Below are the nominations received for St Patrick's Athletic:
Shay Gibbon nominated by Kieron Brennan
An unassuming player, who was content to perform well in our league. A record goalscorer for the club.
Paul Osam nominated by Ken McAuley
Paul McGrath nominated by Rowan Hynes
There is no contest.
Paul McGrath and Eddie Gormley nominated by Philip Hawkins
Val Wallace nominated by Donnach O'Donohoe
Great touch and fantastic vision.
Paul McGrath nominated by Stuart O'Connor
The best player to ever don a jersey in the League of Ireland Legend is Paul McGrath, plain and simple. Don't even bother looking for anyone else. The simple fact is he was and still is the greatest ever player to have emerged from the 26 counties. Players like Bobby Charlton or George Best only came to LoI at the end of their career but Ooh Ahh started his professional (or semi-pro in those days) in the league. Jackie Jameson was a legend to any supporter of LoI but Paul showed the world, and Roberto Baggio, who was the boss in 1990. All this despite a horrible upbringing and being more or less abandoned. South Africa had Nelson Mandela, the USA had Martin Luther King. In a country with a tiny black population we managed to produce two black figure-heads that made us proud to be Irish: Phil Lynnot and the 'Black Pearl of Inchicore'. Paul showed the world that although he had many personal problems and the dodgiest knees in the world he was still the best. At his peak he would have been the first player picked in any manager's starting XI. So save a lot of time and energy and just confirm Paul McGrath as the greatest LoI player ever.
1961 St Patrick's Athletic team nominated by Sarah Bourke
Paul McGrath nominated by Martin O'Connor, 59, Dublin
In nominating Paul McGrath as the best player ever to grace the League of Ireland, I just consider his performances for St Patrick's Athletic, Manchester United, Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland.
Paul Osam and Jackie Jameson nominated by C O'Toole
Greatest player in St Pat's' history is Paul Osam.
Greatest player in League of Ireland is Jackie Jameson.
Eddie Gormley nominated by Stephen Haughton
Eddie Gormley nominated by David Bourke
Just a legend, scorer of great goals, great leader and had a nasty streak to him!
Paddy Dillon nominated by Anna McAdams
Paddy was the old fashioned centre-forward that all clubs want. Brilliant in the air, deadly on the ground.
Paul McGrath nominated by John Travers
One of the best players ever to play for St Pats, to be considered a legend, has to be Charles Mbabzi Livingston. However, the greatest player to play LoI, is also a Pat's player, 'The Black Pearl', Paul McGrath.
Paul Osam nominated by John Graham
As a Pat's fan it would have to be Paul Osam and for the greatest player to play in the league it would be Paul Doolin.
Paul McGrath nominated by J Cotter
Paul McGrath nominated by John Ryan
For very obvious reasons, Paul McGrath. No one before or since could ever do what he did, especially from his position.
Paul McGrath and Dermot Keely nominated by Pat Martin (St Pat's fan and ex player)
Paul McGrath who played for St Patrick's Athletic – too much to write about him from Dalkey United to that fantastic display against Italy! (LoI for one year).
Dermot Keely. Rugged-tough centre-back for St Pat’s (my brother Brian Martin was the right-full ) – to me one of the best centre-backs in the League of Ireland. Every team he went to play with he was successful, winning cups with Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers and up north with Glentoran. He was the rock, not many centre-forwards got the better of him, if so let me know his name, they all feared him. One of the memorable performances was for Dundalk (what a team they had then and that’s from a St Pat’s fan) vs Celtic in late 70s in the European Cup. Good result away losing it at home. Celtic I believe approached Dundalk re signing Dermot. Keely was a LoI player for numerous years and is my top vote.
Paul McGrath nominated by Barry Cummins, Dublin
Shay Gibbons nominated by John King, Crumlin
Shay Gibbons: a true legend with St Patrick's Athletic.
Signed in 1950.
1950-1951 scored 22 goals in 26 games
1952-1953 top scorer with 22 goals (five against Cork Athletic and had one disallowed in a 6-2 victory)
1954-1955 scored 28 goals to set a club record
1954-1956 the league's top scorer
retired from football in 1959 having scored 120 goals
1956-1957 played for Holyhead Town
1957-1958 Cork Hibernian
1958-1959 Dundalk's top scoorer with 11 goals
International caps:
1952 v West Germany
1953 v Luxembourg
1955 v Yugoslavia
1955 v Spain
Shay was a centre-forward with speed and skills. Shooting and heading, his passing of the ball was great. Shay is a true legend and will be always be remembered.
Paul McGrath nominated by Stephen Dardis (31), Charlestown, West Virginia, USA
Paul McGrath aka 'The Black Pearl of Inchicore' bought by Manchester United for £30,000 in 1982. Not only a League of Ireland legend but a Republic Of Ireland legend.
Paul McGrath nominated by Sean Rafferty
Even though he only played one season for St Pat's he is to me the greatest player ever to have played in the league. A superb athlete who had every talent a footballer could wish for. Probably Ireland's greatest ever player.
Paul McGrath nominated by John Dempsey
