Picking a team of GAA hardmen is one of the great pub debates. Everyone has their favourites. Everyone has their stories. But for this XV, we wanted a team that is not just tough, but also balanced, realistic, and capable of lining out in an actual match.
And let’s be honest: if anything kicked off with this group on the pitch, you would be in deep trouble.
The scary part?
They can all play too.
Best Irish betting offers – 18+, BeGambleAware
1. Shane Curran (Roscommon)
You can’t build a team of hardmen without “Cake”. Shane Curran was unpredictable, fearless and fiercely competitive. He was also a superb shot-stopper and a natural leader. A true maverick between the posts.
2. Francis Bellew (Armagh)
Francie Bellew gets the nod after years of punishing marking jobs during Armagh’s golden era. He was physical, uncompromising and utterly reliable. A cornerstone of their 2002 All-Ireland success.
3. Mick Lyons (Meath)
One of the toughest men ever to play the game. Full forwards still tell stories about trying to get away from him. Lyons set the tone for Meath’s famous edge in the 80s and early 90s.
4. Neil McGee (Donegal)
McGee spent over a decade smashing through attackers for Donegal. His strength was legendary. Just rewatch Stephen O’Neill bouncing off him in the 2012 Ulster Championship. That tells you everything.
5. Páidí Ó Sé (Kerry)
Páidí brought steel, swagger and a never-back-down attitude. He was every bit as tough as he was talented. His duels with Dinny Allen still live in folklore.
6. Keith Barr (Dublin)
A leader for Dublin in the 1990s and a central figure in the Dublin–Meath wars. He defended hard, hit hard and demanded the same standards from everyone around him.
7. Eamon Heery (Dublin)
Heery was the definition of tough. A relentless competitor who typified Dublin football in that era. Never took a backward step and never softened a challenge.
8. Liam Hayes (Meath)
A massive presence for Meath and a vital part of their back-to-back All-Ireland wins. Hayes was strong in the air, tough in the tackle and hugely influential. He gives this team serious bite around the middle.
9. Paul McGrane (Armagh)
McGrane was the engine of Armagh’s powerhouse midfield in the early 2000s. Always physical, always dependable. The ideal partner for Hayes.
10. Paul Galvin (Kerry)
Love him or hate him, Galvin never backed down. He was fiercely competitive, brilliant on the ball and always in the thick of the action. Footballer of the Year in 2009.
11. Colm Coyle (Meath)
We play Coyle sweeping. He was absolutely made for it. His reputation speaks for itself. His involvement in the 1996 All-Ireland final replay brawl lives in infamy, with the umpire telling the referee Pat McEnaney “Pat you’re going to have to send off Colm Coyle, he’s after dropping about six of them”.
12. Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone)
Ok we’re playing a little defensive now, but Ricey had to be in. Tenacious, clever and always physical. He marked the best forwards of his era and left none of them comfortable. A perfect fit in this line due to his versatility.
13. Colm O’Rourke (Meath)
A warrior in green and gold. O’Rourke could mix it with anyone and still kick scores. His battles with the great defenders of his time shaped Meath’s rise under Seán Boylan.
14. Michael Murphy (Donegal)
One of the strongest players of the modern era. Murphy is a gentleman off the field and a wrecking ball on it. He dominates some of the best defenders in the country and has the skill and ability to make them pay.
15. Kieran Donaghy (Kerry)
Star had to be here. Big, physical and never shy of confrontation. Donaghy thrived on battles with full-backs and always came out swinging. Footballer of the Year in 2006.
Final Thoughts
This XV is more than a list of tough players. It’s a balanced team that could genuinely line out. They have physicality, leadership, big-game experience and no shortage of footballing talent.
But if tempers flared?
Let’s just say you’d want to be standing well back.
