Not sure if this was ever done before but mine would be...
1. Bonner v England (Euro 88)
2. McGrath v Italy (USA 94)
3. Keane v Holland (02 WCQ)
I can see the RTE DVD dept kicking into action now.
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Not sure if this was ever done before but mine would be...
1. Bonner v England (Euro 88)
2. McGrath v Italy (USA 94)
3. Keane v Holland (02 WCQ)
I can see the RTE DVD dept kicking into action now.
Wouldn't disagree with 1 and 2.
I thought Keane's performance at home to Portugal was better than the Dutch game, it's just that the game was less celebrated.
I missed the Russia game at Dalymount but I thought Brady at home to Bulgaria in '87 was right up there.
It was only a friendly, but Duff at home to Denmark (3-0) was superb. His performance in the second half in Suwon was top class too.
keane away in spain in 93 i think was a serious performance
Stutts - was that the match against Spain? i'd agree with that, he was fantastic as soon as he moved back out to the wing. Gave Mendieta (who was regarded as one of the best players in the world) an awlful pasting. It was definitely one of the best individual performances by an Irish player that i can remember (me being too young to recall Brady in his pomp)...
agree with stutts keanes game against portugal at home was far more impressive
(1) McGrath v Italy (USA 94)
(2) Keane v Portugal (wc02 Q)
(3) Duff v Spain (wc02)
(4) Keane v Holland(wc02 q)
(5) Keane v Cyprus(away) (wc02 q)
Hard to go on stuff you haven['t seen so here are mine
1) Keane v Portugal 01 (he almost played them on his own)
2) McGrath v Italy 94
3) Lawrenson v Scotland 87
However you had performances in the past like
Paddy Moore 4 goals i na WC qualifier v Belgium in 1934. Joe Haverty in a team containing 7 LoI players that stuffed the Germans (world champions) 3-0 at Dalymount in 1956. Don Givens scored a hatrick v USSR and 4 v Turkey. Giles made a hugely impressive debut when we beat the WC runners (Sweden) up 3-2 at Dalymount in 1959. Brady's debut v USSR in 1974 was sensational.
Althought not in the top three, Kevin Sheedys performance against the USSR in Euro 88. I would also have Given against Cyprus when we won 1-0.
in the 1st leg against Iran to qualify for 2002 WC, Shay made 2 outstanding saves that had a huge bearing on us getting to the WC, even so that when final whistle blew, Keano(roy) went straight to him and shook his hand
Keane against Yugoslavia in Belgrade (1998) deserves a mention, even though we lost - his performance was up there with Holland and Portugal. Also, Kevin Moran, Denmark in Copenhagen, 1992. Outstanding alongside Kernaghan, who was only winning his second cap.
Here's a few more forgotten ones - Gary Kelly against Portugal in Lansdowne, '95. Cunningham against France in Paris, '04.
Keane against Yugoslavia in 1998 was something else, he covered every blade of grass for us that night.
Tommy Coyne against Italy in 1994 anyone? Such a tall order, lone striker, baking heat, against the best defenders in the world what does he do? He ran and he ran and he ran. Just kept going opening up space. Worked his arse off.
Obviously McGrath that night too, showed Baresi a thing or two.
***
Worst performances?
Anything Phil Babb did in a green jersey.
Jon Goodman against Wales in a friendly 1997.
Jon Macken was so bad I can't remember the game (s?) he played.
paul butler againnst czechs i think ina friendly...marking jan koller...Babb had some howlers...as did robbie Keane
Not fair on Macken. Only played arpound 30 mins against Bulgaria I think and didn't do too much wrong.
Finnan and Andy O'Brien in Cyprus '06. Both good players imo, but shocking performances.
Finnan in 05 was as bad that night. He was on the same wing as us and he was not even trying. I like Finnan as a player but he was shocking that night.
Bit unfair on Babb, he was excellent initially and although you could put a lot of that down to McGrath, Babb was doing a lot of the running in that partnership. Babb also had an excellent game against Italy although he was obviously overshadowed by McGrath's masterclass that day.
That Wales game was an awful nil all game played in ****ty conditions, lashed rain the whole game IIRC, Goodman was no worse then anyone else that night.
Macken only had half an hour so can't really be judged in a green shirt, very average player though...
I seem to remember Goodman playing well in that game, he had a decent chance which Crossley (?) did well to save. He visited my school in Wexford after the Liechtenstein game too, while visiting his family. He was an absolute gent.Quote:
Jon Goodman against Wales in a friendly 1997.
Gary Breen was shocking against Malta in 99, as was Alan Kelly. Kilbane against Iceland in '97. Dire.
Best Three - Roy Keane's last three games for Ireland
Worst Three - The first three games after he left