Best LOI goals you've seen in person

Inspired by the JJ thread, i thought it would be good to get one of these threads going. Its been a while since we had one on here... I'll go first.

1. Paul Byrne v Bray (in Bray) - from the half way line. No cameras there (and only a few brave souls) but easily the greatest goal I've seen.
2. Glen Crowe v Pats (Dalymount) - thunderbolt half volley from 30+ yards.
3. Paul Byrne v Galway (Dalymount) - free kick, we were 1-0 down, comes on as a sub on his first game back, marches up to take the free and belts it around the wall. The moment is what stood out. The despair, the anticipation, the release.

Mark Salmon in Galway, pretty much identical to James Rodriguez's goal for Columbia at the world cup where he controlled it on chest and hit it on volley over the keeper, In fact, Salmon scored his just a few days before that goal at 2014 WC.

Paddy McCourt on an absolute bog of a pitch beating about 9 Sligo Rovers players before scoring is probably mine, Gearóid Morrissey is the other one from a couple of years ago that sticks out as an away player….

Few from me

First one that sprang to mind was this strike from Ken Oman.

https://m.facebook.com/bfcdublin/vid...9835967545756/

Then that brought back a similar goal from Ryan McEvoy vs Monaghan. A bit out of nothing and McEvoy overall was a very limited player but he loves a pot shot this one just worked out

https://youtu.be/lYfxofRh9JQ?si=zxfkEhprSVCQWLC5

But if I'm taking everything into account it's easily Jason Byrne v Pats. Just excellent skill and control of a player who has done pretty much everything in this league

https://www.the42.ie/jason-byrne-chi...27098-Apr2014/

Funny enough the most recent goal had the least active links to it.

1. Donal Murphy 2 v Cork Hibs circa 1974
2. Gary Twigg v Bohs when he left Heary and Oman for ‘dead’ and buried it past Barry Murphy
3. Best og was Barry Murphy circa 1984 when on the centre circle he controlled a opposition kick out and gracefully turned and lobbed Jody Byrne

1.Unsurprisingly, Colin Healy v Pats.
2. John O' Flynn v Longford Town in 2003, corner of the penalty area and being shepherded towards the corner flag, he somehow conjured a chip out of nothing. I've searched fruitlessly for footage in case anyone is hoarding Eircom League Weekly tapes.
3. Daryl Horgan v Drogheda gets the nod for now. There's plenty I've forgotten (including seemingly every opposition goal), the first two are clear for me but plenty of other contenders for the third spot.

1. Chris Forrester 45 yard volley up in Drogheda in 2014.
2. Chris Forrester scoop against rovers in the 5-1 win in 2012.
3. Chris Forrester running from his own half to score in the 2021 cup final.

Those are the 3 that spring to mind. For someone that attends the vast majority of Pats matches home and away I annoyingly managed to miss both Keith Fahey in 2008 and Conan Byrne in 2017 scoring belters from the halfway line at Dalymount!

In terms of goals against Pats, Colin Healy overhead kick in 2014 and Dayle Rooney’s volley in inchicore last season were great goals that immediately jump out.

Seen as best own goal was mentioned above, head and shoulders the best (funniest is probably a better word) I’ve seen in person has to be Dudelange's goalkeeper scoring a header from the edge of his box last season

As above Forrester's scoop against Rovers in 2012 and Conan Byrne from the halfway line against Bohs in 2017 stand out. Honorable mentions to Greg Bolger's long distance lob against Derry in 2015 in Richmond and Mulraney's free kick vs Shels last year which was as expertly placed as you will see.

Three against us that stand out are Dayle Rooney's volley last year, Gary McCabe with a long range screamer for Rovers in September 2012 and I'm not sure of the players name (think it was Devaney) for Bohs in Dalymount in 2018 which was another unstoppable long range rocket.

That Paul Byrne free also involved him slipping and landing on his arse IIRC.

Ian Morris goal for Bohs against us from around 40 yards in a cup game at the cross. Was right in line with it, hit the crossbar and went inside the goal line and bounced out.

Colin Healys overhead kick vs Pats was special too.

Mandriou against Rovers and Fahey for Pat's against Bohs in 2008 are mine. Paul Byrne was before my time as a fan but his son Kurtis scored some crackers for us too.

