Foot.ie decides - Ireland's best goal!

[DeLorean]

I'll go Whelan

Importance of game doesn't matter, the pressure in both games was almost equal. McLaughlin did very well to control & strike but the defending was poor in allowing him plenty of time to do it and there was a 1m wide passage through the phalanx players to direct his shot.
Whelan's goal - the move was deliberate and every part of it was inch perfect.

The importance of the game matters if the voter decides it matters.

In reality, it didn't make a whole pile of difference whether we won or lost that Italian game. Our playoff spot was secure and it was highly unlikely we'd overtake Italy for top spot. We were twelve minutes from certain elimination when McLoughlin equalised, in arguably the most hostile atmosphere and one of the most high stakes match a Republic of Ireland team had been involved in. Not sure how the pressure could have been almost equal.

[seanfhear]

McLoughlin. For the times that was in It !

[osarusan]

Whelan. Farther out against a better keeper and a more organised defence.

[nigel-harps1954]

Whelan for me. One of the more outstanding goals in this generation of Ireland players. McLaughlin goal was special, and the occasion lifts it significantly, but cannot overlook Whelan scoring a worldie against one of the top goalkeepers ever in his prime.

[geysir]

The importance of the game matters if the voter decides it matters.

In reality, it didn't make a whole pile of difference whether we won or lost that Italian game. Our playoff spot was secure and it was highly unlikely we'd overtake Italy for top spot. We were twelve minutes from certain elimination when McLoughlin equalised, in arguably the most hostile atmosphere and one of the most high stakes match a Republic of Ireland team had been involved in. Not sure how the pressure could have been almost equal.

Imo, in this example the importance of game doesn't matter in relation to the quality of the goals as the pressure in both games was almost equal, just how much was Croke Park rocking in the opening minutes of that game, do you not remember? The difference in importance of the result of course was huge, no question about that.
But I don't let that petty emotion about that fact cloud my judgement about the rarely executed, all in one motion perfect pass and strike as apposed to NI's questionable defending and a passage way almost bigger than the parting of the red sea. Ask Ealing Green I'm sure he would agree with me for once.

[pineapple stu]

A late rally for Whelan is all in vain; Alan McLoughlin A v Northern Ireland, 1993 takes it on a 9-4 scoreline and is our first semi-finalist.

Whelan gets a chance at revenge next, although a different Whelan. Ronnie Whelan N v USSR, 1988 is first up today.

Group - Winner Group C ahead of James McClean A v Wales 2017, Kevin Sheedy N v England 1990, Keith Andrews A v Italy 2011, Robbie Keane N v Saudi Arabia 2002, and Kevin O'Callaghan H v Malta 1983.
Last 32 - won 12-0 v Kevin Doyle H v Andorra 2010
Last 16 - won 9-2 v Matt Holland N v Cameroon 2002

[pineapple stu]

And also potential revenge on the other side of this draw - after Ronnie Whelan knocked out Matt Holland in the last round, he's up against Matt Holland again in this round. This time it's Matt Holland A v Portugal, 2000.

Group - Winner Group M ahead of Robbie Keane H v Yugoslavia 1999, Niall Quinn A v England 1991, John Aldridge N v Mexico 1994 and Mark Lawrenson A v Scotland 1987
Last 32 - won 8-3 v Robbie Keane A v France 2009
Last 16 - won 10-1 v Darron Gibson H v Wales 2011

[DeLorean]

Imo, in this example the importance of game doesn't matter in relation to the quality of the goals as the pressure in both games was almost equal, just how much was Croke Park rocking in the opening minutes of that game, do you not remember? The difference in importance of the result of course was huge, no question about that.
But I don't let that petty emotion about that fact cloud my judgement about the rarely executed, all in one motion perfect pass and strike as apposed to NI's questionable defending and a passage way almost bigger than the parting of the red sea. Ask Ealing Green I'm sure he would agree with me for once.

I remember the atmosphere alright, it belied the dead rubber it essentially was. Being spurred on my your own support is generally seen as beneficial though, incomparable to what we faced at Windsor. McLoughlin's equaliser was only four minutes after we were rocked by Jimmy Quinn's outrageous goal too of course, in a game of few chances it felt like curtains.

As for the quality of the goals themselves, I wouldn't argue that point too much, personal preference of course. I'm not sure NI's organisation levels could be questioned too much on the night though, and their commitment to spoil was off the charts given the motivation they had. We basically had to maximise the one half chance we got, and McLoughlin did that clinically. Italy were caught napping in a way I suspect they might not have been had the stakes been higher.

[DeLorean]

I'll go Matt Holland this time. A better goal than his Cameroon effort imo, and I just find it difficult to put the shinner aspect of Ronnie's to one side.

[osarusan]

Whelan over Holland. "Not even the best goalkeeper in the world could keep that one out".

Shinned or not, acrobatic volleys from the edge of the box into the top corner don't come along very often at all. Bonus marks for being willing to even try it. I expect this goal to win the whole thing.

[EAFC_rdfl]

Whelan, all the best goals are scored with the left boot/shin

[Eirambler]

Whelan for me. Holland's was good but Whelan's was another level above it.

[Stuttgart88]

Holland for me.

[passinginterest]

Ronnie Whelan, no doubts, I don't care if it was his shin or not, an awful lot of overheads end up coming off the shin, it doesn't take away from the acrobatics and improvisation needed to pull it off. Holland's is a good goal, but those type of strikes are ten a penny really.

[jbyrne]

r whelan

[NeverFeltBetter]

Has to be Whelan. Shin or no, the acrobatic nature of it is spectacular, and points to a confidence in the player and the side that has become increasingly rare. Holland's is a great goal, though the defending is rather lax from Portugal, you can even sort of see him start when he realises the space he has been given in front of him. From that distance I would always fault a keeper for not saving a shot too.

[paul_oshea]

Whelan all day for me.

[DeLorean]

Ronnie Whelan, no doubts, I don't care if it was his shin or not, an awful lot of overheads end up coming off the shin, it doesn't take away from the acrobatics and improvisation needed to pull it off. Holland's is a good goal, but those type of strikes are ten a penny really.

It's a strong case. I was happy to fly solo on Keane v McAteer but I feel a bit silly here - I'll change my vote to Whelan please PStu.
(if only UEFA could discard the behind the goal angle of Whelan's though I'd be a lot happier).

[pineapple stu]

Done!

Ronnie racing into a huge lead here. It is hard to see who'll stop him alright.

I watched back the USSR game there at the weekend actually - never realised that the reason we had a throw in the first place was because of an appalling clearance from a Soviet defender. It was so bad it fooled the cameraman, who thought it was a hoof up to half-way, and then you see the ball drop with backspin just on the edge of shot, becaus he'd sliced it under no pressure at all.

You can see it at 37:55 here, with original, slightly dismayed, Russian commentary.

[Fixer82]

Whelan.
Ridiculous goal.
Throw-in, sideways jump, goal, forward jump to celebrate