DJ's retirement

[tommymoore]

What are peoples thought's on the retirement of the greatest players ever to play the game?

I can safely say he was probably the best player I've seen in the flesh. He was an absolute joy to watch and broke many's an opposing fans hearts with his displays. My own particular memory of this was him scoring 2-9 of Nigel Shaugnessy in Thurles in an All Ireland quarter final in 1997.
.
The cynics may say he only retired when he realised he hadn't a chance of winning another All Ireland after he watched Cork's performance last Sunday. Personally I think he realised he was past his peak and knew it was time to call it a day.

You could say it was a pity his last game was him getting absolutely cleaned by the best corner back of the last 10 years in Croke park last August. I wasn't one bit sad for him though as I celebrated sweet revenge from the previous year!

[shager]

I hate him ... he's a CAT ... delighted that he is hanging up the boots .... he tormented us Biffos for years with his deft touches around the goal mouth and all round superb performances .. although he has been overshadowed in recent years by young Shefflin ....

In a completly unrelated topic .... THE VERY INNOCENT UIBH FHAILI FOR SAM .....

Shager (female member)

[lyonsee]

Birds out.

[iamthelaw]

shager said:

In a completly unrelated topic .... THE VERY INNOCENT UIBH FHAILI FOR SAM .....

sure you've as much chance of that going through the qualifiers anyway

but welcome shager

[eamo]

tommymoore said:

What are peoples thought's on the retirement of the greatest players ever to play the game?

I can safely say he was probably the best player I've seen in the flesh. He was an absolute joy to watch and broke many's an opposing fans hearts with his displays. My own particular memory of this was him scoring 2-9 of Nigel Shaugnessy in Thurles in an All Ireland quarter final in 1997.
.
The cynics may say he only retired when he realised he hadn't a chance of winning another All Ireland after he watched Cork's performance last Sunday. Personally I think he realised he was past his peak and knew it was time to call it a day.

You could say it was a pity his last game was him getting absolutely cleaned by the best corner back of the last 10 years in Croke park last August. I wasn't one bit sad for him though as I celebrated sweet revenge from the previous year!

Even better than Joe Cooney Tommy? Cooney was the best I ever saw.

[shager]

Now now lads ... we all know that the undisputed best player in the flesh at the moment is the liiiiigindary Brian "Sid" Whelehan ... have you all forgotten that he led the Biffos to the All Ireland title in '94 and '98 and he is also the only contemporary player to make the millenium team! Case closed!

I would also like to clarify the situation with the footballers ... as you all know there was somewhat of an incident on Sunday at headquarters (besides the punch up behind me in the Hogan stand), when Offaly full forward Paschal Kelleghan was taken off and ames Coughlan brought on as a blood substitute. The player that Paschal replaced when he rejoined the game was another player, Trevor Phelan (and not Coughlan who had come on for him). This leads people to believe that Paschal was a sub coming in teh second time! The Lilywhites (who got their asses whopped might I add) are complaining that we used 6 substitutes! However, we are pleading that we still only used 20 players and also that the fourth official gave us the go ahead to bring in James Keane in teh dieing minutes (a Tullamore man ... UP THE BLUES)! However, all said, we are awaitning a decision from the Leinster Council on Saturday evening! The word from Slats (Karol Slattery, captain) and Macker (Ciaran McManus) is that it may go to a replay!

Yours in sport

Not a happy Biffo!

[shager]

OK ... criticism number one about this website ... where is the spell check for busy people who do not have time to re-read their postings ... I will have to be more careful in future!

Shager

[briantinnion]

Great player and an absolute gentleman but I'm delighted to see him retire all the same. I still haven't forgiven him for the 13 steps he took against us in 1992.

[tommymoore]

Shager,

Sure if ye don't get yer way with Central Council you can always organise a oul sit down protest? It worked for ye before.

[iamthelaw]

shager said:

The Lilywhites (who got their asses whopped might I add) are complaining that we used 6 substitutes! However, we are pleading that we still only used 20 players and also that the fourth official gave us the go ahead to bring in James Keane in teh dieing minutes

Yes we've discussed this at some length in pages 3-4 of "The GAA Thread", but the rule (as cited there) appears clear that 6 substitutions were made, and I don't think "only [using] 20 players" is a defence. If that was the rule, a team could (say) replace their entire midfield and half-forward line for fresh men after 15 mins, swap them back at half-time after the lads who started had had a rest, and swap them again with 15 to go. An extreme example, but one which would involve 15 substitutions (and could mean a distinct advantage in terms of fitness) while still only using 20 men.

However I hope the Offaly victory stands, as I don't think the 6th substitution made a difference to the result.

[bandage]

shager said:

Now now lads ... we all know that the undisputed best player in the flesh at the moment is the liiiiigindary Brian "Sid" Whelehan ... have you all forgotten that he led the Biffos to the All Ireland title in '94 and '98 and he is also the only contemporary player to make the millenium team! Case closed!
quote]

I hate Whelehan. Why? Because Liam Dunne said he's arrogant and that's good enough for me. Funny thing being a Wexican is I can't remember too many times DJ destroyed us bar the 1,991 steps in the 1991 Leinster championship - the last time Bandage has ever cried after a match. Great player though he has been on the wane since about 2002/03. Even the likes of Doc O'Connor have held him relatively comfortably.

