Chris Toner is a well-known figure in local soccer circles, and has played for many clubs over the last twenty years.
He is best known for representing Lagan Harps, but has also enjoyed stints with Bonagee United, Letterkenny Rovers, Killea, Drumoghill, Swilly Rovers, and Fanad United at youth level.
Toner has gone up against some quality players over the last two decades, and has this week picked the best 11 (4-4-2) he has faced. Caolan McGettigan[/caption]
Caolan McGettigan (Milford United)
I played with Caolan for a little bit when I was with Letterkenny Rovers and Fanad youths but mainly against him down through the years when he played with Milford. A really solid goalkeeper who didn’t make many mistakes.
Conal McGoinigle (Letterkenny Rovers)
I would have gone up against Conal plenty down through the years and you wouldn’t have got anything easy against him. He came and played a season for us with Lagan, and was brilliant as well.
Arthur Lynch (Fanad United)
If there was anything in the air, Arthur would take care of it but he was good on the ball as well. He was so strong. My whole game was about trying to get in behind defenders, but Arthur just wouldn’t let me do that.
Arthur Lynch
Patrick Patton (Fanad United)
‘Burger’ wasn’t the biggest but he was one of the top defenders in the league. He was sweeping for Fanad when they were going very well and read the game better than anyone else.
Benny Bonner (Drumkeen United)
Benny Bonner should have been a senior player for years and years. He was in the same mould as Johnny Minnock. As left foots go, there aren’t too many better than his about.
Benny Bonner
Marty McAteer (Letterkenny Rovers and Fanad United)
Marty was a brilliant footballer and stood out in the Ulster Senior League. He was unreal at set-pieces. If his team got a free-kick just outside the box, you were worried.
Chris Malseed (Letterkenny Rovers and Drumoghill)
I was part of the Donegal Youth League team that won the All-Ireland and Chris Malseed was a year or two younger than most of the boys but he was one of the main men. He went on to play for Harps and over in Scotland and that showed how good he was. He then came back and played for Rovers and Drumoghill, and he is still a top class box-to-box midfielder.
Chris Malseed, Letterkenny Rovers
Marty Brogan (Lagan Harps and Glencar Celtic)
I know Marty a long time and he has always been a very good footballer. A decent man about a dressing room as well.
Terence Shiels (Letterkenny Rovers, Drumoghill and Milford United)
It always looked like it came so easy to Terence. He was always comfortable on the ball and never gave it away. He probably could have played at a higher level.
Stephen O’Donnell
Stephen O”Donnell (Kildrum Tigers and Letterkenny Rovers)
I know Stevie very well and he’s probably one of the most talented players I have ever played against. There wasn’t much he couldn’t do on the field, and he should have played senior football for a lot longer than he did.
PJ Hagan (Fanad United Milford United)
I would have played against PJ right up through underage football to the Donegal League with Milford in recent years, and he was always a hard man to stop and a great goalscorer. He was a nightmare to play against because he was as strong as a bull and very quick as well.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)