right you are Gustavo.:o Disregard my Whelan comment ...I stand by trying to put some context on the Gallen situation though -notwithstanding it being OT.
pineapple stu
22/11/2006, 12:30 PM
Has Paul Byrne been mentioned yet?
Superb volley to win an Old Firm tie one year, Oxford the next, fat at Bohs the next, gone the next...
soccerc
22/11/2006, 12:33 PM
Has Paul Byrne been mentioned yet?
Superb volley to win an Old Firm tie one year, Oxford the next, fat at Bohs the next, gone the next...
and still playing in the LSL with Dublin Bus
urban myth
steve's stepson i think, or somesuch malarkey. maybe his wife had a bit of irish in her. :risqué smiley:
I thought Steve Bruce was eligible to play for both Northern Ireland and The Republic, but he couldn't because he played at U21 level for England a few times. I think his mother was/is from Bangor.
lionelhutz
22/11/2006, 1:25 PM
George O'Callaghan is a class act but he'll probably never be capped. By the way has he moved from Cork yet??
livehead1
22/11/2006, 1:30 PM
I thought Steve Bruce was eligible to play for both Northern Ireland and The Republic, but he couldn't because he played at U21 level for England a few times. I think his mother was/is from Bangor.
I have to laugh how often people make things up! Someone has already made up one idea, read my post previously in this thread on the matter.
he is an IRISH under 21 footballer ffs
bennocelt
22/11/2006, 1:51 PM
The thread is titled "Best Irishman never to be capped at full internaltional level" , not best player that was possibly eligle to play for us but didnt!
he might consider himself irish!
like ray houghton, andy townsend, Aldo, etc etc:eek:
Den Perry
22/11/2006, 9:20 PM
he might consider himself irish!
like ray houghton, andy townsend, Aldo, etc etc:eek:
Houghton never considered himself Irish and is quite brazeb about it
tetsujin1979
22/11/2006, 11:04 PM
Houghton never considered himself Irish and is quite brazeb about it
Evidence??
Dodge
22/11/2006, 11:14 PM
Evidence??
Loads of it out there I'm sure. always called himself Scottish. Good luck to him...
bennocelt
23/11/2006, 11:17 AM
Houghton never considered himself Irish and is quite brazeb about it
used to support scotland and ireland when he was little, since his family are from donegal, and he is a mad celtic fan
doesnt he have some irish in him, isnt that enough:rolleyes:
what does it matter anyway he did the job on the field
Dave Barry, Paul Doolin, Paul Osam, Pat Morley
fergalr
23/11/2006, 12:55 PM
Has Paul Byrne been mentioned yet?
Superb volley to win an Old Firm tie one year, Oxford the next, fat at Bohs the next, gone the next...
Thought of him too. He made the bench for one game but never got on - think it was around the time that Kelly/Babb/McAteer got their first caps?
pineapple stu
23/11/2006, 12:57 PM
Russia in '94? You could be right actually.
I have to laugh how often people make things up! Someone has already made up one idea, read my post previously in this thread on the matter.
he is an IRISH under 21 footballer ffs
Make what up? Steve Bruce the current Birmingham City Manager was eligible to play for Northern Ireland, and most likely the Republic too. - FACT He couldn't because he got U21 caps for England, but never played for their senior team - FACT - What part is made up??
Alex Bruce HIS SON who is the current ROI under21 international. He could have played for Northern Ireland also, and was named in a number of U21 squads in fact. He qualifies through the grandparent's rule on his father's side I believe, sooo therefore his father who is Steve Bruce must have had a parent from Ireland - Capiche?
Ray Clemence was the same I believe.
el punter
23/11/2006, 2:28 PM
Pat Fenlon has to be among them, he was a little magician
Russia in '94? You could be right actually.
Definitely made the squad. Glad he didn't get a cap. Arsehole...
Dave Barry is a great shout. Had forgotten about him
DeNiro
23/11/2006, 6:27 PM
Did Alan Byrne make the squad for the game v N.Ireland in Belfast in 1993? He was playing v well for Rovers at the time.
Still reckon Tony Sheridan was the best. There was talk of him going to USA 94 particularly as he destroyed Arsenal on the opening day of the 93-94 season.
pineapple stu
23/11/2006, 6:46 PM
Before my time really, but Alan O'Neill?
gustavo
23/11/2006, 7:05 PM
Pat Fenlon has to be among them, he was a little magician
I hear he is more Frodo than Gandalf these days.
johnnyc
23/11/2006, 11:36 PM
God, I remember Paul Byrne. Back in the day when I read "Shoot" and "90 Minutes", I'd always look out for his match rating and it was nearly always a minimum of 8. One season wonder. What happened to him????
God, I remember Paul Byrne. Back in the day when I read "Shoot" and "90 Minutes", I'd always look out for his match rating and it was nearly always a minimum of 8. One season wonder. What happened to him????
