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Just watched "Play it again Des" on RTE. Dunphy was on. He picked out a clips of Paul McGrath against Italy in USA 94.
I know that was the best performance from a defender i had ever seen but it was nice to relive it.
All I can say. What a ****in legend!!
Genuine legend.Playing to that standard in Giants stadium, despite carrrying an injury, surely makes it one of the best performances in a green jersey ever.
Agreed!
I remember him saying that he would welcome an opportunity to take some defensive training sessions with the Irish team... hope someone takes him up on it...
Legend :D
What a legend i was watching that programme this afternoon. If only we had a defender like him in the cureent set up.
If we only had a midfielder like him in the current set up!Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDub
A team of 11 Paul McGraths would be pretty damned good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia
I would go for
4
3
3
I dont think he would have been a great winger but I think he would have made a good fist of every other posiion.
AHHH......just from growing up 10 miles from Giants Stadium, and going to Ireland in my youth...this was when they got stuck in the tunnel, in 100 degrees and THEN were told to go back and change b/c they had on the wrong uniforms. I will never forget it. I mean we have the Jets and Giants now, and after today there is excitment that has never really been, but I remember that day against Italy like it was yesterday...Ohhhhhh ahhhhhhhh Paul McRaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
uniforms?
You crazzzy guys!!
Met Paul at a cancer fundraiser back in June, struck me as being extremely nice, polite and quiet. Didn't object to me having a photo taken with him. I was starstruck! Great player too, will never forget his performances - not just in the glory days against England, Spain, Denmark and Italy, but notably when our backs were against the wall in the Euro '96 qualifiers. At times it seemed like he was the only one offering any resistance to the inevitable.
Did he ever have a poor game for Ireland? Did he ever have a poor game since he left MANU? We were privileged to have him play for us. A genuine legend.
Ya it was probably the best I've seen anyway. The Italians getting to the final and the performance of Roberto Baggio in the rest of the tournament made it even more impressive. I suppose other performances that deserve honourable mentions would have been:Quote:
Originally Posted by SUB of the day
Roy Keane (v. Holland (h) WCQ02)
Roy Keane (v. Portugal (h) WCQ02)
Shay Given (too many to mention but one that sticks out would be the 1-1 draw away to Switzerland WCQ06)
David O'Leary (v. England (h) ECQ02 didn't give Lineker a kick)
Andy Reid (v. Germany (h) ECQ08)
Probably not in the same class but I thought Kevin Doyle was brilliant against Cyprus recently, phenominal work rate.
can you get play it again des as a podcast rather than live streaming?
Just wanted to wish Paul McGrath a belated Happy Birthday for yesterday. The great man was 50 years old on December 4th. One of our best ever. Hope he's doing ok at the moment.
The best player Ireland ever had, proved himself world-class on the biggest stages and his football brain was top notch. Thank you Paul you made me proud to be Irish.
Paul McGrath turning 50? Feck I'm old.....
You know you're getting old when your childhood heroes are well in their 40s and 50s. Couldnt believe how much Ronnie Whelan had aged last time i saw him on the telly. Had the pleasure of seeing him in a bar in Dublin once, an absolute gentleman, he's had his problems, but he'll always be a hero for all of us.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
If you want to include work rate, some of the games Ray Houghton put in for us were phenominal. One of the great unsung (two special goals apart) players of the Charlton era. .
Twitter never looked better - the great one himself is now tweeting from Wexford @paulmcgrath5
McGrath reflects on his time at Derby County
http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/derb...ail/story.html
McGrath featured briefly in Tommy Bowe: The End Game on RTE last night: http://www.rte.ie/player/show/10890844
It's a short documentary following Bowe in the last year of his career, and how he's preparing for a life after rugby. He speaks with AP McCoy, Derval O'Rourke and McGrath on how their lives changed after retiring from professional sport.
It's not available outside Ireland
Turns 60 this week. A nice piece with Roy Curtis. https://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...-38742621.html
Can't help but think there's never been a truer icon of Ireland. The difficult childhood, the battles with alcohol, the deep insecurity, yet an incredible ability to perform way beyond what could reasonably be expected on the world stage. I was 11 in 1994 and that performance against Italy will never fade from memory, it may not have resulted in a world medal or a major trophy but it will always be one of the greatest performances in Irish sporting history.
