Thought it might make for an interesting debate. Basically I'm wondering who people reckon is the best league of Ireland team(I'm talking about a particular team from a certain year,not just the most successful club) since 1992(we had to have a cut off point). There's been a lot of different league winners over that period so there should be plenty of candidates. It doesn't have to be the most exciting team as we've seen,in football a functional well organised team can beat a team full of skill. Theres plenty on here more qualified than me on this subject than me,so I'll leave it to some of them to get the ball rolling.
The bohs team from 2008,only lost 2 league games all season and finished miles ahead of everyone else..
The Cork City side that won the league and got to the cup final in 2005 weren't too bad. Had players like Kevin Doyle, Georgie O'Callaghan, John O'Flynn and Dan Murray in the team who were either in their prime, or went on to better things in the case of Kevin Doyle. Got some decent results in Europe also, beating that Dutch side NEC Nijmegen on a sunny Saturday in July in Turners Cross and running Nantes very close also after a decent away result. Had to be said that side went bankrupt cos of the unrealistic wages that were being paid at the time but was good while it lasted.
Might be an idea if you want to throw in the best players in their respective positions too. You don't have to name 11,just players who you think nobody could touch in their position. I'll start with eoin heary. Unbelievably consistent.
Glad you posted that pic. Sean as I remembered the scoreline but had forgotten what LOI team it was that played Bayern Munchen.
Barry also scored away in Galatasaray, the year they beat Man U. Was 2-1 away, and the Turks won 1-0 at Bishopstown
Billy Bagsters blue rinse brigade....John Cody, Mick Byrne, Joey Malone, Paul Newe...jez they were getting on, worked but.
Tony Sheridan had to have been one of the most talented that I have witnessed and Pat McCourt while he was here for Rovers too. Georgie O Callaghan too on his day if he wasnt such a head the ball. Ohhhhhh Georgie is a trannie. Brian Shelly in our title winning season and the couple of seasons before at right back was out of this world. Same with Gartland centre half. Andy Myler was a goal machine for whoever he played with. Cult hero. Used to hate playing against Caulfield, Swan and Geoghan. Actually that Shels team before they went under with Hoolahan, Byrne, Nutsy et al were an unstoppable force. Hard to pick an unbiased 11 but I'll work on it.
Any Rovers fans reckon the current team are in the mix or for that matter any of their current players?
Gary Twigg, the man is a phenomenon, Pat Sulliavn last year was as good as any full back I've seen, Craig Sives is the best centre back at Rovers for a generation. On the team, last year was the single most sucessful season for any club in the history of the state, so I guess you'd have to consider it. The Drogs team that won the league were excellent, shels were more relentless/ruthless than exciting ditto the gypo's. The Rovers team in '94 were pretty damn good as were the carkies in '93
Ah the memories.What a team, I remember those days as a 14 year old jumping around with all the old skool Ultra's to the Ring of Fire!!! What a team though.My all time favourite player Peter Eccles at the back with Gino Brazil.Eccles unbeatable in the air.Alan Byrne the mulllet wearing destroyer in midfield breaking anyone who came near him up!!Stephen Geoghegan the goal machine up front with Terry Eviston pulling the strings.Have some great picsof when they got the league trophy as I ran behind them on their lap of honour. Happy days
I'm not as quaified as some on here to post a team but I'll do it anyway. Murphy (Bohs) Curtis Fleming (Pats) Peter Hooton (Derry) Pat Scully (Shels) Owen Heary (Bohs) Joesph Ndo (Shels) Paul Osam (Pats) Pat Fenlon (Pats) Mark Ennis (Pats) Glen Crowe (Bohs) Pat Morley (Cork) Subs: Dave Barry, Gary Twigg, Jason Bryne, Liam Coyle, Dave Henderson *Its worth noting that when I was a regular LOI match goer Rovers were shite and my ma wouldn't let me go to any Rovers games because their fans were knackers, this explains why they have no players in my side
Honorable mention to Bo McKeever aswell. Longest european suspension ever! 10 years! I'd nearly have colm tresson in any LoI all time team - purely coz of the length of time he's been around (still playing now) but the amount of goals he got when playing centre mid or even centre half. Got into the league selection a few times aswell. The white wanchope!
That looks a tidy 11 Bobby, Morley and Caulfield were lethal up front together for Cork from what I remember. Very hard to pick an 11 but here are some of the ones that stood out for me. GK: Steve Williams (Shels) DR: Brian Shelly (Rovers, Drogs and Bohs) DL: Simon Webb (Bohs and Drogs) DC: Owen Heary (Shels and Bohs) MR: Pat Mccourt (Derry and Rovers) ML: Ollie Cahill (Cork, Drogs, Shels etc) M: Kevin Hunt (Bohs) M: Eddie Gormley (Pats and Bray) M: Keith Fahey (Pats and Drogs) F: Stephen Geoghan (Drogs, Rovers and Shels) F: Tony Sheridan (Shels) Subs: B. Murphy, G. Gartland, Shane Robinson, Fenlon, Twigg, Byrne and Crowe.
Agree with this, one of the most consistent performers over the years. Danny O Connor, Colm Tresson and Brian Shelly, Drogs have definitely had no problem in the right back position over the years.