Foot.ie decides - Ireland's best goal!

[Eminence Grise]

Group E


Ray Houghton N v Italy, 1994 – the stage and the opposition, the something out of nothing… Class.
Roy Keane A v Cyprus, 2001 – easy to forget that for all he was a hard man (especially since he took up studs-up punditry) there was a player of real skill there too.
Anthony Pilkington H v USA, 2014
Robbie Brady N v Italy, 2016
Mark Kennedy H v Yugoslavia, 1999
Gary Doherty A v Russia, 2002

[pineapple stu]

OK, going to blow it up on Group D. Robbie Keane takes the honours with 38, and will be joined in the last 32 by Liam Brady (32). John Byrne (27), Stephen Ireland (23), Frank Stapleton (15) and Clinton Morrison (13) made up the group. Bit surprised at Morrison's poor showing tbh, but tough group I guess.

Group E will continue till the morning, and in the meantime, here's your contenders in Group F, which is our newest group in terms of average year -

1) Stephen Ward H v Belarus, 2016
2) Marc Wilson A v Faroe Islands, 2012
3) Robbie Keane N v Germany, 2002
4) Steve Staunton A v Malta, 1999
5) Seáni Maguire H v New Zealand, 2019
6) Wes Hoolahan N v Sweden, 2016

Videos to follow in a sec...

[pineapple stu]

1) Stephen Ward H v Belarus, 2016
A lovely tee-up by Long makes this one, I think. Time is 3:00; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP0O4mh8AbA&t=3m0s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP0O4mh8AbA&t=3m0s

[pineapple stu]

2) Marc Wilson A v Faroe Islands, 2012
A belter from the edge of the box to finally break down the Faroes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m5PZcBoyXg

[pineapple stu]

3) Robbie Keane N v Germany, 2002
Love John Motson parodying himself on the BBC commentary here. "Look at these scenes! Just look at these scenes!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIexE4B1GHY

[pineapple stu]

4) Steve Staunton A v Malta, 1999
Another utter ****wit of a commentator, but a quality free to dig us out of a big hole, having given away a 2-0 lead in Malta. Time is 1:06; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFWusaKRtBo&t=1m6s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFWusaKRtBo&t=1m6s

[pineapple stu]

5) Seáni Maguire H v New Zealand, 2019
The most recent goal in the tournament, with Troy Parrott setting up Seáni Maguire after a bit of a scrum on the edge of the box. Time is 2:00; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBWFxf9Zzik&t=2m0s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBWFxf9Zzik&t=2m0s

[pineapple stu]

6) Wes Hoolahan N v Sweden, 2016
Wessi's moment on the big stage. Time is 3:40; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzbEPjqYGis&t=3m40s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzbEPjqYGis&t=3m40s

[nigel-harps1954]

Group F: (toughest one yet)

1. Wilson
2. Maguire
3. Staunton
4. Hoolahan
5. Keane
6. Ward

[Eirambler]

Group F

1st) Wes Hoolahan N v Sweden, 2016
2) Seáni Maguire H v New Zealand, 2019
3) Steve Staunton A v Malta, 1999
4) Robbie Keane N v Germany, 2002
5) Marc Wilson A v Faroe Islands, 2012
6) Stephen Ward H v Belarus, 2016

I have absolutely no recollection of that Belarus game.

[pineapple stu]

In Turners Cross just before the Euros. It was straight after that O'Neill cut - was it Forde? Or Westwood?

[SkStu]

Group F
Hoolahan
Staunton
Keane
Maguire
Wilson
Ward

[geysir]

Group F
1. Wes Hoolahan
2. Stan Staunton
3. Robbie Keane
4. Marc Wilson
5. Stephen Ward
6, Sean Maguire.

Nice to see Stan going ape.

[Fixer82]

Group C

1) Ronnie Whelan V USSR
2) James McClean V Wales
3) Kevin Sheedy V England
4) Andrews V Italy
5) Keane V Saudi Arabia
6) O'Callaghan V Malta

Group D

1) Keane V Israel
2) Stapleton V Malta
3) Brady V France
4) Ireland V Wales
5) Byrne V Turkey
6) Clinton V Israel

Group E

1) Mark Kennedy v Yugoslavia
2) Ray Houghton v Italy
3) Robbie Brady V Italy
4) Anthony Pilkington v USA
5) Gary Doherty v Russia
6) Roy Keane V Cyprus

GROUP F
1) Keane
2) Staunton
3) Hoolahan
4) Maguire
5) Wilson
6) Ward

[pineapple stu]

So it's Houghton and Kennedy (in that order) who progress from Group E - just one point between them though. A good gap of ten points back to Robbie Brady in third.

