League of Ireland’s Greatest Moment

[ger121]

With the show on RTÉ currently, Ireland’s Greatest Sporting Moment, which has generated lots of discussion and debate. It got me wondering, what do posters think is The League of Ireland’s Greatest Moment? Obviously European games potentially stand out but maybe there are other moments that could be defined as great.

Yup it’s the Silly Season so what better time for a thread like this.

[nigel-harps1954]

Finn Harps winning the cup in 1974 is surely the greatest moment in LOI history?

[ToberonaTornado]

Dave Rogers' thong thing! :D

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/sport/soccer/dundalk-defiant-26934115.html

https://cdn-04.independent.ie/migration_catalog/article25366642.ece/9c222/AUTOCROP/w620/39fbe22e-51b4-4b25-991c-602efa392ef8.jpg

[MattB11]

Finn Harps beating Kildare County 4-0 on aggregate to win the 1st division cup in 2002 would be one of the obvious ones of course

[Ezeikial]

Mick O'Brien breaking the crossbar in the Finn Harps V Athlone cup semi-final in Oriel Park in 1974

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOEN6oSyglY

[ger121]

For me it was when the FAI took over the running of the League. What a Moment. Sure look at the standard now. Surprised it wasn’t on the show on RTÉ yet.

[Charlie Darwin]

Dave Rogers' thong thing! :D

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/sport/soccer/dundalk-defiant-26934115.html

https://cdn-04.independent.ie/migration_catalog/article25366642.ece/9c222/AUTOCROP/w620/39fbe22e-51b4-4b25-991c-602efa392ef8.jpg
Eoin Hand just spit out his coffee.

[thebronze14]

Finn Harps beating Kildare County 4-0 on aggregate to win the 1st division cup in 2002 would be one of the obvious ones of course
Largest trophy I've ever seen

[joey B]

Bj Bandas goal has no equal, it's obviously going to be a Harps moment just a question of which one!!

[Pablo Escobar]

It's hard for fans of one club to see it from another's point of view so from a selfish angle I'd go with Davy Barry's goal against Bayern Munich or Graham Cummins 94th minute goal to win the first division against the odds after the fans had taken the club off its knees......yeah, that second one for me. Shels fans may not agree though.

[bennocelt]

As a LOI fan with no hometown club, I'd go for Dundalk's achievements last year. Not just the results really but the way they played football. And the amount of goodwill it generated for the league was great.

On a personal level, the best game that I was at was that UCD game in Luxembourg, was fun and heart stopping at times, and a great day/night out!

[Ezeikial]

It's hard for fans of one club to see it from another's point of view so from a selfish angle I'd go with Davy Barry's goal against Bayern Munich or Graham Cummins 94th minute goal to win the first division against the odds after the fans had taken the club off its knees......yeah, that second one for me. Shels fans may not agree though.

That made me think of Colin Scanlon and the only goal he scored in his short Limerick career - his injury time equalising goal in Tolka Park unleashed incredible scenes in Kildare where Dundalk had just won 6-1, resulting in promotion by a point back to the premier division

Watch from about 5 mins onwards for how an atmosphere can change in an instant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6JgJjHv4y8

Shels fans may not agree though

[oriel]

I think most supporters will look to European performances as this is the highest standard we can be judged against and there have been so many excellent results from Bohs beating Rangers 3-2, Cork drawing 1-1 with Bayern, Rovers for having the most games played in Europe, Dundalk getting to the last 16 of the EC in 1979, and the list goes on.

Personally and I think for now overall, Dundalk equalising in the last min away to AZ Alkmaar getting the first point ever for an Irish side in a group stage then the first win a few weeks later at home to Macabi Tel Aviv are absoloute contenders.

[Ezeikial]

Personally and I think for now overall, Dundalk equalising in the last min away to AZ Alkmaar getting the first point ever for an Irish side in a group stage then the first win a few weeks later at home to Macabi Tel Aviv are absoloute contenders.

The 3-0 demolition of BATE in Tallaght Stadium in CLQ was a really special night

[Longfordian]

Has to be the 2003 FAI Cup win for LTFC. A hell of a day and night.

