This year is the 50th anniversary of the PwC All-Stars. Armagh legend Oisín McConville was a member of the panel of GAA legends as part of Balls.ie's 15 for 50 programme where they picked the best XV of the all star era. While some would find it very hard to pick anyone in their all-time full forward line, McConville had two 'automatic' selections that had to go into his team.
The first man was Kerry great Colm "the Gooch" Cooper. The forward won five All-Ireland titles and made eight All-Star teams across his 15 year inter-county career for Kerry. He was an icon for Gaelic football in the 2000's and deservedly is hailed as one of the greats.
The gooch, he pulled the strings the strings against Dublin on that famous Bank Holiday Monday and for me at that time he was unbelievable."
The game McConville referenced is the All-Ireland quarter final against Dublin in August 2009. The Kingdom were facing a Dublin team who had just won their fifth Leinster title in a row. Cooper scored a goal after 40 seconds to set the tone and Kerry ended up winning the match 1-24 to 1-07 with Cooper scoring 1-07 himself in a mesmerising display.
3 August 2009; Colm Cooper of Kerry celebrates scoring his side's first goal past Stephen Cluxton of Dublin during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The second 'automatic' selection for Oisín McConville was Peter Canavan, who was part of the 15 for 50 panel as well. The Tyrone icon won two All-Irelands, made six All-Stars and was the inaugural All Stars' footballer of the year. Many people rate Canavan in high regard, including McConville.
Peter Canavan is the greatest footballer I've seen in my time,
I had seen Peter Canavan play a lot but '95 was the one for me when he carried the fight to Dublin, kicked his own 10 points. How he was on the losing side that day I'll never know. But he just had absolutely everything, balance and he was a tough wee individual even though he wasn't as tall.
Free taking technique, i mean people are still using videos and pictures of his technique for taking free-kicks and for me he's the greatest I've ever seen."
That game in 1995 that McConville cites was the All-Ireland final against Dublin. Canavan hit eleven of Tyrone's twelve points in an amazing performance.
There were two players that Oisin McConville felt had to be in the @PwCIreland All-Stars 15 for 50 football team!
Full team will be announced tomorrow at 4pm!#PwCAllStars #15for50 pic.twitter.com/fN6Isb2Wre— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) November 25, 2021
If you want to see who the lads went with in their full forward line, and who made the XV, click here.
You can watch the entire selection process here.
See Also: Connacht GAA Confirm All Pre-Season Games To Take Place Under Roof
