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Dutch 2001. Couldn't get a ticket to the game but saw the second half on the big screen in Slane before U2. Atmosphere was tremendous, and the relief when it hit the back of the net
Had gone out and bought a pocket TV type thing so I could watch the first half. About a hundred people crowded around a 4 inch screen :D
Hands down it was McLoughlins goal in November 1993 against the North. The atmosphere was electric, it was Binghams last match if I remember correctly.
has to be the holland match. I too saw it on the big screen at Slane. Was bloody brilliant. Can still remember the scene turning around up the hill at 60,000 odd fans all going ape **** after the goal went in!
Have to say the German match in 2002 simply because of the circumstances. We hadn't played bad, we were disheartened big time by the German goal, we were down and out, people were guaranteed to be going home, it was the last minute, disbelief when Robbie got in, was it side netting? was it offside? No flag, sheer elation. Midday and a hell of a lot of celebrating to do. Has to be my No. 1.
I should also give an honourable mention to Quinner's goal against the Dutch in Italia 90. Again, it was looking bleak, but the huge Irish crowd raise another chant of "Come on you boys in green", Bonner kicks long (for a change :) ), the keeper fumbles, Quinn follows up - goallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!!! I was behind the goal with a huge swathe of Irish and the local Italians looked on bewildered at the celebrations. The rest, as they say, is history.
most of the key games have been covered. Another though would be Quinners equaliser against the English at wembley to make it 1-1 (either WC90 qualifiers or Euro92 qualifiers). A sweet side foot with the left peg - left a very impressionable 15/16 year old getting slaughtered for the rest of the evening, the place went mental - brilliant!!!
Has to be the 1-0 against Holland. I was in a pub in Amsterdam and the Dutch media were going on all week about how Ireland were going to be given a beating.
The match in the Arena was great too, when I was sitting in the Dutch section and we were 2-0 up. Pity we ****ed that one up.
Germany 2002
Personally this was great. Because we were in Kashima the day before. And there was nobody about - it seemed pretty much all supporters travelled from Tokyo just before the game. Anyway we met this German journalist who interviewed us for radio. I said words to the effect... "that we were good, because we now played like the Germany of old, with tremendous self belief. The blood and thunder stuff was gone. We'd play right until the end and that they'd need to be careful of Keane and Duff". And when Robbie scored, who just happened to be beside me as we nearly jumped off the stand... Helmut himself. Couldn't get the microphone out quick enough. God knows what I sounded like in Germany! Helmut was good though, he later shouted a few beers.
USSR 1974
Liam's dubut. Don's hat trick. Big Terry Mancini. Cool Steeeeeeevey Heighway. I was sitting on a barrier, behind the goal at the shopping centre end. I'd watched football terraces on tv, been to games before (with memories of losing 2-1 at Lansdowne a year or so earlier to the Soviets). But this was real life. I was hooked. My life has never been the same since.
England 1991
Wembley. We were in the "English end". Quinn scored. There's a split second and then there's people on their feet everywhere. There are no words to describe how I felt but "Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssss" is about the closest I can get. And Ray should have buried that chance in the second half.
Belgium 1997
I know we lost this, but for my greatest "10 minutes of away support" - would have to be jsut after Ray scored. It was game on then. But the rest is history.
Latvia & Lithunania 1993
Actually these games were average enough. But we had great overnight train trips. And we ended up in Talinn and this tall blond Finnish girl... well the thread's about greatest "high" at at Ireland game? I remember a great line from a bloke from Clare, Sean, who worked in Germany "An bhfuill tu ag marcuiocht anocht?" [pardon spelling as gaelige, it's been a while].
Yeah I know, a friend of mine, who is Canadian originally and isn't big on sport, was working security and you guys scared the hell out of him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cav
I would narrowly have that ahead of Robbie Keane vs Germany.
I remember watching the Dutch game with a few lads in one of their houses, went nuts for McAteer's goal, and even more so for the full time whistle.
The Germany match, man I was in Scotland with a bunch of Scots and English watching the communal tv in our res and was getting more and more depressed, then Robbie scored and I jumped on a random Scot behind me (sorry Calum) ran around the room before sliding, quite painfully, on the concrete floor and screaming out something wonderfully offensive that I won't repeat here.
Yes, those few minutes after we scored will remain long in the memory. Then the Belgians get a throw than should have been ours and they score. What annoyed me about that game also was the pathetic Belgian support and the loud music they played at the start to drown out our singing. Mick Mc cried in the tunnel after that game.Quote:
Originally Posted by gypsydownunder
I have to admit being in the South Terrace having a perfect view of Houghton's crisp finish and Cascarino's header v Northern Ireland in a 3-0 win in October 1989 was perfect. We were all standing then and the atmosphere was great.
Btw does anyone ever remember in a freindly match v Wales in february 1990 Jacobs gave away hunderds if not thousands of inflatable shamrocks, teh south terradce was littered with them,
i have to say holland at home in 2001. my dad deals with people from holland and they brought him and a few other irish to the ground but the were in the north terrace with the dutch. at the time i didnt even remember the ball hitting the net. just remember finnan crossing and mcateer with acres of space. as soon as he hit it i was out of me seat and hugging me brother.i wrecked me shins hitting the seat in front. the atmosphere in the pubs before hand was great.after the game we went down to the house between the south terrace and west stand and saw the team. was talking to some dutch people and they were totally deflated.we left the ground about 2 hours after the game. we taped the game so we went home and watch the whole lot again.me da came in just as we finished it and then he watched it himself. my mother was going mad :D got such a buzz from that game.
another one was against germany in japan.i didnt return home for 2 days and i had just started work full time the day before the game. watched in the a pub and the atmosphere was great. i could not believe that we could actually outplay the germans. i thought it was one of our best performances under mc carthy.
My mate still has the same issue with Belgium fans, whenever he's ****ed he goes on and on and on and on about the 'boring' belgium fans that night.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
It's getting kinda boring really!
The most memorable match for me was vs Italy in 1994. We were down in Cape Clear off West Cork and packed into a small little pub. Brillant atmosphere and then that famous Cork singer Jimmy Crowley took out his guitar and there was a massive sing-song.
Dvae O'Leary wasn't at Euro '88, was he?Quote:
Originally Posted by davros
Correct. He made his 'debut' under Charlton in 1989 at home to Hungary or Malta.Quote:
Originally Posted by Glapots
Davros obviously wasnt there either :)