Who was the hardest player to grace LOI

**Red4Eva** · 25/11/2006, 10:29 PM

steve birks would be one of our toughest ever. as bohs fans will find out next year

chrissy turner isn't afraid of going into a 50-50.

**David** · 27/11/2006, 7:14 AM

Originally Posted by lofty9

Paul Mooney, Derry (ex Linfield). Hard as nails in the tackle and a fully committted footballer. As for nutcases we've had a few, but were absolutely useless with a ball and therefore don't get classed as footballers IMO.

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.

**drinkfeckarse** · 27/11/2006, 9:22 AM

Originally Posted by Sniffer

Peter Hutton? Surprised to read that, elaborate.

Just remember a game against Derry years ago when he was the sandwich between me and a team-mate in a challenge. There was an almighty clatter as the two of us collided into him at the same time.

I remember thinking it was enough to finish the game for him but he got up and shrugged it off. I then got a sly elbow in the gob at the next corner from him and he spent the rest of the game kicking lumps out of me and my team-mate.

Like I said, I know he's not renowned for it and it's just my own experiance but that challenge would have been enough to end the game for most players.

**Lim till i die** · 27/11/2006, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by ollie

he was all that all right but you can't deny he was also a tough little nut

Danny Murphy is a dirty little madam

Nothing hard about being a filthy little knack

John Whyte on the other, tough but fair and a gent with it. Could have thought Madam Murphy a thing ot two

**Tenderloins** · 27/11/2006, 11:23 AM

Alan Byrne was tough.
Keeley and Noel King too

**Conor H** · 27/11/2006, 11:47 AM

Mike Quirke was a hard man for UTD for years.
Currently coaches the Salthill Devon team who are in the U-21 Cup final.

**Schumi** · 27/11/2006, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by MrJoeSoap

Richie Foran

More stupid than hard I always thought.

**Martinho II** · 27/11/2006, 6:16 PM

from a longford town pt of view...

the hardmen....

avery john
alan murphy
alan reynolds
barry ferguson

**Aaron** · 27/11/2006, 8:10 PM

Paul "Higgsy" Hegarty was a hard man in midfield for ud. Never backed from a challenge. He also has a temper, which has gotten the better of him a few times during the season.....if you want a dirty player i would have to say James Coll

**Paddyfield** · 27/11/2006, 8:15 PM

Tom McNulty, Dundalk - what a tough man. They wouldn't have been so successful without him.

Dermot Keely, when he played with Sahmrock Rovers, was fearless. He'd go through any man including players on his own team.

Jimmy Nolan, Galway United. A centre forward's nightmare. He looked the part too.

Alan Byrne , Shamrock Rovers in the mid 90's - he was like an out of control JCB and he got a hell of a lot of red cards.

**geezer** · 27/11/2006, 10:59 PM

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** · 28/11/2006, 7:59 AM

Originally Posted by City till I Die

.....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.

Originally Posted by sligonproud

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** · 28/11/2006, 12:21 PM

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** · 28/11/2006, 2:47 PM

Originally Posted by David

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** · 28/11/2006, 2:56 PM

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** · 28/11/2006, 9:39 PM

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** · 29/11/2006, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by 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!!

Indeed John along with his brother Derek, two Limerick legends

**sadloserkid** · 01/12/2006, 1:01 PM

Originally Posted by Lim till i die

Indeed John along with his brother Derek, two Limerick legends

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

**oriel** · 02/12/2006, 8:36 PM

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** · 02/12/2006, 9:49 PM

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