Group F (the newest group; average year 2011) will remain open till this evening, and Group G (the oldest group; average year 1993) is up now. We have -

Ray Houghton A v Belgium, 1997
Liam Brady H v Brazil, 1987
Gary Kelly A v Cyprus, 2001
Paul McGrath H v Luxembourg, 1987
Roy Keane H v Portugal, 2001
Tony Grealish H v Switzerland, 1985

Videos on the way...

[pineapple stu]

Ray Houghton A v Belgium, 1997
A technically excellent header from the little man. Time is 0:04; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ubn7rqXRdo&t=0m4s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ubn7rqXRdo&t=0m4s

[pineapple stu]

Liam Brady H v Brazil, 1987
A Brazilian effort to down Brazil in 87.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ViNvMb-zyc

[pineapple stu]

Gary Kelly A v Cyprus, 2001
A slight nick on the shot maybe? But it's a Gary Kelly 30-yarder, so worth an inclusion even if there was. Time is 1:32; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tSeJoNqgCM&t=1m32s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tSeJoNqgCM&t=1m32s

[pineapple stu]

Paul McGrath H v Luxembourg, 1987
An important goal in the Euro 88 campaign - an almost disinterested "**** off" of a volley while level at 1-1 in the second half at home to Luxembourg. Time is 0:27; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce1OENoiFtU&t=0m27s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce1OENoiFtU&t=0m27s

[pineapple stu]

Roy Keane H v Portugal, 2001
Another one nominated in the call for Keane goals. Quick thinking in the box completely fools the Potuguese keeper, who effectively just falls over. Time is 0:15; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-tIaVUymMQ&t=0m15s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-tIaVUymMQ&t=0m15s

[pineapple stu]

Tony Grealish H v Switzerland, 1985
About as deft a header as you are ever likely to see. Time is 0:48; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGgJZgArSgM&t=0m48s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGgJZgArSgM&t=0m48s

[NeverFeltBetter]

1. Hoolahan
2. Wilson
3. Staunton
4. Ward
5. Maguire
6. Keane

[NeverFeltBetter]

1. Houghton
2. McGrath
3. Keane
4. Grelish
5. Brady
6. Kelly

[seanfhear]

After watch all this I am going to expect Ireland to win every Game and with Great Goals ! !

[geysir]

Group G
1. Liam Brady v Brazil, 1987
2. Tony Grealish v Switzerland, 1985
3. Ray Houghton A v Belgium, 1997
4. Paul McGrath v Luxembourg, 1987
5. Gary Kelly A v Cyprus, 2001
6. Roy Keane H v Portugal, 2001

The excellent throw in from Kelly to Roy Keane landed on a sixpence, Roy reacted well but imo it was mainly the deflection off the defender that wrong footed the goalie.
Roy like Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven) got lucky in the order.

[Eirambler]

Group G
1st. McGrath
2. Brady
3. Kelly
4. Houghton
5. Keane
6. Grealish

[elatedscum]

1. Hoolahan
2. Ward
3. Staunton
4. Maguire
5. Keane
6. Wilson (deflection changed it for me)

[pineapple stu]

Hoolahan and Stan - despite the latter not having a single first preference vote - pulling ahead in Group F.

Still a couple of hours left to vote before Group H opens up.

[Kingdom]

Group A

We kick off with one of our newer groups - average year is 2007. Two of these to progress; four to go back to the archives. There's a one video per post limit - so I've to put up six different posts. Bear with me!

The group is -
1) Robbie Brady A v Bosnia, 2015
2) John O'Shea A v Germany, 2014
3) Glenn Whelan H v Italy, 2009
4) Kevin Doyle A v Slovakia, 2007
5) Liam Miller H v Sweden, 2006
6) Niall Quinn A v Wales, 1991

Doyle, O'Shea, Whelan, Quinn, Miller, Brady

[Kingdom]

Group B
1) Aiden McGeady A v Georgia, 2014
2) Andy Townsend H v Northern Ireland, 1993

[Kingdom]

Actually just looking at Staunton's goal and I've no idea why Hamilton referenced the "Nou Camp" goalkeeper. I thought it was Dassayev, who was playing in Spain at the time, but with Seville - but it's actually Uvarov (as Hamilton says at the end), who was with Dinamo Moscow.

Evidence of one of Hamilton's earliest errors?

Does he not say "new cap goalkeeper"?

[pineapple stu]

Oh, that could be a good call actually.