Overall I’d have to say Dundalk in Europe last year as well.

[Calcio Jack]

Most of if not all of the 'moments' mentioned so far are either trivial or parochial or both !!

1 Athlone drawing with Milan in St Mels- famous peon miss by John Minnock
2. Bohs/Drums selection v Santos 1972
3. Waterford v Celtic & Man U European cup
4. Pat Sullivan's equaliser against Belgrade
5 Miah Denneheys cup final hat trick against Cork Hibs

[Pablo Escobar]

Most of if not all of the 'moments' mentioned so far are either trivial or parochial or both !!

1 Athlone drawing with Milan in St Mels- famous peon miss by John Minnock
2. Bohs/Drums selection v Santos 1972
3. Waterford v Celtic & Man U European cup
4. Pat Sullivan's equaliser against Belgrade
5 Miah Denneheys cup final hat trick against Cork Hibs

I must pretty sure Miah scored that hat trick while playing for Cork Hibs. He got his move to England after that.

[osarusan]

Dundalk's Europa league group stage win has to be it really.

[Calcio Jack]

I must pretty sure Miah scored that hat trick while playing for Cork Hibs. He got his move to England after that.

Doh!! You are of course correct it was for Hibs against Waterford

[patrickccfc]

Bj Bandas goal has no equal, it's obviously going to be a Harps moment just a question of which one!!

I challenge anyone to name a moment that a BJ was celebrated as much as this

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Dundalk's Europa league group stage win has to be it really.

Not necessarily it was the first group stage win but with the group stages being a relatively new thing you're just discounting all the European results before they were a thing if thats the main reason for it, which isn't right, then theres also the quality of opposition point, beating that tel-aviv side in qualifying wouldn't be the greatest moment so does doing it later on make a difference? Personally I don't think it does.

[oriel]

Not necessarily it was the first group stage win but with the group stages being a relatively new thing you're just discounting all the European results before they were a thing if thats the main reason for it, which isn't right, then theres also the quality of opposition point, beating that tel-aviv side in qualifying wouldn't be the greatest moment so does doing it later on make a difference? Personally I don't think it does.

It was the highest performing standard any Irish team has ever played in Europe (so far).

Rovers played at obviously the same level in 2011, however their results were not good, as they didn't pick up a single point.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

It was the highest performing standard any Irish team has ever played in Europe (so far).

Rovers played at obviously the same level in 2011, however their results were not good, as they didn't pick up a single point.

In this version of European football. You can't tell me that Dundalk winning one game in the second tier of European football in a format where they get two goes at 3 teams is directly comparable to say Athlone's Milan game or Cork vs Bayern or even Dundalk PSV. It was a good result yes and an historic moment but the league's greatest moments? Nah not for me, personally I'd have it even below Dundalk beating BATE.

[nigel-harps1954]

I challenge anyone to name a moment that a BJ was celebrated as much as this

https://popdustroar-img.rbl.ms/simage/https%3A%2F%2Fassets.rbl.ms%2F6603121%2F980x.jpg/2000%2C2000/sUn8dHl2VxClH9K%2B/img.jpg

[Philosophizer]

Has to be Dundalk beating Bate 3-0. Specifically, the moment when Benson netted the 3rd. That's when you really knew that Dundalk were going to the group stage. I absolutely lost the run of myself in the stand. And given that Bate were CL regulars, beating them so comprehensively winning the tie 3-1 was just sublime.

In 2nd place I'd have Pat Sullivan's winner against Partizan.
In 3rd place, Dundalk beating Maccabi 1-0.

Cork (v Bayern), Limerick (v Madrid), Athlone (v Milan), Shels (v Deportivo) and Dundalk (on numerous occasions -PSV, Celtic, Spurs, Legia, Alkmar) were all excellent draws against big names, but they were just that - draws, usually losing over 2 legs. Bohs beat Kaiserslautern 1-0 in 00, which was great, but they ultimately lost the tie too. I just can't for the life of me say that our biggest moment was a draw and then losing the tie, even if it was against a household European name.

