Oisin McConville, Peter Canavan and John O’Mahony picked the ‘15 for 50 – The All-Star Football Team of the Last 50 years’ for Balls.ie.
Armagh’s All-Ireland winning captain Kieran McGeeney made the centre half back spot after some debate.
Peter Canavan originally opted for James McCarthy but was happy to move the Dub to the wing to accommodate Geezer.
“If I was picking a team to go out and play a tough game or a team that I wanted to be playing alongside, Kieran McGeeney and Brian Dooher would be there” said the Tyrone legend.
Leadership
Geezer’s leadership was just one of his many attributes highlighted. Oisin McConville spoke highly of his former captain.
“He was a huge leader from our point of view, he had everything as a footballer. I’ve never met anybody with more drive. He still has that same drive but as a player he led from the front, he led by his actions”.
The 2002 Player of the Year picked up three All-Star awards during his footballing career in the orange and white.
The current Orchard boss played a huge role in Armagh capturing the Sam Maguire for the first time in their history.
Key to maiden All-Ireland win
Both McConville and O’Mahony agreed Joe Kernan’s men wouldn’t have got over the line without McGeeney.
“He liked to talk but he led by his actions as much as what he said. When he said something, he was able to back it up and without him we never would have won an All-Ireland” confirmed the Crossmaglen native.
“The way he protected the ‘D’, I think you (Armagh) used to bring back Tony McEntee to filter back, he (McGeeney) had that to perfection” said O’Mahony.
“The leader part of him was uncontested in that sense, he exuded belief. I don’t think that Armagh would have won the All-Ireland without him”.
