We may not have any GAA to go along to this summer. And the barstools we need for hearty debates are unfortunately locked inside the closed down pub. Nevertheless, GAA is always to the forefront of our conversation in this country, so we're going to use this time to attempt to settle a few arguments all around the country as we bring you the Balls.ie 15 for 30.
As the name might suggest, we're looking for you to vote for the best 15 players of the last 30 years from each county.
Each week, we'll be jumping headfirst and naively into the local politics, age old rivalries, and blood feuds of counties as we attempt to finalise the teams across both football and hurling.
It all kicks off this Monday with the Donegal football team of the last 30 years. A team with two All-Ireland winning teams 20 years apart, and some outstanding footballers who weren't part of either of the glory days seems like a perfect place to start.
All week, we'll be bringing you podcasts, videos, and articles discussing the great and the good of football or hurling in individual counties as you vote for your best XV since 1990.
The vote is obviously open to everyone. Football and hurling fans around the country as as entitled to vote as those from the specific county.
We expect a few rows along the way, to be sure, but isn't that what sport is all about? We need the passion back in a big way right now, and hopefully this is one small way to fill the void.
The Rules:
The rules for this are simple enough. We're not going to do the work for you. On site each week, you'll have the ability to send us the players you've selected for the team from 1 to 15. You may also vote by emailing us at [email protected] or across our social channels. On Instagram, we will be giving a specific chance to enter through our stories on Wednesdays.
We want a true football or hurling team, but won't be too rigid about positions. For example, if Tony Browne receives 60% of the vote but it is spread across wing back and midfield, putting him under the threshold in both positions, he will be in the team. However, if there is a massive conflict in position, tough decisions will have to be made. We won't be putting Aidan O'Shea is goals either.
The idea is to find a team for the last 30 years - this spans the 1990 season to the end of last year. If you want to include this year's League, be our guest, but remember, we want each player to be judged across the entire span if possible.
Each week, the Balls.ie team will tally the votes across our platforms and announce the final team on Saturday evening.
Stay tuned each Monday here on Balls to see when your county pops up, and in the meantime, get voting.
Again, you can send us your team each and every week, starting with Donegal this Monday, on:
- On site at Balls.ie
- by email to [email protected]
- on Balls.ie's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
SEE ALSO: Watch In Full: Dublin Vs Mayo In The 2013 All-Ireland Football Final
