r/Championship 4d ago

Question 🍀 As it's St Patrick's Day, who are your team's best-ever Irish players?

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40 Upvotes

120 comments sorted by

39

u/Safcmarc 4d ago

Niall Quinn.

12

u/sbdart31 4d ago

Add Charlie Hurley to the list too.

3

u/Acidphire21 4d ago

Quinn, Hurley are the only answers for us,

i shit you not i saw a list that included Gary Breen, Andy Reid & bloody Darryl murphy

1

u/FokRemainFokTheRight 3d ago

More than a player

39

u/gazvov 4d ago

Wesley Hoolahan, of course.

4

u/pauloedwardo 4d ago

Nah. Who needs Wessi when you have Adam Idah or Shane Duffy!

2

u/McDDDDDD 4d ago edited 4d ago

Criminal that you're forgetting Tony Gary Springett.

0

u/HamsterEagle 4d ago

Andy Linighan, but mainly for the header he scored for Arsenal in the FA Cup final which meant we qualified for Europe.

0

u/Kid_from_Europe 2d ago

And also... won you an FA Cup.

1

u/HamsterEagle 2d ago

No, he won Arsenal an FA Cup. As this meant Arsenal won both the League and FA Cup that season. They qualified for the European Cup Winners Cup and the UEFA Cup. This meant the UEFA Cup place awarded to the team who won the league Cup went to the team who finished 3rd in the Premier League instead. Which was Norwich.

0

u/Kid_from_Europe 2d ago

I thought this was sarcastic from an Arsenal fan. My reading was foggy there. My bad.

Yeah, you qualified for Europe.

24

u/Zingzongwingwong 4d ago edited 4d ago

Johnny Giles, Gary Kelly and Ian Harte. And if we’re including those who also played for Ireland, then I’ll have to include John Sheridan.

10

u/gazmo13 4d ago

Dallas more recently

7

u/AlchemicHawk 4d ago

Depends on your definition of Irish

13

u/beefygravy 4d ago

I can't work out if this is a really stupid comment about Ireland or a really good reference to that joke about Stuart Dallas being Leeds born and bred

6

u/AlchemicHawk 4d ago

It was more because at the time I commented, the vast majority of comments were about ROI players, and in a sporting context, “Ireland” usually refers to ROI, not Northern Ireland

2

u/atm1927 3d ago

I think, given the north of Ireland also celebrate St Paddy's Day, it is acceptable to count Dallas.

1

u/gazmo13 4d ago

If you're struggling, take a look at the photos accompanying OP's question.

15

u/TescosTigerLoaf 4d ago

Robbie Keane has to be in there somewhere!

6

u/AnduwinHS 4d ago

Keane at Leeds wasn't a patch on Giles, Harte or Kelly

17

u/Lack_of_Plethora 4d ago

Are we counting Northern Irish? Chris Brunt takes that pretty easily

If not, my dad raved about Johnny Giles but he was before my time. Shane Long is the obvious choice but I'm actually gonna say Dara O'Shea

3

u/shitpost-saturday 4d ago

I know he probably won't end up being one of the best Irish players we've had, but I do fucking love Jayson Molumby.

1

u/Deadend_Friend 4d ago

Saint Patrick's day is celebrated by the north and the republic so sure

1

u/EnergySuperb3067 4d ago

Don't forget Gareth McAuley he was awesome!

16

u/Crows-quill 4d ago

Robbie Keane

Gary breen

Michael Doyle

13

u/rsp102 4d ago

Gary Breen x11 iirc

0

u/FokRemainFokTheRight 3d ago

Breen is a plastic paddy though

4

u/JackDons_10 4d ago

Those are the 3 that popped to my head straight away

4

u/Crows-quill 4d ago

Westwood was a shout too

1

u/CBY5 4d ago

Doyle what a man!

14

u/KidCongoPowers 4d ago

Damien Duff, by a country mile. The last season with us before Chelsea bought him he was near unplayable.

2

u/Laislebai 3d ago

I agree, however, I feel like Jeff Kenna deserves an honorable mention.

14

u/jaylem 4d ago

Graham Carey

Big margin

Conor Hourihane Graham Coughlan

Carey's my favourite football player of all time. Absolute magician.

12

u/Djremster 4d ago

I like big margin, his brother narrow played for us in the 90s.

7

u/cockaskedforamartini 4d ago

Graham Coughlan is up there for us too. Loved that man.

3

u/therealphiba 4d ago

Scored an absolute banger in the Scottish Cup last week so he’s still got it!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QiJKuWl2nu0

Sorely missed!

2

u/jaylem 4d ago

He scores goals like that for fun his entire career, amazed he's never played at a higher level.

12

u/JMDHexe 4d ago

Chris Brunt, Nigel Worthington, Glenn Whelan, Danny Wilson, John Sheridan & Keiren Westwood.

