Foot.ie decides - Ireland's best goal!

[geysir]

Apart from cometh the hour cometh the man, McLoughlin did look up, picked his spot and stroked the ball purposefully in the one direction through a crowded box.

[pineapple stu]

So Paul McGrath takes Group G, but we have a tie for second place between Brady and Houghton. I'll use my Chairman vote - much an all as the Houghton goal is a real acrobatic header in a vital play-off, I think Brady's goal stands out for beating Brazil at their own game, so I'll put Brady through as runner-up.

Group H is still open, and I'll throw up Group I now -

1) Matt Holland A v Estonia, 2001
2) Jason McAteer H v Holland, 2001
3) Gary Waddock H v Italy, 1985
4) Ian Harte A v Liechtenstein, 1996
5) Tony Cascarino H v USA, 1992

Videos on the way...

[pineapple stu]

1) Matt Holland A v Estonia, 2001
Matt Holland gets in some distance practice ahead of the following summer. Time is 0:53; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNKA9NzM7Yc&t=0m53s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNKA9NzM7Yc&t=0m53s

[pineapple stu]

2) Jason McAteer H v Holland, 2001
The one in Lansdowne. The one in Amsterdam is yet to come.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ_l0d2r4Mo

[pineapple stu]

3) Gary Waddock H v Italy, 1985
They don't make match surrounds like this one any more... Time is 2:05; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aP7IMzrKY4&t=2m5s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aP7IMzrKY4&t=2m5s

[pineapple stu]

4) Ian Harte A v Liechtenstein, 1996
Properly exorcising the ghosts of the year earlier. Time is 0:49; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMeRaNgVswo&t=0m49s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMeRaNgVswo&t=0m49s

[pineapple stu]

5) Tony Cascarino H v USA, 1992
About the most un-Cascarino goal you're likely to see. (At least, until he went to France). Time is 0:35; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IKeRPk3Wj4&t=0m35s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IKeRPk3Wj4&t=0m35s

[elatedscum]

Group H

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

[NeverFeltBetter]

1. McAteer
2. Harte
3. Waddock
4. Holland
5. Cascarino

[SkStu]

Group I
McAteer
Holland
Waddock
Cascarino
Harte

[geysir]

Group I

1. Jason McAteer
2. Matt Holland
3. Ian Harte
4. Tony Cas
5. Gary Waddock, - Stapleton was Man of Iron.

[Fixer82]

Group G

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

[Fixer82]

Group H

1. Robbie Keane
2. Alan McLoughlin
3. James McClean
4. Roy Keane
5. Kevin Doyle
6. Garry Waddock

Group I

1. McAteer
2. Holland
3. Cascarino
4. Harte
5. Waddock

[pineapple stu]

So it's a tie at the top of Group H - 33 points apiece for McLoughlin and Doyle. Both go through, but it needs a Chairman vote to place them in the last 32 draw - so I'll plump for McLoughlin mainly for the occasion. World Cup qualification hanging in the balance in a cauldron like that outdoes a home qualifier against Andorra.

Group I is still open - no surprise that McAteer has a big lead already - and he could have a double after Group J...

1) Jason McAteer A v Holland, 2000
2) Michael Robinson A v Holland, 1981
3) Niall Quinn A v Macedonia, 1999
4) Gary Breen N v Saudi Arabia, 2002
5) Liam Lawrence H v South Africa, 2009

Videos coming up now.

[pineapple stu]

1) Jason McAteer A v Holland, 2000
Another iconic effort, particularly with the double backheel. So good it also won us the World Cup Final against England in 2002! Time is 1:28; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVV-f9LoSLw&t=2m28s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVV-f9LoSLw&t=2m28s

[pineapple stu]

2) Michael Robinson A v Holland, 1981
Another 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw away to Holland. This one is the precursor to Hoolahan's goal v Sweden. Time is 0:50; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kry2IX7dQZE&t=0m50s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kry2IX7dQZE&t=0m50s

[pineapple stu]

3) Niall Quinn A v Macedonia, 1999
"Watch for Quinn on these with his height advantage", says the commentator, as Quinn proceeds to score from a corner while sitting down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUvGHk3Phno

[pineapple stu]

4) Gary Breen N v Saudi Arabia, 2002
The best toe-bog we ever scored? Time is 0:55; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmDSEHeMKTA&t=0m55s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmDSEHeMKTA&t=0m55s

[pineapple stu]

5) Liam Lawrence H v South Africa, 2009
One of our two Thomond Park friendlies that year. The replay shows just how good this free-kick was. Time is 0:22; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVQwpZl--Zs&t=0m22s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVQwpZl--Zs&t=0m22s

[Eirambler]

Group I

1. Harte
2. Holland
3. McAteer
4. Cascarino
5. Waddock

[Eirambler]

Group J

1) Jason McAteer A v Holland, 2000
2) Liam Lawrence H v South Africa, 2009
3) Gary Breen N v Saudi Arabia, 2002
4) Michael Robinson A v Holland, 1981
5) Niall Quinn A v Macedonia, 1999

[SkStu]

1) Jason McAteer A v Holland, 2000
Another iconic effort, particularly with the double backheel. So good it also won us the World Cup Final against England in 2002! Time is 1:28; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVV-f9LoSLw&t=2m28s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVV-f9LoSLw&t=2m28s

The best and worst of following football, that game. What a game though. Best couplet ever? (another comp/poll Pineapple?) lol

[SkStu]

Group J
McAteer
Robinson
Lawrence
Breen (love that goal though)
Quinn

[NeverFeltBetter]

Robinson
Lawrence
McAteer
Breen
Quinn

[elatedscum]

Group I

1. McAteer
2. Cascarino
3. Harte
4. Holland
5. Waddock

[elatedscum]

Group J

1. Keane
2. Lawrence
3. Robinson
4. Breen
5. Quinn

[pineapple stu]

So full-time on Group I there - Jason McAteer the comfortable winner, with Matt Holland just pipping Ian Harte to second and the other spot in the knock-outs.