He's an arseehole who didn't look after himself. Played in the league with Bohs, then pats, then Bohs, then Dundalk. Scored some wonderful free kicks as he got fatter and fatter
mr.brightside
24/11/2006, 9:36 AM
paul byrne and tony sheridan for me .....2 quality players that should of had a much longer careers across the water .....
greendeiseboy
24/11/2006, 2:06 PM
martin keown qualified for us, England and Northern Ireland. His family are from Galway and near Newry as far i recall. He never expressed a wish to represent anyone only England and imo would be the last person to class himself as as irish given that if you remember he was involved in a fight with kevin sheedy when he got onto sheedy about declaring for us. He has also stated that if it came a decision between declaring for us or northern ireland he would have chosen the north.
He was obviously brought up with a negative view of Ireland and this obviously clouded his opinion of his ancestry.
greatbleddyman
24/11/2006, 4:35 PM
Just an aside: Think Keown family were from Midleton
He was obviously brought up with a negative view of Ireland and this obviously clouded his opinion of his ancestry.
Why is it obvious? He may just have felt closer to the northern side... Jeesh
Saint Tom
25/11/2006, 3:04 PM
I know Liam coyle was capped by the north but jesus he was a fine player. Such a shame that injuries limited him because he could have been huge
NY Hoop
27/11/2006, 3:14 PM
Before my time really, but Alan O'Neill?
Alan was on the bench for the West Germany friendly in 1989 but should have got capped considering some guy called Kelham O'Hanlon got a game against Israel in 1987.
Paul Byrne is now playing for Dublin Bus. Roddy signed him for Rovers at the start of last season on a "non contract" basis. One of many who ****ed it all away.
KOH
livehead1
27/11/2006, 3:23 PM
some guy called Kelham O'Hanlon got a game against Israel in 1987.
KOH
...now come on, is that you...
soccerc
27/11/2006, 9:11 PM
Paul Byrne is now playing for Dublin Bus.
Five days ago http://foot.ie/showpost.php?p=579661&postcount=64
Fergie's Son
27/11/2006, 10:04 PM
martin keown qualified for us, England and Northern Ireland. His family are from Galway and near Newry as far i recall. He never expressed a wish to represent anyone only England and imo would be the last person to class himself as as irish given that if you remember he was involved in a fight with kevin sheedy when he got onto sheedy about declaring for us. He has also stated that if it came a decision between declaring for us or northern ireland he would have chosen the north.
He was obviously brought up with a negative view of Ireland and this obviously clouded his opinion of his ancestry.
He got in a fight with Sheedy? Anymore details?
ramondo
28/11/2006, 5:14 AM
Alan was on the bench for the West Germany friendly in 1989 but should have got capped considering some guy called Kelham O'Hanlon got a game against Israel in 1987.
...now come on, is that you...
...no, he's Kevin O'Hagan...
CollegeTillIDie
28/11/2006, 6:39 AM
Kelham O'Hanlon for the uninitiated was a goalkeeper who played for amongst others as far as I can recall Rotherham United. In doing so he would be the second ex Rotherham United keeper to play for the Republic after Seamus (Jim) McDonagh. Who officially was known as Seamus once he got capped for the Republic.
AS regards keepers it's a shame that neither Alan O'Neill or David Henderson didn't get a cap.
English born keeper Peter Thomas WAS capped and he naturalised as an Irishman by virtue of living here for many years.
Another keeper from the Thomas era in a similar situation as regards being possibly a naturalised Englishman was ex Dundalk and Galway keeper Richard Blackmore. He was a first cousin of former Birmingham and Everton striker Bob Latchford and his goalkeeper brother Dave. I believe the only reason Richard didn't declare was that he had played Youth level for England which in his era disqualified you for playing at Senior level for anyone else. Shame because at a time when the senior team were playing the likes of Paddy Roche in goal, he would have been another option.
Alan O'Neill played for Ireland at all Levels including in a squad trying to Qualify for the 1988 Olympics, and as has been pointed out had two stints on the bench for the Seniors without getting a run. He is now the Under 21 team Goalkeeper coach.
Superhoops
28/11/2006, 7:08 AM
Kelham O'Hanlon for the uninitiated was a goalkeeper who played for amongst others as far as I can recall Rotherham United. In doing so he would be the second ex Rotherham United keeper to play for the Republic after Seamus (Jim) McDonagh. Who officially was known as Seamus once he got capped for the Republic.....
Seamus McDonagh played for a number of clubs during the time he won his 25 caps but he had left Rotherham United more than 5 years before winning his first cap (against Wales in 1981). His clubs when he played for Ireland were; Everton, Bolton Wanderers, Notts County, Birmingham City (on loan), Gillingham (on loan), Sunderland (on loan) and Witchita Wings.
lofty9
28/11/2006, 8:56 AM
I can't think of any that played in England... Dave Barry, Pat Fenlon, Brendan Bradley and Liam Coyle are 4 that had quality. They'd all probably get into todays squad at the peak of their careers - without injury Coyle would have been a star.
Pablo
28/11/2006, 10:47 AM
You have to love these threads! people ignore the question and name their own clubs "legends"
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