There’s something about the lefties.
There’s something magic about watching a left-footer in full flight. Maybe it’s because they’re in the minority and what’s rare is wonderful.
Maybe it’s because of this rarity that we hype them up so much, or maybe, maybe it really is just beauty. We think it’s beauty.
There have been some smashing left feet in Gaelic football. Some of the best players to have ever played the game are left-footed, and if you think about it, the best left-footers in the game are usually the players we love watching the most.
Take Colm Cooper, take Ciaran McDonald – there are no superlatives worthy enough to describe the sheer grace and elegance of their left legs caressing or lacing the leather of an O’Neill’s size five.
Because they could do it every way. We’re looking at the best lefties on the inter-county scene right now.
We’ve whittled it down to five, which means we’ve had to leave some shooting boots out. Conor Sweeney from Tipperary was unlucky, Ciarán Thompson of Donegal, we’re sorry, Cork’s Colm O’ Neill we don’t know how we did this to you.
But we had to make a decision somehow.
5. Odhrán MacNiallais (Donegal)
The Ghaoth Dobhair man is back, and Donegal fans are already licking their lips. His wondrous left foot made him the reputation that he has.
That was at its very best the day he went score for score with Sean Cavanagh and Peter Harte to keep Rory Gallagher’s men in the game in the 2016 Ulster final.
How the hell could you leave him out when he’s capable of doing things like this?
HT: Naomh Conaill 0-05| 1-08 Gaoth Dobhair. Odhrán Mac Niallais is on his game tonight. What a score! #DonegalGAA #ClubChampionships pic.twitter.com/1b5ktrc8M9
— eir Sport (@eirSport) September 30, 2017
That’s no breadwinner, that’s a moneymaker.
4. Paul Mannion (Dublin)
If you see Paul Mannion winding up his left foot, you’re already too late.
If you give Paul Mannion a split second to sneak a peak at the posts, his left foot will have followed through and the umpires will be scrambling for a white flag.
3. Jamie Clarke (Armagh)
There’s something so natural about Jamie Clarke’s play. There’s something so beautiful about his left leg. And we’re not just talking about his capacity to kick points from all angles, we’re also talking about one of the slickest solo-runners in the game.
Some players don’t have to break stride to solo the ball, and we compliment them for that. Clarke gets even faster. He drops the leather onto his toe and he takes off like a hungry dog after it to catch it on its rise back up to his midriff.
Off he goes again and repeats the motion. He can tie defenders in knots with his silky skills, and then, then he can deliver perfect execution.
Be it a darting through ball, a curled shot or dinky pass.
This man knows no limits.
That’s why he’s such a big loss for next year for the Orchard County.
2. Peter Harte (Tyrone)
“He’s the ginger Messi,” says Seán Cavanagh.
Some of the things Peter Harte can do are frightening. And he does them with such business-like efficiency that you just know he’s going to do it again and again and again.
His talent knows no limits, his left leg knows no boundaries. Harte glides over the hallowed turf, he ghosts through opposition tacklers.
And they don’t even know where he is. He tests and he tests and he tests, when he finds the opportunity, he buries it, he tucks it, he finesses it.
He can give the passes that others wouldn’t even dream of.
With that left foot, he can do it any way he wants.
1. Paddy McBrearty (Donegal)
The Donegal man can make the ball scream with a mere swivel of that exalted left leg. He doesn’t even need an inch of space from defenders, because his motion is so snappy, rapid and polished that they’re left trailing in his wake anyway.
He can do it on the run, he can do it standing up, but the finest left peg in the country is at its most scenic best when the Kilcar killer is in full flight. He drops the ball towards the ground, his head tilts, his eyes follow it down.
All the talk was about Paddy McBrearty's left foot after Slaughtneil overpowered Kilcar https://t.co/CcMSLhF1zT
— Paul mc Caffrey (@BUNDORAN12) November 12, 2017
His timing is always perfect. His moneymaking quads lay the foundations. His pumping calves swing like a pendulum. His golden foot rotates like perfection to meet that ball at the perfect moment. It balloons into the sky, a white flag is more-often-than-not raised.
It’s a weapon that he possesses, it’s a weapon that he squeezes the best out of at every chance he gets. Because Paddy McBrearty doesn’t even need to be facing the goals to activate his finishing move. He can do it with his back to goals, he can do it anyway.
That’s the sweetest left peg in the game.
Donegal's Paddy McBrearty "came of age" with his 11 point haul during his side's win over Cork #TheSundayGame https://t.co/unN91U2G0U
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 31, 2016