Donal Broughan free from inside the centre circle that went top corner and was intended. Flores volley in more modern times, the 982 pass Gannon goal v St Pats. All great goals but the most beautiful ones are Tom McNulty x 2 to win 2 leagues, O'Donnell v Cork on another last day decider and Benson v BATE Borisov - special mention to his thunderbolt volley on the run in Warsaw and McEleney's cheeky one v Vitesse.

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Originally Posted by SkStu

Inspired by the JJ thread, i thought it would be good to get one of these threads going. Its been a while since we had one on here... I'll go first.

1. Paul Byrne v Bray (in Bray) - from the half way line. No cameras there (and only a few brave souls) but easily the greatest goal I've seen.
2. Glen Crowe v Pats (Dalymount) - thunderbolt half volley from 30+ yards.
3. Paul Byrne v Galway (Dalymount) - free kick, we were 1-0 down, comes on as a sub on his first game back, marches up to take the free and belts it around the wall. The moment is what stood out. The despair, the anticipation, the release.

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That Glen Crowe goal would probably be my No 1, and I’m a Pats fan ! Incredible strike.

For Pats, Eddie Gormley scored a few peaches, including one from the half way line against Sligo. Gr3g Bolger got one from around the half way line too. Cheekiest was probably Chris Forrestors lob against Rovers when we smashed them 5-0.

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Originally Posted by joey B

Paddy McCourt on an absolute bog of a pitch beating about 9 Sligo Rovers players before scoring is probably mine, Gearóid Morrissey is the other one from a couple of years ago that sticks out as an away player….

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Didn't see this in person but to me best goal in loi ever. McCourt is the most underrated and unknown player in football history.

Ive shown a few people some McCourt goal reel stuff in England over the years when 'best player youve seen live' chat happens and every single person likened him to Best, body shape, ghosting past players, the longer hair style, unfortunately some of the same demons too. I understood for the first time really how when a player gets on a ball the whole crowd expects some magic, and McCourt had that impact.

Phoenix Patterson's goal against Dundalk in the FAI Cup quarter final 2 years ago when he dribbled in from the wing and hit a powerful shot into the top corner stands out.
Bastian Hery's rocket against St Pats a few years ago was another belter when he half volleyed in from about 25 yards and nearly broke the net.

Barry Ryan after 8 seconds away to Kilkenny in 1991. They kicked off, he intercepted a ball across the pitch about 5 yards inside their half, and the way he intercepted it meant it sat up nicely for him to hit it over their keeper who'd been on the endge of the area urging his defenders to keep it tight or start at pace or whatever. Fastest goal in LOI history then, maybe still now.

Can remember Dave McMillan scoring a belter in Tallaght in 2012 - I can't find it online but it was the spit of this effort from some lesser baller. If anyone has the video of Dave's goal, be good to see if (unless it looks nothing like the below :p)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iBMW1wThlU&t=10s

Have always liked this goal too against Drogheda (from 0:40) - four passes on the edge of the box without the ball touching the ground, finished off with a half-volley

Denis Behan scored an absolute thunderba$tard in Finn Park mid 00's, about 40 yards from goal and hit one of the sweetest strikes of a ball I've ever seen.

Daryl Horgan scored a real worldie in Finn Park in a 7-0 win a few years back too. It was so good the home support even applauded it.

Sean McCarron vs Mervue United is one of the best Harps goals I've ever seen, sadly no footage of it ever saw the light of day.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Can remember Dave McMillan scoring a belter in Tallaght in 2012 - I can't find it online but it was the spit of this effort from some lesser baller. If anyone has the video of Dave's goal, be good to see if (unless it looks nothing like the below :p)

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I'll let you be the judge.

https://youtu.be/fFWo-fXgor4?t=148

I think it's even better :)

Pat Deans from the halfway line.

I've had a productive afternoon trying to dig up goal of the season videos (of varying quality).

2004
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETxrUcKXwbE

2008
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGLHPYAOruA

2009
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzrYBOLsOco

2010
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRy2znNsyvs

2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRZwKeuQMoU

2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEdRVBbFLlo

2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XklkF-byl-k

2022
Premier:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UdRS_bex4g

First: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G4UeKNr2Q0

2023
Premier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InsIVbomi_o

Here’s that Glen Crowe v Pats goal I mentioned in the first post