Best ever irish goal

**NeilMcD** · 11/08/2004, 4:44 PM

just a suggestion, but how about a poll on the Best ever Irish goal. In my memory the best one i have seen was Ronnie Whelans against Russia in Hannover, at Euro 88. We are not usually a country that scores great goals, but some others, woudl have to be Houghton against Italy, Houghton against Northern Ireland. Duff against, Canada, and against Russia.

**NeilMcD** · 11/08/2004, 5:16 PM

Houghtons goal against the North was a great move too, a great ball by whelan involved too, and by sheedy. I agree, the goal by Mc Atter in amsterdam and by Keane there too, are crackers Anyway the more goals mentioned the better and gets us thinking that maybe there will be a few more great goals during the autumn and winter.

**Harry Tipper** · 11/08/2004, 6:00 PM

And what of 12-6-1988 Neckarstadion, Stuttgart. Ireland vs England. 1-0. Houghton 6' ??
It had a bit of everything that all great goals have: Skill, luck, importance, emotion. Maybe a bit obvious and not one for the purists but I still shiver when I see it. Imagine it was 16 years ago already....Time flies.

**brine3** · 11/08/2004, 8:39 PM

McAteer vs Holland, brilliant build-up play from Roy Keane and some slick moves from Steve Finnan had Cocu in the horrors before McAteer broke the net. Definitely Ireland's best team goal.

Also, Robbie Keane vs Yugoslavia at Lansdowne in the Euro 2000 qualifiers. Lovely knock down from Quinn with Robbie Keane burying it on the half volley from about 15 yards out.

And how can we forget Gary Breen's wonder volley vs the Saudis.

**1MickCollins** · 11/08/2004, 10:41 PM

Liam Brady versus Brazil at Lansdowne Road, a romario type goal.

Whelan's against USSR was good but of course he caught it on the shin when he meant to volley it.

McGrath scored a few nice ones, I remember a sweet volley from the edge of the area against Hungary or Malta I think.

**pineapple stu** · 11/08/2004, 11:29 PM

Ronnie v. USSR must win hands down!

As for runners-up, what about Mark Kennedy's v. Yugoslavia in the same match as the Robbie Keane one mentioned earlier? Picked it up in the mid, going nowhere, drifts past one then suddenly unleashes a cracker in off the bar from 25 yards! Robbie Keane v. Holland was a brilliant team move, as was Jason McAteer v. Macedonia a few years back (won 3-0).

And maybe some olden ones too!

**tricky_colour** · 12/08/2004, 12:23 AM

I think it has to be Houghton V Italy for me, this was in the
World Cup finals, and Italy were, I think, favourites for the Cup.

It was also totally out of the blue!!

I had never seen my father jump out of his chair before!

**Peadar** · 12/08/2004, 9:11 AM

Robbie Keane against Germany in the 2002 WC after a knock-down by Quinn.
Keano found the smallest of gaps, under pressure in injury time, to get us a deserved draw. The composure it took to finish from there was incredible.
Thanks for the memory Robbie.
Here's to many more.
Ronnie's goal v Russia in 88 was really important for many young fans like myself because it showed that Ireland could score great goals against big name teams too. I was hooked anyway.

**green goblin** · 13/08/2004, 12:14 PM

It used to be Houghton Vs the German Lady's XI, every time. But Robbie's last ditch miracle in the World Cup made me scream so loudly I made nearby children cry. Including my own.

**Plastic Paddy** · 13/08/2004, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by green goblin

It used to be Houghton Vs the German Lady's XI, every time. But Robbie's last ditch miracle in the World Cup made me scream so loudly I made nearby children cry. Including my own.

Likewise meself. I nearly brought half the city of London to a standstill from a table in Ryan's bar on Cotton Lane. I had to be surgically removed from the ceiling of said hostelry several minutes later. A wonderful moment.

PP

PS - I see you're from Ricky. I went to school there meself (SJA). Are you from that part or a "blow-in"? Just interested...

**green goblin** · 13/08/2004, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by Plastic Paddy

PS - I see you're from Ricky. I went to school there meself (SJA). Are you from that part or a "blow-in"? Just interested...

Local yokel 2G. Didn't go to Joan of Arc though.

**the 12 th man** · 13/08/2004, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

I think it has to be Houghton V Italy for me, this was in the
World Cup finals, and Italy were, I think, favourites for the Cup.

It was also totally out of the blue!!

I had never seen my father jump out of his chair before!

what a great memory.
i had a house party that day with about 30 people up.i had the use of 4 tellys in different rooms.i'll never forget that moment when the ball hit the net.....there was that split second when you thought that the ball could'nt be in the net as the goalie just watched it go over his head

**brine3** · 14/08/2004, 11:13 AM

I thought I might mention Robbie Keane's goal against Holland in the Arena during the World Cup qualifiers. Carr and McAteer exchanged backheels up the right wing, totally taking the p|ss out of the Dutch defence.

**tricky_colour** · 14/08/2004, 5:44 PM

I vaguely remember a goal which involved two sort of backheels
is that the one? (I think it was aagainst Holland on the break.

They were more sideways backheels though pushing the ball behind
your other foot.

**liam88** · 14/08/2004, 6:09 PM

Originally Posted by Plastic Paddy

Likewise meself. I nearly brought half the city of London to a standstill from a table in Ryan's bar on Cotton Lane. I had to be surgically removed from the ceiling of said hostelry several minutes later. A wonderful moment.

PP

Was legging it round the living room screaming for about half an hour

will never froget "O ROBBIE KEANE IS THROUGH....."
PP where are you watching the WCC hopefully we can meet up or some?
Dead annoying ma parents are going back to Ireland during the Cyprus game and I'll be stuck here with all the tans around singing 'no surrender' aw well can always p*ss 'em off with ma tri's (already have one out the window for the Olympics)

**Emmet** · 14/08/2004, 6:21 PM

I agree with all of the above - all classic goals for different reasons!

I remember Niall Quinn's goal at Wembley too - a deep cross and an incredibly cool side foot into the net. Seaman was expecting him to blast it but he just let the ball bounce gently off his foot into the bottom corner. Perhaps not quite as good as some of the others listed above but it is certainly up there imo

**Harry Tipper** · 14/08/2004, 8:12 PM

Wonderful, wonderful stuff!!
http://www.footballpoets.org/p.asp?Id=5310

**Junior** · 15/08/2004, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by Peadar

Robbie Keane against Germany in the 2002 WC after a knock-down by Quinn.
Keano found the smallest of gaps, under pressure in injury time, to get us a deserved draw. The composure it took to finish from there was incredible.
Thanks for the memory Robbie.

on a side note, the best footage ever is the slow motion reaction of Mick Mc a Robbie goes through on goal and McCarthy realises he's equalised, absolutely brilliant I think it was probably the way we all were as we watched it.....