Big man's birthday today.
Happy birthday Paul!
Is Paul McGrath the best Performer ever for Ireland . I mean over a long period and great performances over a long period ?
I'd have to go with Robbie Keane.
He is in the top 3 best players for me (with Robbie Keane and Brady). My favourite Irish player for sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
I'd rate McGrath as our best. Favourite hardly does him justice - revered, maybe? Mrs Grise gave me a gift of a signed pic one Christmas, and I get a thrill every time I look at it. No matter what position he played in, he was sheer class. Seemed to have a built-in radar.
If they could bottle and sell the love people feel for him, the FAI would be debt-free in a jiffy!
I think I’d go with McGrath especially when you throw in Great Performances in Important Games and over a long period .
It'd be hard to overlook Robbie Keane alright in terms of his overall contribution internationally. I think it's clear he wasn't our best ever player in an overall sense, but his prolificacy and longevity were off the charts, and was responsible for so many important moments.
Winning the PFA Player's Player of the Year for 1992/93 showed just how revered he was. I think Van Dijk (last season) was the only other non-English defender to win the award.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eminence Grise
From the olden days, I'll just mention the great Billy Lacey from Enniscorthy. Born sometime in the very late 1800s I think, I believe he moved to Dublin at about the age of twelve and played for Shelbourne. Then moved to Everton and his career was messed up by the First World War. Moved to Liverpool FC after the War where he won two Division 1 championship medals and played 230 times overall with the Reds. Had a remarkable international career which spanned 21 years and played for all three Irish versions - a united Ireland team, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Apparently he's Ireland's oldest ever international player at the age of forty-one. Managed Bohs after his career ended. A plaque was erected on his house in Enniscorthy in 2010 - I must go and see it.
I'll reference Johnny Giles as well as he's also got very strong Wexford links. I'm pretty sure his nephew has played for Wexford FC. About 30 years ago, I bumped into him going on a training run near the Co. Wexford coastline. Johnny would have been about fifty then, I reckon, but the pace he was going at was jaw-dropping for a man of his age.
Just to add to your Lacey knowledge, he was player-manager of Cork Bohemians in 1932-33. Cork Bohs were also in the league the following season but I believe Lacey had taken over at Dalymount that season.Quote:
Originally Posted by ForzaForth
Thanks, Donie
Jaysus - no - good goal poacher but the best player - no not by a long shot.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
There are many Irish players I would rank above him - and these are the ones that come to mind.
Liam Brady
Shay Brennan
Noel Cantwell
Johnny Carey
Tony Dunne
Charlie Hurley
Roy Keane
Con Martin
Paul McGrath
Alf Ringstead
Liam Whelan (who could have been the best of the lot if he hadn't been killed in the Munich air crash)
Ronnie Whelan
and Johnny Giles has to be considered the best of the lot for me.
This was the question though - "Is Paul McGrath the best Performer ever for Ireland . I mean over a long period and great performances over a long period ?"Quote:
Originally Posted by Jolly Red Giant
would you stop..... robbies goal record was incredible and that must put him near or at the top. what exactly did you also want him the contribute?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jolly Red Giant
only in Ireland would a player of robbies ability not get the credit it deserves. baffling really
I don’t think he did as much as Paul McGrath in big games .
No comparison.
Totally different kind of player.
Paul playing up front for his 80 odd caps wouldn't have scored a quarter of what Robbie scored and Robbie wouldn't have put in defensive performances like McGrath did.
really?Quote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
2 September 2000 Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands Netherlands 22
10 November 2001 Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland Iran 20
5 June 2002 Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan Germany 11
11 June 2002 International Stadium, Yokohama, Japan Saudi Arabia 30
16 June 2002 Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea Spain 11
1 April 2009 Stadio San Nicola, Bari, Italy Italy 11
18 November 2009 Stade de France, Paris, France France 11
I love McGrath - as i said, my favourite Irish player ever, but Robbie's record in the big games stands up to scrutiny whether getting us 3 points or scraping one. McGrath is top 3 for sure. I would probably have him at #2 (and can see why people would have him at #1) but we shouldn't downplay Robbies international record.