Who is the best irishman never capped at full international level?

**Dodge** · 21/11/2006, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by Block G Raptor

Dave Henderson was capped at all levels up to B international and Packie Bonner was his understudy at each of those levels.I know he was pretty disgruntled when packie was picked ahead of him for the senior side purely because Dave wanted to stay at home play for Bohs and be a fireman in his spare time
even though Bordeaux tried to sign him a couple of times

How old are you? Henderson didn't join Bohs until well into his 30s after a very succesful career with Pats (and others). He started off with Rovers and never won a B cap (Olympic and U21 honours though) Played in the NASL too. In Paul McGrath's recent book, he claims Henderson is the best keeper he's EVER played with. Pats legend...

**gustavo** · 21/11/2006, 11:35 AM

Brendan Bradley , Tony Fagan.

**Noelys Guitar** · 21/11/2006, 11:40 AM

Donal Murphy ex Rovers, Coventry, Torquay. Scored one of the best goals in the 70's for Coventry against Leeds. Might have been in the squad against England in 76

**RiffRaff** · 21/11/2006, 11:44 AM

Not much point in discussing people who never actually declared for us, or you could mention people like Kevin Keegan and Steve McMahon. In fact Argentina have a few internationals over the years with Irish surnames. Someone mentioned Tommy Gaynor who's probably the one player i remember to be a regular at a top flight english team without getting a cap. In fact i think he also won a league cup with Notts Forest. Other ex league of ireland players to make their mark in the top flight around that time were John Coady (Chelsea) and Paul McGee (Wimbledon) and neither got caps. Although he doesnt fit onto the category of this thread, Alan Campbell only got 2 caps despite being one of the top scorers in the Spanish top flight for a couple of years.

**Jerry The Saint** · 21/11/2006, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Eddie Gormley

I remember Eddie being described as "Ireland's greatest uncapped player" when he played in the Paul McGrath testemonial.

On a related note (maybe needs a new thread), I would like to propose Paul Osam as the best Irish player never to play for a foreign club...

(Sad that we have to define ourselves in that way)

**Dodge** · 21/11/2006, 11:49 AM

Agree on both counts. Obviously

**NeilMcD** · 21/11/2006, 12:08 PM

Yeah from what I know I would say Tommy Gaynor and Paul Osam are both up there. I think people who are not born here and played for other countries dont count. Once you play for another country you are no longer Irish in my view.

**Sheridan** · 21/11/2006, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by Dublin12

Jacko McDonagh,Gino Lawless or Jackie Jameson.

Jacko McDonagh won several caps.

**youngirish** · 21/11/2006, 1:15 PM

Ronnie O'Brien defo. And he's not going to get a cap before his career finishes so you might aswell include him with the others now.

**pineapple stu** · 21/11/2006, 1:38 PM

Originally Posted by DeNiro

He was excellent. Didn't he get voted 2nd best Preston player of all time after Stanley Matthews? I saw he had an authobiography as well. Don't know how long it is published though!

He was actually voted Preston's greatest ever player by, I think, the fanzine. Beat Tom Finney, although that was partly because Finney always won and they wanted someone different!

Don't think Matthews ever played for Preston. Stoke and Blackpool (?) were his two main clubs.

**monutdfc** · 21/11/2006, 2:45 PM

In terms of ability Tony Sheridan would have to be right up there on the list. The fact that he didn't make it was more down to his personality and attitude than ability.

I heard Liverpool nearly signed him after he bossed Rangers at Tolka but Phil Neal who had been his boss at Coventry put them off.

**Metrostars** · 21/11/2006, 3:07 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Ronnie O'Brien defo. And he's not going to get a cap before his career finishes so you might aswell include him with the others now.

My choice too. Never looked at by Kerr or now Staunton because he doesnt play in Ingerland. BTW, selected to the MLS Best 11 for the third year in a row.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 21/11/2006, 3:23 PM

Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

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.

But we won't rush to judge or anything.

Lots of 2gen players come under pressure from their English clubs for a mix of reasons -not least because an English International will transfer for more bucks than an Irish international due to the attention they'll get from the red tops.

We haven't a clue what leverage Francis and QPR had over him at the time.

Oh btw ...Willie Boland.

**tetsujin1979** · 21/11/2006, 3:27 PM

Originally Posted by Metrostars

My choice too. Never looked at by Kerr or now Staunton because he doesnt play in Ingerland. BTW, selected to the MLS Best 11 for the third year in a row.

According to Devlin, he would have been in the B game, but he's injured at the moment so they didn't call him up.

**NY Hoop** · 21/11/2006, 3:33 PM

Mick Byrne and Mick Neville.

KOH

**the 12 th man** · 21/11/2006, 3:46 PM

Originally Posted by Dublin12

Jackie Jameson.

Brilliant player (R.I.P.)

**Dodge** · 21/11/2006, 3:51 PM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

Mick Byrne and Mick Neville.

Agree totally with these two, and Jameson of course

**EalingGreen** · 21/11/2006, 4:09 PM

Originally Posted by livehead1

jaysus, your like a journalist from the sunday world. Why post an answer when you clearly don't have a clue. Steve Bruce was asked by Charlton to play in the world cup in 1994. At the time the English Prem. had a rule whereby a country could not have more than 3 foreigners in the side at a time. His club career was at risk, so he said no, at much the same time kev, gallen did. but dont let the truth fool you...

Steve Bruce's mammy is from Bangor, Co.Down. NI were apparently interested, but he wasn't. I hadn't heard about Charlton's approach (or had forgotten), but I'm sure it's correct that MU were blocking their players from declaring for countries other than England because of the UEFA "foreigners" rule.
In any case, Bruce clearly stated his England aspirations, which were reasonable even if never realised. (The "B" Cap wouldn't have disqualified him from representing NI or ROI, AFAIK)

As for his son, Alex, NI pursued him strongly, but he kept putting us off. It looks like he was still hankering after England. It soon became obvious that this would never happen (he's not half the player his da was, imo).
So then he was faced with a choice of NI or ROI, and he chose the latter, because they're a "better team", thereby demonstrating that he's stupid as well as useless...