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25th Apr 2013

If the GAA had a transfer market, who’d be the most valuable player?

A debate in JOE Towers led to us ranking the 20 most valuable players IF the GAA had a transfer market. Here’s 20-11.

JOE

A debate in JOE Towers led to us ranking the 20 most valuable players IF the GAA had a transfer market. Here’s 20-11.

With all the talk of release clauses, big money moves and transfer shenanigans in the Premier League we started to ponder the age old question ‘wouldn’t it be great if the GAA had a transfer market?’.

And after the obligatory Seanie Johnston jokes died down we started to rank the players in terms of who would be the most pricey on a mythical GAA merry-go-round.

Before you dive in, here’s the criteria we used to rank them. It’s far from perfect, it is not even close to ideal, but it is the method we chose. Feel free to disagree.

  • Versatility: A player who can bring more than just one ability to your team. Be that points scoring and free-taking, leadership and energy or athleticism and skill. The more you bring to the table, the higher you go.
  • Scoring ability: There is a reason why strikers cost more than defenders. Same goes for our list.
  • Potential: A 19-year-old Wayne Rooney is more valuable than a 27-year-old Rooney. That’s why youth reigns in our rankings.
  • Positional: A few players are just the best in their role, meaning they would walk onto almost any county team in the country. That helps your cause too.

The players on our list qualify in some, or all, of these categories. The more you fulfill, the higher you go. Simples. Here’s 20-11, and the Top 10 will be uploaded for your pleasure tomorrow.

20. John Heslin (Westmeath)

20-years-old and with experience in professional sport behind him, Heslin is an athletic and inspirational midfield and was the driving force behind Westmeath’s successful Division Two campaign. His free-taking ability would also make him a highly sought-after commodity on the transfer market.

19. Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)

Still going strong at 31 and showing no signs that he’s ready to give up yet. A good shot-stopper, comfortable under the high-ball, capable of converting long-range free-kicks and is the starting point for many Dublin attacks with his laser-accurate kick-outs. Easily the best ‘keeper in the game at the moment.

18. Joe McMahon (Tyrone)

McMahon is a manager’s dream such is his ability to play in almost any position on the field and he doesn’t just do a job wherever he plays, he stands out. Man-marker, ball-winner, score-taker, McMahon has the lot.

17. Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin)

Possibly the most elegant forward in Ireland, Connolly has played in every position in the Dublin forward line and when he is the mood, he makes the art of scoring so much easier than it is and is equally as comfortable kicking with the right or the left.

Connolly might have been higher up the list but for his tendency to get involved in stuff like this

Would be higher up the list if it wasn’t for his tendency to become needlessly involved in flashpoints and the risk of suspension that would come with his signature.

16. Emmet Bolton (Kildare)

In today’s game, when positions don’t matter as much as they used to, you need players comfortable at both ends of the pitch and Bolton has been one of the most effective attacking wing-backs in recent years.

15. Keith Higgins (Mayo)

Certainly one of the game’s best corner backs of the last five years, even if many think he is wasted in the full-back line and should be allowed to exploit his evident attacking abilities. Reliable and with pace to burn, he’d fetch a packet on the open market.

14. Colm Cooper (Kerry)

If it weren’t for his age he’d be way higher up the list, but he remains the marquee forward in the game and signs are that he might be asked to fulfill a play-making role under Eamon Fitzmaurice this season. What team in the country wouldn’t have the Gooch in their starting XV at the drop of a hat? None.

13. Frank McGlynn (Donegal)

It’s hard to nail down what exact position McGlynn played for Donegal last year but what we do know is that he was able to nullify the threat of his opposite number while powering forward for some of the best scores seen in the Championship last season.

A man for all positions

A nightmare for any forward to have to come up against.

12. Paddy McBrearty (Donegal)

If you think about the players that are going to dominate the game of Gaelic Football for the rest of this decade then there’s a very good chance that McBrearty will be up there along with the likes of Michael Murphy, Aidan O’Shea and Ciaran Kilkenny at the top of the list. It’s hard to believe he’s still only 19 and his best is yet to come.

11. Michael Quinn (Longford)

His return from Australia has been a godsend for Longford, who have benefitted from the experience Quinn gained in AFL, his physical presence, his skill and his leadership abilities at the heart of defence.

A dominant centre-half back is the foundation of many a good side and Quinn wouldn’t be short of offers if there was ever a transfer market in the GAA.

If those players can’t make it in, imagine what the top ten is going to be like, wha? Check back in tomorrow where’ll we put up who we believe would be the ten most valuable players in a fictional GAA transfer market.

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