Below is a selection of some of the nominations received for sides no longer competing in the top echelons of Irish soccer:
George Best (Cork Celtic) nominated by Declan Cassidy.
Kit Lawlor (Drumcondra) nominated by Tony Dooley
The best LoI player of them all was Kit Lawlor who played for Drumcondra in the 1950s. Paddy Coad from Shamrock Rovers was a close second. He was from the same era. Frank O'Neill played for Rovers and was probably also worth mentioning. Paul McGrath played for St Pat’s for a short time in the 70s and was fantastic, but he left after a short time so couldn't be really included. Jackie Jameson of Bohemians has to be included in the shortlist. Alf Finucane played for Waterford and Limerick and was also worth mentioning.
David 'Wiggy' Wiggington (Cork Hibernians) nominated by Liam Griffith
Donal Leahy nominated by Jim Hennessy
He was a great centre-forward, and a great sportsman. I never saw Donie diving, which makes a big change to today's players.
David Wiggington (Cork Hibernians) nominated by Brendan Long
Can I vote for David Wiggington of the great Cork Hibernians team in the 1970s?
Donie Wallace (Cork Hibernians) nominated by Bernard Cronin
George Best (Cork Celtic) nominated by Alan Titley
Come on! No doubt about it. George Best played for Cork Celtic a few times!!!! Can't better that. He may not have wrought the magic he was wont to do, but can't deny he was 'the best player to have ever graced a League of Ireland pitch'. You may have a problem with 'grace', of course, but let us not quibble. But beyond that there was Paul O'Donovan, also Cork Celtic, who could turn on a sixpence, pirouette like Nijinsky (the dancer, not the racehorse), clip grass better than a daisy cutter in Afghanistan, hang a cross better than Pontius Pilate, hug the sidelines more closely than a half-bit actor, turn back on himself quicker than George Bush, go for the jugular better than Jack the Ripper and had a grin wider than Jack Nicholson. Can't beat that!
Miah Dennehy (Cork Hibernians) nominated by Joe Joyce
My nominee is Miah Dennehy from Cork Hibernians. Miah was a hero on Leeside and played on the most entertaining and stylish League of Ireland team ever with players such as David Wigginton, Dave Bacuzzi, Noel O'Mahony , John Herrick , Sonny Sweeney, Carl Davenport, etc. He had tremendous speed, played on the wing and was a regular goalscorer for 'The Hibs'. He scored a hat-trick in the 1973 FAI Cup final against Peter Thomas of Waterford (probably the best keeper of the era). He was one of the first League of Ireland players to be transferred to an English club, Nottingham Forest. Brian Clough, who rated him highly enough to buy him, when asked about the transfer fee said that Miah was reasonable enough but he had problems with the cost of the interpreter they had to buy with him.
Miah Dennehy (Cork Hibernians) nominated by Rory O'Brien, Madrid
I met a guy in a bar in Boston during the last World Cup final and we both agreed that Miah was a great player who deserved a lot more, so here's my vote for him.
Mick Lynch (Drumcondra) nominated by David Williams
Alan Kelly (Drumcondra) nominated by Pat Noonan
I hope your survey goes back to the 1950-1960. I was a Drums supporter and they had some good players like Alan Kelly, Bunny Fulham, Tommy Rowe, Kit Lawler and Rovers had Noel Payton, Liam Touhy and Eamon (Sheila) D'Arcy. My pick would be Alan Kelly, he was spectacular.
Charlie Tully, Jackie Vernon and Jimmy Jones nominated by Tom Allison
The best players I recall seeing play football were the group of players who represented Belfast Celtic and these are as follows:
Charlie Tully
Jackie Vernon
Jimmy Jones
Tommy Rowe (Drumcondra) nominated by Thomas Carpenter
Tommy Rowe is a genuine League of Ireland legend. He could play anywhere. An all-time great. Ask anyone who remembers the great Drums teams of the 1950s. Better than that - just ask his team-mates and opponents!
Timothy Cunneen nominated by Brian O'Brien Limerick
My nomination for the League of Ireland Legend comes from my own club Pike Rovers. He is the gifted genius Tim 'Togsie' Cunneen. Acknowledged as the most talented footballer ever to come out of Limerick. Began his career with us in 1938, he signed for Limerick AFC in 1939 at the age of 15 years. A hiatus during World War II saw him return to his roots in a very successful era for the club. Played in the FAI Junior Cup final in Dalymount Park in 1948. With Limerick he was capped for the LoI at inter-league level v the English League. In 1951, he played for Ireland in a full international v Norway in a 3-2 win. Transferred to Coleraine in the north and played in an IFA Cup final v Linfield. He also won inter-league honours. When he returned home again he played for Limerick and Pike Rovers. Tim was born on 1 February, 1924. he is physically very healthy but suffers from Alzheimers. He is now in the tender care of the HSE in St Camillus Hospital. Sadly, he missed out on his 'souvenir cap' when the FAI honoured all the past internationals prior to the historic game v Wales at Croke Park. Let us hope his condition will not preclude him from the list on this occasion. This is just a very short résumé of the career of a wonderful footballer.
Kevin Smith (Waterford/Drumcondra/Dalkey United) now aged 70 nominated by Paul Smith
Played European football in his day with one of the clubs above.
Miah Dennehy (Cork Hibernians) nominated by Larry McCarthy (53), NJ, USA
Miah was a genuine class striker who scored a hat-trick in an FAI Cup final. His goals were the reason the great Cork Hibs teams of the 70s did so well.
George Best (Cork Celtic) nominated by Killian McMorrow
Dave Wiggington (Cork Hibernians) nominated by Anonymous
Kevin Moran nominated by Paul O'Brien, Drimnagh
Kevin was so good he could go from Gaelic football to play for Pegasus and Manchester United. He won 71 caps for Ireland.
John Harrington (61), Tralee says:
Although I live in Tralee, I have followed Cork teams since 1959 being a native of the city. Cork has had many clubs over the years, and consequently many fine payers. My vote goes to Donal Leahy who played for Evergreen United and Cork Celtic. Donal was a great and loyal clubman, a very sporting player, an exceptional header of a ball. As a goalscorer he was among the best we have seen. He was the league's leading scorer in 1957, 58 and 59. He is ranked fourth in the all-time scorers list on 162 goals, behind Brendan Bradley, Pat Morley and Turlough O'Connor. Also worthy of a mention are Miah Dennehy (Hibs), Pat Morley (City), Dave Barry (City), Donie Wallace (Athletic and Limerick), Paddy O'Leary (Athletic), Noel O'Mahony (Hibs) and Frank McCarthy (Celtic).
It's a very difficult choice for the league's greatest ever player. From Jimmy Hasty (Dundalk), Frank O'Neill (Shamrock Rovers), Tommy Dunne (St Pat's), Liam Coyle (Derry), Freddie Strahan (Shels), Al Finucane (Limerick), Ronnie Whelan Snr (St Pat's.), Brendan Bradley (Finn Harps), Paddy Mulligan (Shamrock Rovers), Tommy Taylor (Waterford), my hesitant vote goes to Liam Coyle, the complete forward. The competition is a great idea and jogs the memory a bit. Impossible to recall all the greats since 59!