[El-Pietro]

If we are talking wins in Europe then I'm forwarding Cork City 4 -1 Malmo FF over two legs. 3-1 and 1-0. Malmo played in the European Cup Final in 1978-79. Lost to Nottingham Forest.

For me personally it was everytime Seani Maguire did something. He is the best player I've ever had the pleasure of watching on a weekly basis.

[oriel]

In this version of European football. You can't tell me that Dundalk winning one game in the second tier of European football in a format where they get two goes at 3 teams is directly comparable to say Athlone's Milan game or Cork vs Bayern or even Dundalk PSV. It was a good result yes and an historic moment but the league's greatest moments? Nah not for me, personally I'd have it even below Dundalk beating BATE.

All of those games you mention were draws, good results mind, I still put Dlk's 4 points in the group stage up there, and I`d be quite sure you would have ranked Rovers too if they had collected a win in 2011 as a contender, plus that was the word I used initially on Dlk's group stage win and draw was 'a contender'

3-0 win v BATE was an excellent performance along with the result.

[Philosophizer]

If we are talking wins in Europe then I'm forwarding Cork City 4 -1 Malmo FF over two legs. 3-1 and 1-0. Malmo played in the European Cup Final in 1978-79. Lost to Nottingham Forest.

For me personally it was everytime Seani Maguire did something. He is the best player I've ever had the pleasure of watching on a weekly basis.

That was an excellent result, but it was in the Inter Toto cup, which demeans it a bit.

Also, that match was in '04. You can't be claiming Malmo were a top side because they reached the European cup final in 1979! They weren't exactly the same force 25 yrs later.

[El-Pietro]

They were as good a side as the Bayern Munich side we faced. So from a "name" point of view they are right up there. If you are ever bored just take a look at the Bayern squad that year, I think Ally McInally was in there. Take out Steffen Effenberg and there aren't too many recognisable names.

[Philosophizer]

I'm sorry, but Malmo will never be considered in the same bracket as Bayern. If you're saying Malmo 04 were as good as Bayern 91, you're basically saying that Bayern 91 were exceptionally poor by their own standards, which does a disservice to Corks achievement that year.

Also worth mentioning that Shels result against Hajduk Split in 04 was just fantastic. I always forget about that result because the Deportivo match was so huge a few weeks later it overshadowed it, but it's gotta be up there too.

[oriel]

Its hard to take Inter Toto matches as serious contenders for anything really, although Cork did embrace the competition at its peak and had some fine results. In the context of greatest LOI moments, it can’t be considered, and is no comparison to any European matches, it should only be a club achievement.

[Pablo Escobar]

They were as good a side as the Bayern Munich side we faced. So from a "name" point of view they are right up there. If you are ever bored just take a look at the Bayern squad that year, I think Ally McInally was in there. Take out Steffen Effenberg and there aren't too many recognisable names.
I can't agree with that. That Malmo side were poor. Probably one of the poorest sides I've seen us face in Europe. I think it was mostly because they took a result for granted, but they showed nothing in the game in Turners Cross. The keeper as far as I remember was their 3rd choice. I don't think he's have gotten a game for our U-19's.

[Philosophizer]

I can't agree with that. That Malmo side were poor. Probably one of the poorest sides I've seen us face in Europe. I think it was mostly because they took a result for granted, but they showed nothing in the game in Turners Cross. The keeper as far as I remember was their 3rd choice. I don't think he's have gotten a game for our U-19's.

They hadn't won anything the previous year in Sweden either. So your win against Hacken (who were Swedish cup winners) last year was probably a better achievement.

[El-Pietro]

I can't agree with that. That Malmo side were poor. Probably one of the poorest sides I've seen us face in Europe. I think it was mostly because they took a result for granted, but they showed nothing in the game in Turners Cross. The keeper as far as I remember was their 3rd choice. I don't think he's have gotten a game for our U-19's.
My main point is that you have to put it up there with draws over big teams as Malmo are a relatively big club who have had some great European success. The Bayern team in particular get thrown out there but that was barely a Bayern Munich team. More like a bunch of Germans (and Alan McInally) wearing Bayern Munich shirts.
They went on to finish 10th in the Bundesliga that season and were beaten 6-3 by a team who went onto become FC Copenhagen in the next round.