[shager]

Ah Tommy

well I remember the "sit down protest" on that fine summers day in 98 against the banner .... a tear jerking moment which proved that we live up to our name ... FAITHFUL! Myself, the ma, the brother, the aunt , the uncle, the tea, the hang sangwiches strewn on the turf at Croker with not a care in the world ... and then the following week down to Semple Stadium with us and a ferocious struggle with the Banner ... we kept the heads and up popped the oldest man on the field ... the invincible Joe Dooley to poach five stupendous points ... on we strolled to the All Ireland final where we made mince of the Cats (D.J. didn't get a sniff that day .... in fact ... correct me if I am wrong ... but I think the great Kevin Martin held him scoreless)!!!!

Anyways ... enough backtracking down memory lane ... to this years all important championship ... I think that it would be an injustice if we were forced into a replay!

[bandage]

I hope you have to replay, both teams kick the scheidt out of each other, it goes to extra time, there's loads of injuries and whoever wins will be very fatigued before playing us.

Saying that I think we'd beat either of you anyway.

[whyohwhy]

Would love to have seen him on the same pitch as Ringy (apparently the greatest player to have played the game). Wonder how he would have fared? Alas its only a hypothetical question.

[shager]

Can whyohwhy, bandage and iamthelaw please reveal their true identities so I know what personal slaggings I can bring against ye in future postings ...Bandage you are certainly a wexican .... maybe Ba(e), Frosty, Gonzo??? ... or could there be a Portmarnock man in there also?

[whyohwhy]

shager said:

Can whyohwhy, bandage and iamthelaw please reveal their true identities so I know what personal slaggings I can bring against ye in future postings ...Bandage you are certainly a wexican .... maybe Ba(e), Frosty, Gonzo??? ... or could there be a Portmarnock man in there also?

No this a forum, shame on you for asking. Definitely a breach of forum etiquette and unwritten rules.

Smiting deserved.

[steamboatsam]

shager said:

Can whyohwhy, bandage and iamthelaw please reveal their true identities so I know what personal slaggings I can bring against ye in future postings ...Bandage you are certainly a wexican .... maybe Ba(e), Frosty, Gonzo??? ... or could there be a Portmarnock man in there also?

smite for the biffo

[therock67]

Smited.

[eamo]

shager said:

Can whyohwhy, bandage and iamthelaw please reveal their true identities so I know what personal slaggings I can bring against ye in future postings ...Bandage you are certainly a wexican .... maybe Ba(e), Frosty, Gonzo??? ... or could there be a Portmarnock man in there also?

Another Smite

[bandage]

Shager's got more smites than posts!

[shager]

This could be a first for thefreekick.com but I thought I would just share a few words with you that you may want to learn off before weekends one and three in September ... just to ensure you are not out of the loop!

Cheers lads ... enjoy teh weekend

Shager

Offaly Rover

a rover I have been and a rover I will stay
but to that faithful county I will return some day
Uibh Fhaile how I love you with your heather scented air
silently the peaceful brosna calls her sons from far and near

Oh Kinnitty I long to see
when the woodbine’s in full bloom
or stroll the fields around Ferbane hear the wild birds in full tune
at Clonmacnoise I see you
onto Banagher we’ll stray
where the fishermen will drink and tear of the ones that got away

Though dead are still in exile
are some friends I used to know
still I must pass Killoughy
where great sportmen are laid low
By Croghan HillI see you
where in childhood I did play
so adieu to you beloved Slieve Bloom
I must be on my way

Pile the brown turf on the fire bring the keg in from the barn
let the blacksmith sing his rebel song and the poacher tell his yarn
come close my friends and neighbors fill your glasses to the brim
as we toast our Offaly heros from the heather, hill and glen

[whyohwhy]

shager said:

This could be a first for thefreekick.com but I thought I would just share a few words with you that you may want to learn off before weekends one and three in September ... just to ensure you are not out of the loop!

Cheers lads ... enjoy teh weekend

Shager

Offaly Rover

a rover I have been and a rover I will stay
but to that faithful county I will return some day
Uibh Fhaile how I love you with your heather scented air
silently the peaceful brosna calls her sons from far and near

Oh Kinnitty I long to see
when the woodbine’s in full bloom
or stroll the fields around Ferbane hear the wild birds in full tune
at Clonmacnoise I see you
onto Banagher we’ll stray
where the fishermen will drink and tear of the ones that got away

Though dead are still in exile
are some friends I used to know
still I must pass Killoughy
where great sportmen are laid low
By Croghan HillI see you
where in childhood I did play
so adieu to you beloved Slieve Bloom
I must be on my way

Pile the brown turf on the fire bring the keg in from the barn
let the blacksmith sing his rebel song and the poacher tell his yarn
come close my friends and neighbors fill your glasses to the brim
as we toast our Offaly heros from the heather, hill and glen

If Biffoland are still in the championship in Spetember, I'll eat my lapdancer (laptop).

On another point isnt it the fourth Sunday in September this year due to the rideher cup.

[bandage]

shager said:

... just to ensure you are not out of the loop!

Manager speak! It's gonna be great having a female to make fun of on the forum.

[steamboatsam]

bandage said:

shager said:

... just to ensure you are not out of the loop!

Manager speak! It's gonna be great having a female to make fun of on the forum.

shager's a manager? what a joke!

[bandage]

Whilst not wishing to reveal anybody's identity I don't believe shager is a manager. She is on that journey though and as can be seen above is already actively engaging in manager speak.