Here's our power-ranking of the greatest GAA nicknames of all time. The GAA has a long history of being inventively random with their nicknames and here we celebrate some of the stranger ones.
Overly ubiquitous nicknames have been ranked lower down the list or in some cases excluded altogether. Any explanations as to the etymology of these nicknames is welcome.
15. Seanie 'Jelly' Johnston
The one and only Cavan and Kildare footballer and Coill Dubh hurling star
14. Colm 'Wooly' Parkinson
Here is Wooly playing for Portlaoise late in his career. One of the finest sponsors in the game also.
13. Seanie 'Telly' Tobin
Munster Champion with Limerick in 2013 after breaking into the team in 2011.
- Picture credit: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE
12. Eugene 'Nudie' Hughes
Won three Ulster titles with Monaghan between 1979 and 1991 as well as the National League in 1985.
11. Terence 'Sambo' McNaughton
Antrim legend Sambo McNaughton won a host of Ulster titles in the 80s and 90s, was part of the side that humbled Offaly in the 1989 All-Ireland semi-final and won an All Star in 1991 after Antrim were only foiled by a last minute Kilkenny goal in the semis.
- Photograph: Ray McManus SPORTSFILE.
10. Ger 'The Sparrow' O'Loughlin
1995 and 97 All-Ireland champ with Clare. Their star player throughout the dark years preceding the dawn also.
9. Michael 'Babs' Keating
Iconic former Tipp hurler and manager. Known by his nickname now more than his Christian name. People might be surprised to learn he was also called Michael.
8. Michael 'Hopper' McGrath
Wing forward on the Galway 87-88 All Ireland winning sides. Got sent off during Galway's ill-tempered and controversial defeat to Tipperary in 1989
7. Padraig 'Dandy' Kelly
Won five Connacht Finals with Galway in the 1980s. Here he is with an assist for Stephen Joyce as Galway beat Roscommon in the 1986 Connacht final. Died in 2002.
6. Joe 'Jackson' McGrath
Galway hurler, and brother of Hopper, 'Jackson' played throughout the 1990s
- Picture credit; Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE
5. Anthony 'Fat Larry' Finnerty
Mayo veteran, he is best known for scoring a goal and then missing a chance in the 1989 All-Ireland final and starting the whole brawl in 1996. Maughan later took to calling him "meatball" during Finnerty's final season with Mayo in 1996
- Picture credit; Dave Maher/SPORTSFILE
4. Shane 'Cake' Curran
The Roscommon, St Brigids, Sligo Rovers and Second Captains goalkeeper
3. Niall 'Nuxer' Buckley
Former Kildare footballer. Once rated by Colm Parkinson as his third favourite player of the past.
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Picture Credit: Matt Browne/SPORTSFILE
2. Anton 'Blue Panther' O'Toole
One of only three footballers outside of Kerry to have won 4 Senior All-Irelands (the others being Mattie McDonagh and Brian Mullins) O'Toole was wing forward for the Dubs from the early 70s until the mid 80s.
1. PJ 'Fingers' O Connell
The wing forward with the impossible swagger and strut after he landed a point. The O'Callaghan's Mills man was part of the Loughnane revolution. Not sure where he got this nickname though...
- Picture Credit: Ray McManus/SPORTSFILE