Group J is still open - quite tight between McAteer, Robinson and Lawrence at the moment - while Group K is now up. It's -

1) Damien Duff H v Canada, 2003
2) David Kelly H v England, 1995
3) Ian Harte H v Israel, 2005
4) Robbie Brady N v Oman, 2012
5) Darron Gibson H v Wales, 2011

Videos in a tic! Just five more groups after this, and then into the knock-outs.

[pineapple stu]

1) Damien Duff H v Canada, 2003
One of our great individual goals, even if it was only Canada... Time is 0:15; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=Him1bVjkVGc&t=0m15s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=Him1bVjkVGc&t=0m15s

[pineapple stu]

2) David Kelly H v England, 1995
A nicely-worked goal that started a riot. (Actually, I think it was England's disallowed goal shortly after that started the riot, but still).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30ThJblpDLs

[pineapple stu]

3) Ian Harte H v Israel, 2005
Another belter of a free-kick from Hartey. One of only three games (I think) which has more than one nomination.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r9x68LLAKs

[pineapple stu]

4) Robbie Brady N v Oman, 2012
The first senior goal from a bright young thing called Brady. Time is 0:32; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ-sWZvLL_E&t=0m32s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ-sWZvLL_E&t=0m32s

[pineapple stu]

5) Darron Gibson H v Wales, 2011
Maybe the only memorable thing from the Carling Nations Cup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOKax_8dELY

[NeverFeltBetter]

Harte
Gibson
Brady
Kelly
Duff

[elatedscum]

Group J

1. Keane
2. Lawrence
3. Robinson
4. Breen
5. Quinn

My No.1 should obviously be McAteer. Guess I was half asleep

[elatedscum]

Group K

1. Harte
2. Gibson
3. Duff
4. Brady
5. Kelly

[geysir]

Group J

1 Jason McAteer
2. Michael Robinson
3. Gary Breen 'the man with no club'
4. Liam Lawrence
5. Niall Quinn

[geysir]

Group K

1. David Kelly
2. Ian Harte
3. Darron Gibson
4. D.Duff
5. Robbie Brady

[nigel-harps1954]

Group J

1. McAteer
2. Lawrence
3. Robinson
4. Quinn
5. Breen

[nigel-harps1954]

Group K

1. Gibson
2. Harte
3. Duff
4. Brady
5. Kelly

[pineapple stu]

Gotta be honest - a bit surprised at the lack of love Damien Duff's effort against Canada is getting!

Robinson and Lawrence dead level in second place at the moment in Group J. Still time for that to change though before the Shane Long show gets underway around 6pm

[Fixer82]

Group J

1) Jason McAteer A v Holland, 2000

2) Liam Lawrence H v South Africa, 2009

3) Michael Robinson A v Holland, 1981
4) Gary Breen N v Saudi Arabia, 2002

5) Niall Quinn A v Macedonia, 1999

[SkStu]

Group K

Gibson
Kelly
Duff
Harte
Brady

[Fixer82]

Group K

Duff
Gibson
Harte
Kelly
Brady

[NeverFeltBetter]

Gotta be honest - a bit surprised at the lack of love Damien Duff's effort against Canada is getting!

Robinson and Lawrence dead level in second place at the moment in Group J. Still time for that to change though before the Shane Long show gets underway around 6pm

The Canadian midfield appeared to have temporarily vanished, their defence was backing off way too much and I think the keeper should have saved it!

[geysir]

Matt Holland's goal A v Portugal has yet to come?

[pineapple stu]

Absolutely. He has three goals yet to come actually. Leave it to ye to work out which three!

[Eirambler]

Group K

Gibson
Brady
Harte
Kelly
Duff

[pineapple stu]

The Canadian midfield appeared to have temporarily vanished, their defence was backing off way too much and I think the keeper should have saved it!
Tough crowd! :)

(But not looking to change anyone's mind with any of the votes of course)

[pineapple stu]

Final result in Group J so - McAteer at a canter, and Liam Lawrence pips Michael Robinson by the narrowest of margins (25 to 24) to make the knock-outs. Gary Breen's toe-poke and Niall Quinn's sitting-down goal were nowhere.

Group L so, and presenting for your consideration -

1) Shane Long A v England, 2013
2) Shane Long H v Germany, 2015
3) Ronnie Whelan A v Luxembourg, 1987
4) Andy Keogh H v Serbia, 2008
5) Ashley Grimes H v Spain, 1982

Videos en route...

[pineapple stu]

1) Shane Long A v England, 2013
A lovely looping header in a friendly against England - not that there's any such thing as a friendly against them of course!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssJBXGmw8so