Which was the first International you attended?

[Superhoops]

vega007- That's the one. Can't remember the scorers but I think Staunton got at least one.

Andy Townsend got the first and Niall Quinn the second. I think Staunton's goal came directly from a corner. We were 3-0 up at half-time.

[gspain]

Haven't heard this. Any chance of elaborating?

Mine was v Hungary in roughly 1989, McGrath scored.

Lets just say the Poles were very hospitable especially the Polish women. We apparently were happy to play friendlies in remote spots too. It meant arriving early and packing the players off on a bus somewhere. Some officials even gave up their own seats and had to stay behind in Warsaw too and miss the game.

[Kevin77]

v Bulgaria 1987. I was 10. Won 2-0. I think both goals were headers. McGrath and Moran from memory. Liam Brady got sent off.

All I can really remember is when one of the goals went in, I couldn't see who had scored cos the whole crowd were on their feet. We were in the West Stand.

[Dotsy]

Wales v Ireland in Cardiff, I think the year was 1997, not sure. It was a terrible goal, Vinny Jones played for Wales & they scored a disallowed goal in the 1st few minutes!!

I was at that too. It was February 1997. Brutal match ended 0:0, It was a miserable night never stopped raining. Notable only for been Paul McGraths last match for Ireland.

[fergalr]

Another home game against Poland (!). This was in Dalier on April 24th 1977 - a terrible 0-0 draw - my only memories are of Mark Lawrenson making his debut and Ray Treacy chasing after a Pole who had given him a kick.

Prior to that I'd been to the Johnny Giles testimonial at Lansdown but I've no recollection as to the year.

[OwlsFan]

v Bulgaria 1987. I was 10. Won 2-0. I think both goals were headers. McGrath and Moran from memory. Liam Brady got sent off.

All I can really remember is when one of the goals went in, I couldn't see who had scored cos the whole crowd were on their feet. We were in the West Stand.

Vital win. Without it there would have been no Euro 88 etc. However, it was tinged with sadness with Brady getting sent off. We knew if we qualified he wouldn't be available for the 1st two games in Germany (sending offs carried over to Championships in those days). As it happened he was injured anyway.

[Schumi]

Liam Brady's testimonial was my first game, I think it was in the early 90s. I remember nothing about the game really (score or opposition even!) except that I think Brady was taken off pretty early for some reason.

[Krstic]

Mine was v Hungary in roughly 1989, McGrath scored.

Same here!!

[NY Hoop]

Ireland vs. Bolivia was NOT the first game played under the lights at Landsdowne. I've only been once to Landsdowne in my life and it was the first game under the lights, Liverpool vs. LOI XI. Liverpool won 2-0 I believe, a young Robbie Fowler who nobody knew was pointed out by my father as a future superstar.

That was in October 1993. NL leading 1-0 from a Pat Morley lob with minutes to go when they got 2 lucky goals. Absolutely sick to see "Irish" people jumping around when the winner went in.

First Ireland game Sep 84 against Russia with Mickey Walsh scoring. First away game Egypt in Palermo.


KOH

[Reddladd]

I was at the game v Spain in November 82 if I'm correct. It ended up a 3-3 draw after the Spanish had taken a 3-1 lead. Aisley Grimes scored the first for us and Kevin O'Callaghan had a brilliant game tormenting them down the right wing, sending over crosses like there was no tomorrow. I think it was Michey Walsh, not 100% sure, who appeared to have got the ball over the line which would have given us a 4-3 win but it wasn't to be.

I also remember that day because being from the country hadn't seen to many 'skin heads' but there were plenty in the East stand that day.
They set fire to a couple of Spanish flags and then they chased what few Spanish supporters were at the game accross the pitch at the back of the stand with the Gardai in hot pursuit.
It was my first international match and I'd never seen such a mad shower of huars gathered in the one place. Great game though.

[OwlsFan]

Yes, I was there and still have that one on video. Mick Martin got some barracking from sections of the crowd and probably near eneough his last game for Ireland.

Ashley Grimes - of the long blond curls. Bambi on stilts.

[ColinR]

4-1 defeat against denmark in 1985. we took the lead through stapleton after a couple of minutes, and i thought it was great, it didn't last - and we were a shambles. eoin hand's last game in charge!

[drinkfeckarse]

Ireland v Spain in a W/C qualifier in '89 (I think). Stapleton scored but it was later credited as a Michel o.g. I'm sure.

[SuperDub]

My first game was Ireland v Switzerland in landsdowne june 1985 we won 3-0

[Mayo Red]

My first game was the 0-0 draw with Norway in Giants Stadium during the '94 World Cup which was enough for us to qualify for the knockout stages. Not much of note happened during the game except John Sheridan shaving the crossbar with a shot. Big Jack was banned from the dugout for that game aswell by those morons in FIFA, but when he came on to the pitch after the game we gave him a massive reception, brilliant.

[jimbob117]

It was O'Learys testimonial, think it was 1992, vs Hungary. Lost 4 2 after going 2 up early on. most of the first team were replaced early on. legends like Phil Hardy got a run!

[geysir]

Ireland V USSR 3-0 at Dalyer. Still the greatest game I have ever been to. Went sick from school with 3 others. I can remember some of the the crowd using ladders to get into the ground. It was 20 pence in for schoolboys. The Johnnys giant killers banner in the shed. The Givens hatrick. Mancini being sent off. Brady and Giles running amok. Magic stuff.

There were some hard men playing then for Ireland. Mancini in particular looked untamed. Even with the benefit of Rte's camerawork I still can't make sense out of that flare up. Was the Russian defender faking it, stretched out for over a minute or did Mancini really connect with a Tyson like power punch? How did the Russian goalkeeper not get sent off? Which one of them drew blood from Mancini?
I was behind that goal at the Phibsboro end, looking straight at it and still missed Mancini's punch.

[Stuttgart88]

Ireland 3 France 2 in 1980 I think. I'm not sure I've been at better since.

[Dodge]

Liam Brady's testimonial was my first game, I think it was in the early 90s. I remember nothing about the game really (score or opposition even!) except that I think Brady was taken off pretty early for some reason.

Finland. Think it was either 1989 or 1991. He was taken off early because Jack Charlton is a ****

[The Sheliban]

Bizarrely, my first international was England v Holland at Wembley in about 72. Cruyff simply blew my mind that day.
Ten years later I think was my first Ireland game - at Dalyer, 2-0 up against the Dutch, Stapo rounded the keeper and fluffed a sitter that would have made it 3-0, the Dutch brought on a sub called Gullitt, and went on to win 3-2.