Foot.ie decides - Ireland's best goal!

**tetsujin1979** · 27/07/2020, 11:12 AM

Whelan, it's a goal few Irish players could attempt, never mind score

**passinginterest** · 27/07/2020, 11:14 AM

As much as I love McLoughlin's goal, it has to be Whelan. It's proper footballing genius.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 27/07/2020, 11:41 AM

Still slightly prefer McLoughlin's myself.

**Fixer82** · 27/07/2020, 12:04 PM

Whelan!

**Eminence Grise** · 27/07/2020, 12:10 PM

Ronnie for me. I could watch that on a endless loop and be very, very happy.

**geysir** · 27/07/2020, 12:24 PM

Ronnie Whelan for me, it was that kind of goal that had all of Europe standing up and cheering.

It was a lovely shot from McLoughlin after he was given so much time by a distracted/tiring defence he could have written his name on the ball.

**DeLorean** · 27/07/2020, 12:50 PM

I love the McLoughlin goal and what it meant, but I'll go for Whelan here.

**EAFC_rdfl** · 27/07/2020, 2:42 PM

McLaughlin, going for the underdog here

**jbyrne** · 27/07/2020, 7:13 PM

whelan for me

**pineapple stu** · 28/07/2020, 7:34 AM

So the favourite marches on - Ronnie Whelan into the final on a scoreline of 8-3. Alan McLoughlin has the consolation of the third-fourth place play-off to come.

The second semi is maybe a harder tie to predict. First up is Aiden McGeady A v Georgia 2014

Group - winner Group B ahead of Robbie Keane A v Holland 2004, Steve Staunton H v USSR 1990, Ray Houghton N v England 1988, Andy Townsend H v Northern Ireland 1993, and Robbie Keane N v Nigeria 2009
Last 32 - won 11-0 v Matt Holland A v Estonia 2001
Last 16 - won 11-0 v Andy Reid H v Cyprus 2005
Last 8 - won 9-3 v Kevin Doyle A v Slovakia 2007

**pineapple stu** · 28/07/2020, 7:35 AM

And it's up against Jason McAteer A v Holland 2000

Group - Winner Group J ahead of Liam Lawrence H v South Africa 2009, Michael Robinson H v Holland 1982, Gary Breen N v Saudi Arabia 2002, and Niall Quinn A v Macedonia 1999
Last 32 - won 7-3 v Mark Kennedy H v Yugoslavia 1999
Last 16 - won 10-1 v Robbie Keane H v Israel 2005
Last 8 - won 11-1 v Shane Long H v Germany 2015

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

**DeLorean** · 28/07/2020, 7:53 AM

McGeady. The way he dealt with the pass, the spin, the ridiculous touch to take it out of his feet and the timing. De Boer's contribution takes a good bit way from McAteer's for me.

**Stuttgart88** · 28/07/2020, 8:08 AM

Tough one. The fact that McAteer's was against a Dutch team that had demolished Yugoslavia only a few months earlier at Euro 2000, and was in Amstrerdam Arena should count for a lot, but for sheer technique and raw brilliance I think McGeady's is better. It's a shame it was "only" Georgia away, albeit a last minute winner. Both were televisually beautiful (though I saw McAteer's live). But I'll go with McGeady. Just technically brilliant.

**passinginterest** · 28/07/2020, 8:16 AM

McAteer for me. McGeady's is a lovely individual piece of skill but McAteer's combines a couple of nice pieces of skill, a decent build up and a great finish.

**tetsujin1979** · 28/07/2020, 8:25 AM

McGeady's finish is better, possible one of the best ever, but the build up to McAteer's goal is far better, and against much more difficult opposition.
I'm going with McGeady, just. Like Whelan's goal, it's a finish few Irish players could attempt, let alone score from.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 28/07/2020, 9:05 AM

McAteer edges it for me, based on the strength of the opposition and the larger distance on the finish.

**ltfc_2004** · 28/07/2020, 9:49 AM

I would say McAteer based on build up, quality of team and the finish .

**geysir** · 28/07/2020, 10:31 AM

The choice is McGeady - just perfect.

For McAteer at this level - minor reductive points for the lackadaisical Dutch defence. Only one back pass not two in the build up, therefore an over hype element, a sporting myth that Ireland managed to put two back passes together in the same move.

**Eirambler** · 28/07/2020, 11:31 AM

Dammit geysir I've spent the last 20 years happily believing that there was a double back heel in the build up to McAteer's goal but, yes, you can clearly see in the last replay that the touch to McAteer came from a Dutch defender.

No such issue with McGeady's goal, it was technically brilliant and entirely intentional. So McGeady it is.

**seanfhear** · 28/07/2020, 3:47 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

The choice is McGeady - just perfect.

For McAteer at this level - minor reductive points for the lackadaisical Dutch defence. Only one back pass not two in the build up, therefore an over hype element, a sporting myth that Ireland managed to put two back passes together in the same move.

Back Heels Surely ! !