The Best Gaelic Footballers Of All Time

It’s a debate that can go on forever among fans of what is arguably Ireland’s national sport – although hurling devotees might disagree.

And, with so much talent in the sport which remains resolutely amateur in the face of growing professionalism elsewhere, it’s one which is played for the love of the game, not money.

So, we’ve taken a good long look at the thousands of potential candidates in the history of Gaelic Football and come up with this far from definitive list.

Stephen Cluxton, Dublin

Many believe that Cluxton is the greatest goalkeeper that the game has ever seen, and he’s certainly been one of the most successful.

Over a career that began back in 2001 when he made his first appearance for Dublin he has added nine All Ireland medals to his trophy cabinet and been part of an All IrelandChampionship winning team no less than nine times including a straight run of six championships in a row from 2015 to 2020. He’s also the holder of 17 Leinster football medals.

Danny O’Keefe, Kerry

Another contender for the title of GOAT goalkeeper is Kerry’s Danny O’Keefe, a player named in the GAA Team of the Century. He made his senior debut for the team in 1931 at the age of 24. The previous year he had played a key part in helping the Juniors win the All Ireland Championship and went straight to winning the seniors’ title too. For the next 17 years he continued to be the first choice goalkeeper for Kerry winning a record 18 Munster Championship medals.

Seamus Moynihan, Kerry

A more recent Kerry player, Seamus Moynihan, takes our next spot. Nicknamed Pony, we was a centre back to be reckoned with over the years of 1992 to 2006 when his playing career was at its peak. Over the period he won four All Ireland Championships and eight Munster Football medals.

Most people agree that Moynihan was the full package. Incredibly fast and powerful, he also read the game as well as any player. So, it was no wonder that any team that Moynihan was in, was always one of the favourites at Irish online gambling sites.

John Joe O’Reilly, Cavan

Despite his tragically early death at the age of just 34 in 1952, O’Reilly surely goes down as a legend of the game. He is the only player ever to have led his team to an All IrelandChampionship victory on foreign soil, in the 1947 final played at the Polo Grounds in New York City.

The game was in his blood, his father Big John O’Reilly having played as goalkeeper for Cavan. Among the many accolades received in an all-too short playing career, was the receipt of the Sam Maguire twice as captain of Cavan

Seán O’Neill, Down

Left Wing Forward for Down over much of the 1950s and 60s, O’Neill was a prodigious scorer for the club notching up 85 goals and more than 500 points in his career. He alsoplayed a vital role in the team’s All Ireland wins of 1960, 1961 and 1968. Alongside other legends and team-mates Joe Lennon, Dan McCartan and Paddy Doherty he was one of the four Down players who each won three All Ireland medals in the 1960s.

Kieran McGeeney, Armagh

Kieran McGeeney played centre half back for Armagh between 1992 up until his retirement from the game in 2007.He goes down in the history of Gaelic Football as the only player ever to captain Armagh to an All IrelandChampionship victory, a feat that he achieved in 2002.

He also appeared twelve times for Ireland, most notably playing an important part in the incident-packed 2006 International Rules Series against Australia.

Tommy Langan, Mayo

Born in 1921, Tommy Langan made his debut as a full forward for Mayo in 1943 retiring at the end of the 1956 season. Over those 13 years he won two All Ireland medals, five Connacht medals and two National League medals. He was at his best in the years between 1948 and 1955 when Mayo were also at their peak winning five Connacht Senior Football Championships.

David Clifford, Kerry

We’ll end with another Kerry player and one with a very bright future ahead of him. Full forward David Kerry first made an impression in the 2017 All Ireland Minor Final for Kerry against Derry. Since then he’s been praised for his great composure on the field, as well as for being the great role model he is for young followers of the sport.

Already, at the age of just 26, he has already picked up multiple All Stars as well as an All England Senior title.

So there you have them, eight of the best spanning many decades. As to who is the best of the best, we’ll leave you to decide.