Cooper picks three toughest defenders he's played against

Kerry football legend Colm Cooper was a guest analyst on the opening Sunday Game on RTÉ last night as he continues to recover from a season-ending injury.

The Dr Crokes star tore his cruciate ligament as well as breaking his kneecap in a horrific injury sustained during Crokes’ All-Ireland club semi-final defeat in February.

While fans will be disappointed not to see the four-time All-Ireland winner on the pitch this season, it was good to see him on the RTÉ couch where he analysed the weekend’s games and also revealed the three toughest defenders he’s had to encounter during his career.

In no particular order, Cooper named Corkman Anthony Lynch, Mayo’s Keith Higgins and, from the Kingdom, Marc Ó Sé. Here’s what he had to say about them:

“One of the guys I faced for ten years was Anthony Lynch from Cork. He was a great defender, very committed and tenacious and a great servant to Cork. I remember going to Páirc Uí Chaoimh and having many tough days against him."

“In one Munster final, he was named man-of-the-match. Anybody who faced Anthony would know that they were in a game. He was a shining light for ten or 12 years on the Cork team along with Graham Canty.

"The fact that he played corner-back, full-back and centre-back showed how versatile he was.

“The second player is Keith Higgins from Mayo. I’ve been on him in All-Ireland finals and a number of League games.

"I don’t think I’ve ever come across a player with so much speed. He showed his versatility by going into the forwards and he lined out at centre-forward in last year’s All-Ireland final. He’s a player who is highly rated, not only in Mayo, but all over the country.

"He has a number of All Stars and I just found it difficult to find space off him. I’ve had a good few battles with him and who knows we may do again."

Gooch's third choice is a player he's faced many times in training, fellow Kerryman Marc Ó Sé.

"He’s been one of Kerry’s most consistent backs since I started playing. He’s a great reader of the game and he such a good player that he could play in any position. Indeed, he played centre-forward for his club.

"In a few club matches, we’ve even had a few blows."