COLM COOPER REVEALED the toughest defenders he has faced in his career when appearing on The Sunday Game last night.
Cooper, who is currently out for the season with a torn cruciate ligament, was a guest pundit on the RTÉ show and chose Cork’s Anthony Lynch, Mayo’s Keith Higgins and Kerry teammate Marc Ó Sé – based on training matches – as the most difficult opponents he has come up against.
Anthony Lynch
“One of the guys I faced for ten years was Anthony Lynch from Cork. He was a great defender, very committed and tenacious and a great servant to Cork. I remember going to Páirc Uí Chaoimh and having many tough days against him.
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“In one Munster final, he was named man-of-the-match. Anybody he faced Anthony would know that they were in a game. He was a shining light for ten or twelve years on the Cork team along with Graham Canty. The fact that he played, corner-back, full-back and centre-back showed how versatile he was.”
Cooper won All-Ireland medals against Lynch's Cork side in 2007 and 2009. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO
Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO
Keith Higgins
The second player is Keith Higgins from Mayo. I’ve been on him in All-Ireland finals and a number of League games.
“I don’t think I’ve ever come across a player with so much speed. He showed his versatility by going into the forwards and he lined out at centre-forward in last year’s All-Ireland final. He’s a player who is highly rated, not only in Mayo, but all over the country.”
“He has a number of All Stars and I just found it difficult to find space off him. I’ve had a good few battles with him and who knows we may do again.”
“My third choice is a player that I’ve faced a number of times in training and that’s Marc Ó Sé. He’s been one of Kerry’s most consistent backs since I started playing.
“He’s a great reader of the game and he such a good player that he could play in any position. Indeed, he played centre-forward for his club. In a few club matches, we’ve even had a few blows.”
Cooper celebrating the 2004 All-Ireland final triumph with Marc Ó Sé. INPHO
INPHO
Colm Cooper picks the three toughest defenders he has faced in his career
COLM COOPER REVEALED the toughest defenders he has faced in his career when appearing on The Sunday Game last night.
Cooper, who is currently out for the season with a torn cruciate ligament, was a guest pundit on the RTÉ show and chose Cork’s Anthony Lynch, Mayo’s Keith Higgins and Kerry teammate Marc Ó Sé – based on training matches – as the most difficult opponents he has come up against.
Anthony Lynch
“One of the guys I faced for ten years was Anthony Lynch from Cork. He was a great defender, very committed and tenacious and a great servant to Cork. I remember going to Páirc Uí Chaoimh and having many tough days against him.
“In one Munster final, he was named man-of-the-match. Anybody he faced Anthony would know that they were in a game. He was a shining light for ten or twelve years on the Cork team along with Graham Canty. The fact that he played, corner-back, full-back and centre-back showed how versatile he was.”
Keith Higgins
The second player is Keith Higgins from Mayo. I’ve been on him in All-Ireland finals and a number of League games.
“I don’t think I’ve ever come across a player with so much speed. He showed his versatility by going into the forwards and he lined out at centre-forward in last year’s All-Ireland final. He’s a player who is highly rated, not only in Mayo, but all over the country.”
“He has a number of All Stars and I just found it difficult to find space off him. I’ve had a good few battles with him and who knows we may do again.”
Marc Ó Sé
“My third choice is a player that I’ve faced a number of times in training and that’s Marc Ó Sé. He’s been one of Kerry’s most consistent backs since I started playing.
“He’s a great reader of the game and he such a good player that he could play in any position. Indeed, he played centre-forward for his club. In a few club matches, we’ve even had a few blows.”
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Colm Cooper GAA Marking The Gooch RTÉ Kerry The Sunday Game