Dublin legends Stephen Cluxton, Brian Fenton and James McCarthy, could 'have had a career in soccer' according to former League Of Ireland star Alan Cawley.
The GAA heroes were playing in Shelbourne colours for a charity soccer match over the weekend against Killester Donnycarney FC in the Annette Howlett Cup in aid of Breast Cancer Ireland.
Everyone knows that they are the best of the best on a Gaelic pitch, but even Cawley was surprised to see just how good they were when they turned their attention to soccer.
In an interview with the Irish Mirror, the RTE pundit had no doubt whatsoever, that the three lads could have made a career in the sport if they dedicated their time to it.
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— Brian Fenton (@BrianFenton08) December 14, 2024
"We were kind of totting up, I think it’s 25 All-Ireland medals that they have between them yet they were so humble, so modest.
"Brian Fenton was like a Rolls Royce at the back, really, really good in terms of the athleticism that we all know, but very good on the ball as well. He played centre-half.
"Cluxton played left-sided centre-half and, again, something similar, they were in great condition, great shape but his distribution, like what we see in Gaelic, passing out from the back, and James played in midfield with us.
"I remember at one stage after we scored the fourth or fifth goal and I was coming back to the centre circle and I said to Brian and Stephen, ‘Lads, ye know that if ye packed in the Gaelic, there’s plenty of soccer teams that would have ye!’ And that’s the truth. They could play.
"I have no doubt whatsoever if they were dedicated to soccer over the years they would have had a career in soccer as well, they were that good.
"We’re maybe looking at it with a soccer head on but you look at the condition the three boys were in, for amateurs as well, it’s phenomenal."
A centre half back parking of Cluxton and Fenton would be quite a frightful sight for any striker to see, although coming up against the bull that is McCarthy midfield doesn't sound too pleasant either.
With McCarthy and Fenton confirming their retirement this year, they could potentially try their hand at other sports like soccer.
