Who was the hardest player to grace LOI

[geezer]

GUFC May he rest in peace, he was a legend eamonn dunphy ran for his life when he seen miko coming for him. a truly hard hard man, yet the nicest man you could meet off the pitch

[Ash]

.....if you want a dirty player i would have to say James Coll

Totally forgot about Jamsie.
Player/Manager/Hatchet Man for ATFC a good few season ago.


for sligo...stenson,rutherford,birks,ian "kipper" lynch,dykes,thew,gerry carr,will hastie - cud go through a man,and fago seems to have the same reputation....

Ger Houlihan was well able to stand up for himself too!

[Fivesilver]

From our gaff, there's been a good few. But if you're really talking hard - as opposed to dirty - I'd have to say Chris Rutherford, the best of all worlds.
A very intelligent footballing centre-back, he gained legendary status in the 83 Cup semi.
Rovers were two down to Cobh at home in the third replay. Chris got his head busted by the Cobh keeper (total accident). Sporting a turban of a bandage, he proceeded to score two diving headers, allowing Gussie Gilligan to head the extra-time winner.
Unfortunately, his luck ran out in the final, when he was stretchered off early on with a knee injury that eventually brought a premature end to his career. A few minutes later, the stretcher was on again for his centre-back partner Tony Stenson. Stennie, another hard man for the ages, waved it away, picked himself up and whacked home a second-half equaliser, setting the stage for Harry McLoughlin's late winner.

[NY Hoop]

Never really classed him as a hard player when with us. Will forever be hated by Bluemen for scoring an own goal against the Glens in the Irish Cup Final and never really rated as a player. Guy is a bit of a tosser as well.

As for others, obviously my knowledge on LOI is limited but watched Keely for the Glens and he was an animal. He also played against us for Shamrock Rovers in European Cup and should have been sent off at Windsor for a challenge on George Gibson although the ref remarkably sent Gibson off. Another of the hardest players I have seen is Alan Byrne for Shels. PLayed against us in a friendly and had to be subbed. We later signed him but he had a nightmare time with injuries whiulst with us. Real pity because was really liked by Linfield supporters.

Keely said that he was astonished that he wasnt sent off for that challenge!

My first Rovers game he kicked a UCD player into the shed. Literally. What is termed an agricultural tackle!

KOH

[Aaron]

Totally forgot about Jamsie.
Player/Manager/Hatchet Man for ATFC a good few season ago.


I remember a game the year we won the league under Felix Healy, we played Bohs in a game at the Brandywell. It was my first ever DCFC game. I will forever remember it, not because of the scoreline, but because of JAmes Coll and a big half time fight. Coll had chopped down Derry players on three different occasins and wasnt even booked. At least one of them deserved a straight red. Then at half time a huge fight broke out. Felix Healy and Maurice O'Driscoll were involved, Jack Keay was there and it led to James Coll eventually being sent off. Big O'Driscoll then proceeded to manhandle the linesman. It was crazy. The game eventually calmed down and City won one nil thanks to a Gary Beckett pen. That glued me to LOI football ever since!!

[Flawless]

Someone mentioned John Whyte, i would agree there, he was one hard ass mo-fo, but also a gent, wouldnt have got on the wrong side of A Young Steve McGuinness either!!

[Lim till i die]

Someone mentioned John Whyte, i would agree there, he was one hard ass mo-fo, but also a gent, wouldnt have got on the wrong side of A Young Steve McGuinness either!!

Indeed John along with his brother Derek, two Limerick legends :ball:

[sadloserkid]

Indeed John along with his brother Derek, two Limerick legends :ball:

Yeah in recent years in a Limerick shirt the two Whyte brothers stood out head and shoulders. Top guys.

[oriel]

I'm not sure if this topic is dead or what, but just to add a few things.

Paddyfield - You metioned our own Tom McNulty, we wouldn`t have been so sucessful w/o him - dead right, just as Fergie used to say Schmichel was worth xzy pts to Utd, McNulty was worth at least 5 wins per year to us 84-87 + 89-97.

Maybe we should categorise the hardest player per position, for my money and a lot of others on here, McNulty (esp in 90`s) is the winner for the m/f spot

Defence ? Eccles (rovs) Keely (dlk + rovs) pairic o'connor (athlone/bohs) Fagan (Sligo)

I`d have to go with Keely, legend had it to celtic wanted to sign him after playing v dlk in 79 euro cup

Upfront ? tough one, as they can be a rare breed.

I`d agree with Calcio Jack, Noel Larken (athlone and rovs), tough yes, but a very skillfull player too.

[CollegeTillIDie]

In goal would have to be Mick O'Brien ex Athlone Town, and Bohs keeper from the 1970's.

Right back there are many candidates but the toughest one I saw was Robbie Lawlor from the UCD 1984 Cup winning team.

Centre backs would be Dermot Keely as previously nominated,
and Ken O'Doherty from the UCD 1984 Cup winning team.

Left back well he wasn't dirty but solid and kept Steve Staunton out of the Dundalk team.. Martin Lawlor.


Centre Midfield would have to be Paul Doolin, and Noel King. Throw in Patsy Freyne and Tom McNulty and that would be a kick ass sector for sure!


I would agree with Noel Larkin but also Brendan Bradley was tough you don't score more than 200 goals in this League by being a shrinking violet :D

[johnville]

jimmy mcgeough waterford f.c back in the 60's even when he was sixty he flattened whittle for killkenny with a dig when he squared up to him

[onceahoop]

Kinger and Fagan were two of the hardest midfielders I ever saw. One could even say dirtiest. A former IL player told me that Keely was the hardest (dirtiest) player he ever played against. Keely told me the same player was a pussycat when I mentioned it to him. I remember the Rovers UCD Cup Final in Dalymount. A UCD player made a break at the half way line with only the keeper to beat. Kealy in close attendance instinctively kicked same forwards ankle and immediately looked around for the ref. Got away with it but it didn't save Rovers.BTW John Gill could have a mean streak in him in his EL days and left his mark on a few players.