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Every year we head in our throngs to the temple that is Croke Park for the All Ireland Qualifiers and final if we’re lucky enough. Gaelic football and hurling are in the blood of the nation and our ferocious passion for the round ball is well understood when you watch many of the other popular sports of the day. Gaelic games’ power to inspire passion and pride in the man who lives down the road from you, your postman or the chap who teaches your children is legendary. Croke Park is the place where men become gods and instead of waling your streets in their uniform, give you a memory that will last a lifetime. So, who are the greatest Gaelic footballers of all time – look at our probably controversial list below. Colm 0’Rourke A descendent of the O Ruairc house of Breffini, Colm O’Rourke is not a Meath man from birth but went on to become its greatest footballer and arguably one of the greatest the Island has ever seen. O’Rourke won two All Ireland’s in 1987 and 1988 and also five Leinster Championships, as well as three All Stars in 1983, 1988 and 1991. O’Rourke’s most memorable moment for many is his playing the five replays against Dublin with a bandaged knee, this brave and wonderful display is still remembered in the Royal County and at the time drew admiration from admirers and scorners throughout the country – hence his All Star for that year of 1991. There is no better way of paying testament to this man’s achievements than with a retro GAA jersey from retrogaa.ie. Pat Spillane O’Rourke’s RTE co-panellist and sometimes TV adversary Pat Spillane donned the Kerry jersey for nearly 20 years between 1974 and 1991 and won a smattering of All Irelands and Munster titles during the time. Spillane won an amazing nine All Stars and eight All Irelands in his three decades playing for Kerry. As well as this he won twelve Munster titles in an amazingly decorated career that saw him win six All Ireland’s in a row and play with both his brothers on the Kerry team. Together the Spillane brothers have won 19 All Ireland medals –a record for a family, placing him in the best Gaelic players of all time. Spillane retired from football in 1991 and has endured success as an RTE panellist and writer for a number of national papers. Get a replica jersey like Spillane’s on RetroGAA.ie Mick O’Connell Another Kerry man and one that endured immense hardships to play for his county. Mick O’Connell was born and lived on the island of Valentia, meaning he took a bike and rowed a boat to Kerry football training in a day when retro jersey wasn’t retro. O’Connell’s career saw him win four All Irelands and twelve Munster Finals. O’Connell received numerous accolades in his time as a player, including being included in the GAA’s team of the Century in 1984. Mick O’Connell retired in 1974 as a Kerry and Gaelic great. Peter Canavan Tyrone great Canavan is one of the most decorated players in the games history having won six All stars, two All Irelands and four Ulster Championships. Canavan has also scored the second highest amount of points in the Ulster Championship in GAA history with 218 points in total. His dominant position in Tyrone, led the county to be deemed as a one man show on several occasions, this happened especially when he score eleven of twelve points in a win in the 1995 All Ireland Final. Though not just old enough to be featured on retrogaa.ie Canavan is a Ulster and Irish great who has to make our list of Gaelic Football’s Top Five of All Time Jack O’Se The greatest of all time? Having featured in the highly decorated team between1976 and 1992 there could be suspicion thrown over how they were so successful. O’Se was a giant of the game and won seven All Ireland titles and ten Munster ones in his now, retro GAA jersey. His ability as a forward and prowess in front of the posts has led to O’Se being named the greatest footballer of all time in many national papers and publications and to be honest we wouldn’t disagree. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: The Article is written by Cormac Reynolds at www.5hop5.ie providing Retro GAA Promo Codes. Visit http://www.5hop5.ie for more information on www.5hop5.ie Products & Services. Copyright information This article is free for reproduction but must be reproduced in its entirety, including live links & this copyright statement must be included. Visit www.5hop5.ie before you shop.
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