[DeLorean]

Group F

1. Hoolahan
2. Keane
3. Staunton
4. Maguire
5. Ward
6. Wilson

Group G

1. Brady
2. Houghton
3. McGrath
4. Grealish
5. Keane
6. Kelly

[nigel-harps1954]

Group G:

1. McGrath
2. Kelly
3. Houghton
4. Keane
5. Grealish
6. Brady

[pineapple stu]

Peep-peep-peeeeep on Group F so. Wes takes the top spot (43 points), with Stan also joining him in the last 32 (35 points). Keane v the Germans was in third on 27, ahead of Maguire (25), Wilson (22) and Ward (16). Tight group though - every goal got a top-two nomination.

Group H is the last of the six-goal groups. We have -

1) Kevin Doyle H v Andorra, 2010
2) Robbie Keane H v Denmark, 2002
3) Gary Waddock H v Holland, 1983
4) Roy Keane H v Hungary, 1993
5) Alan McLoughlin A v Northern Ireland, 1993
6) James McClean H v Uruguay, 2017

As always, give me a sec on videos. And you can still vote in Group G. You don't have to have voted in earlier groups to join in now.

Hope people are getting something out of it btw! Some random goals in this that I'd completely forgotten about anyway.

[pineapple stu]

1) Kevin Doyle H v Andorra, 2010
A proper out-of-the-blue after a bit of scrappy play 30 yards out. Does it matter that it was against Andorra? Time is 1:10; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPIY1DAokEI&t=1m10s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPIY1DAokEI&t=1m10s

[pineapple stu]

2) Robbie Keane H v Denmark, 2002
A not-entirely-dissimilar strike to the one above actually - and at the exact same stage of the video too. Maybe a friendly against Denmark is worth more than a qualifier against Andorra? Time is 1:10; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeVAP3WJ02U&t=1m10s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeVAP3WJ02U&t=1m10s

[pineapple stu]

3) Gary Waddock H v Holland, 1983
That is actually Dalymount Park, as most of us have never seen it before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e9iDfbony8

[pineapple stu]

4) Roy Keane H v Hungary, 1993
Our quickest ever goal I think (11 seconds) - albeit that it didn't count because, as the OPEL on the jersey will tell you, it was a testimonial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtPp2Jh2HkM

[elatedscum]

Group G

1. McGrath
2. Brady
3. Grealish
4. Keane
5. Kelly
6. Houghton

[pineapple stu]

5) Alan McLoughlin A v Northern Ireland, 1993
Another iconic goal that needs little by way of introduction! Time is 1:30; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp9Bt18Rvv4&t=1m30s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp9Bt18Rvv4&t=1m30s

[pineapple stu]

6) James McClean H v Uruguay, 2017
McClean in the form of his life - one of his six international goals in 2016/17. Time is 2:38; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KIM2dm6tac&t=2m38s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KIM2dm6tac&t=2m38s

[pineapple stu]

Group G

1. McGrath
2. Brady
3. Grealish
4. Keane
5. Kelly
6. Houghton
Got that; ta! Sneaking in between my videos :)

[SkStu]

Group G
McGrath
Houghton
Grealish
Brady
Kelly
Keane

[SkStu]

Group H
McLoughlin
Doyle
McClean
Robbie Keane
Waddock
Roy Keane

[NeverFeltBetter]

Doyle
McClean
Mcloughlin
Robbie Keane
Roy Keane
Waddock

[Eirambler]

Group H

1st) McLoughlin
2) Doyle
3) Robbie Keane
4) McClean
5) Roy Keane
6) Waddock

[geysir]

Group H
1. Alan McLoughlin v Northern Ireland 1993
2. Kevin Doyle v Andorra, 2010
3. Gary Waddock v Holland, 1983
4. James McClean v Uruguay, 2017
5. Robbie Keane v Denmark, 2002
6. Roy Keane v Hungary, 1993

Was that Roy's first goal for us even if it didn't count?

[SkStu]

Group H
1. Alan McLoughlin v Northern Ireland 1993
2. Kevin Doyle v Andorra, 2010
3. Gary Waddock v Holland, 1983
4. James McClean v Uruguay, 2017
5. Robbie Keane v Denmark, 2002
6. Roy Keane v Hungary, 1993

Was that Roy's first goal for us even if it didn't count?

I believe it was. I believe it was also Phil Babb's debut for us, even if it didnt count :) . Was at that game and remember looking around at a few puzzled faces when his name was read out by the announcer.

[nigel-harps1954]

Group H

1. Doyle
2. Robbie Keane
3. Roy Keane
4. McLaughlin
5. McClean
6. Waddock