[Philosophizer]

My main point is that you have to put it up there with draws over big teams as Malmo are a relatively big club who have had some great European success. The Bayern team in particular get thrown out there but that was barely a Bayern Munich team. More like a bunch of Germans (and Alan McInally) wearing Bayern Munich shirts.
They went on to finish 10th in the Bundesliga that season and were beaten 6-3 by a team who went onto become FC Copenhagen in the next round.

Malmo are not a big club. They're top dogs in Sweden, and bigger than any Irish clubs of course, but apart from reaching the final in 1979 they've never done anything of note in Europe. They rarely get past the 1st round. It's all here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malm%C3%B6_FF_in_European_football

[thebronze14]

The naming of the league Pat Grace's Famous Fried Chicken League...As a huge fan of fried chicken these were really special times

[placid casual]

Shels against deportivo, no?
No side has come close to champions league qualifying. And I include dundalk in that.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

All of those games you mention were draws, good results mind, I still put Dlk's 4 points in the group stage up there, and I`d be quite sure you would have ranked Rovers too if they had collected a win in 2011 as a contender, plus that was the word I used initially on Dlk's group stage win and draw was 'a contender'

3-0 win v BATE was an excellent performance along with the result.
They were draws but against far superior opposition than tel-aviv who in the greatest respect are a team you wouldn't be too unhappy to draw in the qualifiers, bar the pain in the ass away leg.
I know you said it was a contender but my reply was to the Limerick fan.

[oriel]

Fair enough then RH.

That PSV team Dundalk played in 1976 and drew 1-1 with had 3 or 4 Dutch internationalist I think, and some who played in the WC final 2 years earlier in 1974 or possibly 2 years later in 1978. Another one sometimes forgotten was the 1-1 draw at home to Spurs in 1981, 4 months after they won the FA Cup, then a huge trophy and probably higher ranked than finishing 2nd or possibly 3rd in the English League. What a night that was, 18,000 crammed into oriel park, only lost the away leg 1-0 too.

What was that book that was out a few years ago, featuring the top 10 Irish performances in Europe. I bought it, can't recall the name (Gods v Goliaths????? ) They even had a mention for Galway playing a Dutch team in Connemara, Gronnigen was it?

[sbgawa]

Pat O Sullivan for me, I know I'm biased but as a breakthrough moment for something that we all thought was almost impossible it gets it ...
I honestly thought at the time it would make the LOI more popular overall but the armchair fan moved on pretty quick, same as last year with Dundalk the benefits to the league are fleeting at best

[Philosophizer]

I honestly thought at the time it would make the LOI more popular overall but the armchair fan moved on pretty quick, same as last year with Dundalk the benefits to the league are fleeting at best

It's very hard to quantify the impact that a club doing well in Europe seems to have on LOI attendances, but avg attendances are slightly up this year, even if you take out Cork's attendances.

Who knows, maybe Dundalk's run last year convinced a few people to head along to see their local team this year.

[nigel-harps1954]

As a neutral in both instances, I think Dundalk captured the wider publics attention more than Shamrock Rovers did in their Europa League exploits. The goal in Belgrade was fantastic, and 90% of LOI fans celebrated that goal.

But, the whole country got behind Dundalk. I've friends that are completely anti-LOI who didn't give a sh!te when Rovers got into the Europa League but really got behind Dundalk after the BATE game. The result in Alkmaar was one of the stand out results in LOI history for me, considering Man United came away from another Eredivisie side on the same night with equally as many points. That fact stood to English league fans more than anything else on the night.

[seand]

Avoiding the temptation to list 30 Dundalk moments, including 20 in the last 5 years....

Sullivan's goal in Belgrade is a great call.... it was a ludicrously good goal in it's own right but it ultimately put Rovers on the way to breaking the glass ceiling in Europe.

