Foot.ie decides - Ireland's best goal!

**NeverFeltBetter** · 15/07/2020, 7:47 AM

McGeady - the set-up is much better and tbh I think the keeper should do better with Reid's.
Doyle - Not that I have something against set-pieces, but I think Doyle's strike is largely as good Harte's, but done without having the time to set yourself, examine where the keeper is standing, consider a bend, etc.

**DeLorean** · 15/07/2020, 8:02 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Controversial vote there from the poster named after Euro 88!

Even though I voted for Ronnie Whelan's goal, the shin aspect does take away from it massively in terms of its greatness, for me anyway.

Anyway...

McGeady - easy choice, probably the most skillful goal we've ever scored. Reid's was excellent too but no comparison really. Not to mention the relative importance and timing of the two goals.
Doyle - I was behind the goals for this (my first away game) but just a much better goal anyway. To get so much power with so little back lift, and with his weaker foot from that distance, unreal. As mentioned earlier, I think Harte's should've been saved.

**Stuttgart88** · 15/07/2020, 8:45 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Controversial vote there from the poster named after Euro 88!.

Yeah but I�m not Hannover88! Just think, my nickname here might be Hans, not Stutts. I prefer the latter.

But my rationale? I was behind the goal in Niigata. It was a beaut. He just stroked it, started outside the post and it curled back just inside, despite hitting it with the inside of his foot. It rescued our campaign. But for sheer �where did that come from� exuberance and that �moment in time� Whelan�s was hard to beat for sure.

And enough people have voted for shinners lately

**Stuttgart88** · 15/07/2020, 8:47 AM

And next up, McGeady and Doyle for me.

Two of the most TV friendly goals we have ever scored.

I can't view youtube at work & can't really remember Harte's goal (I assume a trademark free kick?), but I'll never forget the other two.

**jbyrne** · 15/07/2020, 8:50 AM

mcgeady
doyle

**Fixer82** · 15/07/2020, 9:36 AM

McGeady
Doyle

Ps is it too late to change my previous vote to Whelan and Holland?

**pineapple stu** · 15/07/2020, 10:08 AM

Is that to hide the fact that you couldn't come up with a good pun?

Yeah, can do alright.

**pineapple stu** · 15/07/2020, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Yeah but I’m not Hannover88! Just think, my nickname here might be Hans, not Stutts. I prefer the latter.

Just as well we didn't beat the Dutch, eh, Gelsenkirchs?

**Kingdom** · 15/07/2020, 10:56 AM

McGeady & Doyle.

McGeady - I'm a self-appointed cheerleader, and I don't think he's ever got the credit he's deserved during a drab (footballing wise) part of our history.
The goal was peak McGeady. Nobody else we've had in my time playing for us, would have thought of attempting the spin, never mind trying it, and his shot was perfect.
all in the final minute of a must win game.
That it was in old USSR topped it off. Where he best performed in his club career.
Love you Aiden

Doyle's goal....where to start. I've lost count of the number of times I've watched it, and I still don't know how he's managed to get the ball to move in that direction, that quickly, and that sweetly, from the way he's kicked it. A piece of pure beauty.

**Eirambler** · 15/07/2020, 11:42 AM

McGeady and Doyle for me too. The technique from McGeady sets his goal apart from Reid's and Doyle's goal for me is miles ahead of Harte's.

**Stuttgart88** · 15/07/2020, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Just as well we didn't beat the Dutch, eh, Gelsenkirchs?

It might have led to Munich88 though.

**SkStu** · 15/07/2020, 1:10 PM

McGeady/Doyle

**geysir** · 15/07/2020, 1:19 PM

McGeady, he outmessies Messi.

Doyle, A dubious Dudu right handed attempted save, takes away a few slivers of sheen from Harte's glory strike.

**passinginterest** · 15/07/2020, 1:47 PM

Whelan - Iconic, between himself and Van Basten I must have nearly broken my neck hundreds of times!
Holland - Peach of a goal, nice little build up, great strike. Edges the Gibson one because of the combination of power and accuracy.
McGeady - The little bit of skill for the turn tips it in his favour.
Doyle - On his bad foot, ridiculous power and accuracy.

**pineapple stu** · 16/07/2020, 7:46 AM

So no contest really in the second of the last 16 double-headers. Ronnie Whelan N v USSR, 1998 strolls to a 9-2 win over Matt Holland N v Cameroon, 2002, though will still be joined there by Matt Holland, as his goal A v Portugal, 2000 trumps Darron Gibson H v Wales 10-1.

Also unanimous support for Aiden McGeady A v Georgia, 2014 and Kevin Doyle A v Slovakia, 2007 in the next two matches - both 10-0 up, but still time for that to change. Or, well, for a consolation vote or two to come along.

Maybe the last of the last 16 ties will be tighter? We start with two goals, neither of which I'd see as a last 8 contender to be honest - but one will be there. It's Ray Houghton N v Italy, 1994 against Shane Long H v Germany, 2015

**pineapple stu** · 16/07/2020, 7:46 AM

**pineapple stu** · 16/07/2020, 7:48 AM

And the final pairing is two goals, either of which is a genuine last 8 contender I think. But only one will make it. Is it to be Robbie Keane H v Israel, 2005 or Jason McAteer A v Holland, 2000?

Time is 0:14; time-stamped link is here.

**pineapple stu** · 16/07/2020, 7:49 AM

Time is 2:28; time-stamped link is here.

**DeLorean** · 16/07/2020, 8:04 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

We start with two goals, neither of which I'd see as a last 8 contender to be honest - but one will be there. It's Ray Houghton N v Italy, 1994 against Shane Long H v Germany, 2015

You should've seeded the draw

Seriously though, I wouldn't have a problem with either being there given their importance and both very good goals in their own way.

I'll go for Shane Long - Interesting tie actually but this just swings it for me, although it's kind of hard to justify it given the significance of Houghton's goal. It was just such an unexpected tonic after soaking up so much pressure, against the World Champions and arguably best goalkeeper in the world. It felt like we'd finally arrived at the new stadium too, long overdue, and our first significant victory over a powerhouse in so long. And obviously it was a brilliant finish and I would have really hated for Scotland to have qualified ahead of us. Houghton's was an unusual kind of goal, the way it fell for him and it only took a sort of half contact effort to do the trick with Pagliuca stranded well off his goalline, but credit Razor for that I guess. I suppose it was so early in the game too that we couldn't get too carried away.

Robbie Keane - McAteer's is a lovely move and finish but Keane's is probably the most difficult finish in football, with the ball coming over his head like that, top class, not to mention the pass from Reid.

**Eirambler** · 16/07/2020, 8:12 AM

I'll go for Houghton for the first one, one of the truly iconic Irish goals, even if there was a hint of a deflection to take it over Pagliuca.

Second one is tougher but I'll go for McAteer. As much for the two back flicks in the build up as the finish, which was also quality. Keane's goal was excellent too to be fair, and I would have voted for it ahead of either of the goals in the first match up.