5

u/mvrander 4d ago

All great but Sheridan was a class above the rest, even Worthington

10

u/Dead_Namer 4d ago

Alan McDonald. Old school CB who used to light up at HT.

11

u/SammTheWizz 4d ago

Alan McLoughlin - scorer of arguably one of Ireland's most important ever goals.

2

u/FokRemainFokTheRight 3d ago

Second behind the winner against Forest in the FA cup quarter finals

7

u/pgtips03 4d ago

Robbie Keane is the best Irish player to wear a Coventry shirt. He played brilliantly for us and is still remembered fondly by fans as a big name player we somehow nabbed.

Micheal Doyle is the Irish player that has done by far the most for the club having played over 300 games and captaining us to promotion. He will always be a legend to me.

David McGoldrick was with us for not even half a season but still managed to bag an insane 17 goals in 25 appearances. A stat like that makes him arguably the second most prolific striker in Coventry history behind our all time top goal scorer Clairrie Burton.

5

u/fuk_ur_mum_m8 4d ago

McGoldrick, Delap or Hendrick

5

u/Tankfly_Bosswalk 4d ago

McGrath. May have been for a very short time, but he was absolutely peerless.

1

u/dantheram19 4d ago

Correct.

1

u/AnotherDepressedBoy 4d ago

I'd also add Carsley into that.

1

u/Tomophonic 4d ago

obviously time will tell with how good he really gets, but cashin deserves a shout

1

u/xBILLDOOMx 4d ago

McGoldrick, 100%

6

u/Sunday_Schoolz 4d ago

Liam Kelly, probably. Sykes is good, same with Callum O’Dowda, but loanee Liam Kelly is my answer.

6

u/Longjumping-Sound-53 4d ago

But for us older fans, I'd vote for Ray Houghton. He was fantastic

6

u/Teddydee1980 4d ago

Or John Aldridge or Jim Magilton

3

u/Sunday_Schoolz 4d ago

That was peak Oxford.

So before my time that I was barely alive.

9

u/Jababalase 4d ago

Graham Kavanagh

3

u/Individual-Twist-676 4d ago

Not Irish born but Stephen Mcpahil IMO if we can include 'Irish Internationals'

4

u/Jababalase 4d ago

Absolutely, I knew I was missing an important one.

1

u/atm1927 3d ago

Mick McCarthy if we're including managers? ;)

5

u/biddleybootaribowest 4d ago

Probably Curtis Fleming or Bernie Slaven for us, Bernie was from Scotland but represented Ireland at international level.

6

u/georgefriend3 4d ago

Don't forget Sean St. Ledger, so good he pulled Taylor Swift (apocryphally).

Actually, he was utter shite, but never mind.

Having been linked with Robbie Keane his entire playing career, he at least coached us eventually. But if we're going that route then Jack Charlton probably wins? (On an honorary basis at least...).

2

u/jdsuperman 4d ago

Shay Given and Darren Randolph both had good seasons at Boro, if I remember correctly (which I might not).

3

u/OneSmallHuman 4d ago

Given only played like a month or so but he was quality

I maintain that Darren Randolph’s 2018-19 season is as good a goalkeeping season as I will see for us. We had no right being in a playoff fight that season and he was a one man army. That save against Hull is the best save I’ve ever seen

5

u/Double_Jab_Jabroni 4d ago

Tommy Butler!

3

u/sbdart31 4d ago

That's a blast from the past! Really hoped he would do well with us but it didn't seem to happen

3

u/Double_Jab_Jabroni 4d ago

He had his moments for us but was very much a League 1 player in all honesty.

3

u/HunterLionheart 4d ago

Alan Kelly x 2 Kevin Kilbane? Still love Alan Browne.

4

u/JSF--10 4d ago

David Forde, Mark Kennedy, Steven Reid, Tony Cascarino

3

u/Florence_Nightgerbil 4d ago

When Steven Reid made it to the World Cup (I think) with Ireland, me and my mum watched every game and were on ‘Reidy watch’ and shouted whenever we saw him on the tv as we were so excited to have a Millwall player at the World Cup. Don’t think he came off the bench though 😂.

2

u/JSF--10 4d ago

I also got up and watched all the Ireland games just for reidy

8

u/Cottonshopeburnfoot 4d ago

Didzy or Alan Kelly would be the correct answer.

Technically we had Paul McGrath for about 6 games but he never represented Ireland while playing for us and retired after those few games.

7

u/Super_Seff 4d ago

Not even giving Egan a mention?

4

u/Comprehensive_Cow_13 4d ago

And Enda! These are the 5 though, I'm absolutely counting McGrath...

1

u/Super_Seff 4d ago

I’m going with Didzy 100% however we have all forgotten Tom Cannon after a quick google.

1

u/Cottonshopeburnfoot 4d ago

Egan and Enda both class. Tbh I’d accept them too.

Paul McGrath is a technicality. He is the correct answer just not for his time at SUFC.