[Longfordian]

As a neutral in both instances, I think Dundalk captured the wider publics attention more than Shamrock Rovers did in their Europa League exploits. The goal in Belgrade was fantastic, and 90% of LOI fans celebrated that goal.

But, the whole country got behind Dundalk. I've friends that are completely anti-LOI who didn't give a sh!te when Rovers got into the Europa League but really got behind Dundalk after the BATE game. The result in Alkmaar was one of the stand out results in LOI history for me, considering Man United came away from another Eredivisie side on the same night with equally as many points. That fact stood to English league fans more than anything else on the night.

United were actually beaten by Feyenoord if I recall correctly.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Pat O Sullivan for me, I know I'm biased but as a breakthrough moment for something that we all thought was almost impossible it gets it ...
I honestly thought at the time it would make the LOI more popular overall but the armchair fan moved on pretty quick, same as last year with Dundalk the benefits to the league are fleeting at best

And then he goes and saves Limerick from the brink. What a man.

[ToberonaTornado]

That made me think of Colin Scanlon and the only goal he scored in his short Limerick career - his injury time equalising goal in Tolka Park unleashed incredible scenes in Kildare where Dundalk had just won 6-1, resulting in promotion by a point back to the premier division

Watch from about 5 mins onwards for how an atmosphere can change in an instant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6JgJjHv4y8

Shels fans may not agree though

I remember well that video being played on a loop during the Dundalk POTY awards night about 2 weeks after the promotion match in Newbridge.Surreal night in the Lilywhite lounge as the rumours were that despite Giller and Sculls delivering promotion for the club their contracts were not being renewed :( (Turned out the rumours were true of course and Sean Connor was appointed soon afterwards)

Here's the LMFM commentary from Station Road and Tolka Park on what was a total rollercoaster night for Dundalk FC & their fans (1min 17secs of it anyway)

https://soundcloud.com/lmfmradio/end-of-loi-first-div-season-2008 (

[ger121]

Yeah my ‘****ing Hell’ moment was Sullivan’s Volley. Firstly because it was Rovers and we hate to see them happy. Secondly because it was a cracker of a goal,which finally put to bed the nearly men tag LOI sides had in Europe before then. That they squandered the opportunity was another of my favourite moments:clap:

[OwlsFan]

Mick Leech's goals against Waterford in the 1968 FAI Cup Final (in the days when every goal prompted a pitch invasion) in front of almost 40k and I had the pleasure of being one of them. Second biggest crowd ever at a cup final I think azVqtwGklm0

[dundalkfc10]

As a neutral in both instances, I think Dundalk captured the wider publics attention more than Shamrock Rovers did in their Europa League exploits. The goal in Belgrade was fantastic, and 90% of LOI fans celebrated that goal.

But, the whole country got behind Dundalk. I've friends that are completely anti-LOI who didn't give a sh!te when Rovers got into the Europa League but really got behind Dundalk after the BATE game. The result in Alkmaar was one of the stand out results in LOI history for me, considering Man United came away from another Eredivisie side on the same night with equally as many points. That fact stood to English league fans more than anything else on the night.

Totally agree, its mad if you wear a Dundalk top abroad now, someone will always recognise the jersey and talk about the Europa League.

Was actually back in Amsterdam in summer with the GF (first time Ive been since we went to Alkmaar) and the amount of people who asked me was I over last year when we played.

What I seem to get in Ireland (from non LOI fans) now is, ah sure that will never happen again!

[mcgonigle]

Totally agree, its mad if you wear a Dundalk top abroad now, someone will always recognise the jersey and talk about the Europa League.

Was actually back in Amsterdam in summer with the GF (first time Ive been since we went to Alkmaar) and the amount of people who asked me was I over last year when we played.

What I seem to get in Ireland (from non LOI fans) now is, ah sure that will never happen again!

Word of our exploits even reached the North Pole. Two visits to Santa (in Dublin) this year and both times he was able to chat to my son about it because he was wearing a Dundalk coat. Even got a "cmon da town" out of the big man. What a time to be alive..