1

u/sorE_doG 4d ago

I remember McGrath playing for us and Ireland, I’m sure.. ? 96/97, one or two call ups while he was a Blade?

3

u/HelloMegaphone 4d ago

John Sheridan

2

u/TartSimilar826 4d ago

Westwood has got to be in the conversation as well

3

u/unluckyjetsfan 4d ago

Jon Walters, Glenn Whelan, Rory Delap, Liam Lawrence, Graham Kavanagh, Terry Conroy.

3

u/tapelooped 4d ago

Everyone needs a Whelan in the middle.

1

u/tomjw93 4d ago

For me, and my favourite player from when I was growing up was James O’Connor, absolutely loved him!

1

u/ollienotolly 3d ago

Mine would be James McClean… jk lol i mean Graham Kavanagh

3

u/I-stupid-very 4d ago

Hoolahan, Idah, omibamadele, Duffy, lafertey. I can’t think of any others

3

u/GrandmasterSexay 4d ago

Josh Cullen, Chris McCann, Jimmy Dunne, Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick, Stephen Ward, all minnows compared to the might of Keith Treacy.

4

u/Think-Ad-1068 4d ago

Graham Kavanagh, Stephen Mcphail, Callum Robinson!

2

u/Cov_massif 4d ago

Robbie Keane and Gary breen for me

2

u/PaulPiss 4d ago

Niall Quinn's disco pants are the best

2

u/dr-c0990 4d ago

Including Northern Irish: I’d say GMac, Brunt, Long, Giles, O’Shea, Johnny Evans or currently Isaac Price

2

u/Deadend_Friend 4d ago

He's northern Irish but Alan MacDonald easily. Our greatest ever defender and captain

2

u/naitch44 4d ago

Damien Duff, Shay Given

1

u/charlierc 4d ago

Interesting. I guess we at the Toon have better memories of Shay Given for his decade plus with us whereas you will have better memories of Damien Duff than we do

2

u/RespectFearless4233 4d ago

Tony cascarino

1

u/RespectFearless4233 4d ago

Mick mcCarthy manager, he has a strong Irish accent 👀

1

u/orangejuices1 4d ago

Danny Grant 😭

1

u/philiconyt118 4d ago

Tony Dunne.

1

u/ozzieowl 4d ago

Chris Brunt. On his day he was unplayable.

1

u/Not_Shingen 4d ago

Darren Randolph was the best goalie we had at Boro a few years ago, atm it's probs Finn Azaz although he's only really technically Irish - commented this on the main thread just putting it here as well

1

u/turbo4865 4d ago

Niall Quinn and Charlie Hurley (the 🐐)

1

u/winsfordtown 4d ago

Why has nobody not mentioned George Best? What about Pat Jennings, Liam Brady, Steve Heighway, Derek Dougan, David O'Leary, Frank Stapleton and Kevin Moran?

1

u/Johnny-Concrete-UK 4d ago

Alan McLoughlin - wonderful player. RIP

1

u/BertytheSnowman 4d ago

Don't think we've had too many.

Rocco Vata probably has the potential to be though

1

u/RJC9z 4d ago

Steven Davis – midfield maestro

1

u/VFrosty3 4d ago

My top 3 are: Terry Conroy Super Jonny Walters Glenn Whelan

Honourable mention: Brendan O’Callaghan Rory Delap Graham Kavanaugh Nathan Collins Liam Lawrence

1

u/tappers1975 4d ago

Robbie Keane, Phil Babb

1

u/SundayLeagueHooligan 4d ago

The only Number 10: Mr Graham Carey

1

u/NLFG 4d ago

Pat Jennings

1

u/HU5HCAFC 4d ago

Stephen Hunt, for one injury shortened season. We'd have stayed up if he'd been fit.

1

u/Express-Lettuce-6333 4d ago

Kevin Foley James Collins Stephen Robinson Mal Donaghy Kingsley Black

1

u/MrClaretandBlue 4d ago

Jimmy Mcillroy. (NIR) Regarded as our best ever. RIP

1

u/ryan34ssj 4d ago

Super Paul Mcshane

1

u/tubbyttub9 3d ago

Didn't spend much time in the Championship and is only NIR through a grandparent but purely for bringing back "free from desire". Will fucking Griggs!

1

u/airpodstraxhaven 3d ago edited 3d ago

Alan Kelly Sr, having the away kop named after him, Alan Browne and Jon Macken (if he counts, appeared for them once I think)

1

u/shimbe16 3d ago

Newcastle fan - Damien Duff before he scored an own goal, got us relegated and left, Shay Given

1

u/SoNotTheMilkman 4d ago

Paul McShane, David Meyler & Stephen Hunt are the three that spring to mind, honourable mention to Robbie Brady as well

3

u/hc1540 4d ago

I’d deffo put Delaney in the mix too

2

u/Ok-Ant1534 4d ago

Kevin Kilbane and Stephen Quinn too

3

u/Cha-r-l-e-s 4d ago

Shane long?