JOE’s 23 contenders for the ‘Stephanie Roche Goal of the Year’ award

So many to choose from.

Eric Lalor

JOE’s 23 contenders for the ‘Stephanie Roche Goal of the Year’ award

The JOE lads debated this list long into the night….

Football in 2014 was dominated by the World Cup in Brazil and obviously there were one or two crackers there, but we have tried manfully to come up with a list of our favourite goals from the calendar year which were not scored at FIFA’s blue riband event.

We should also point out, incidentally, that Stephanie Roche’s Puskas-nominated goal for Peamount United was actually scored in October 2013 and that’s why her effort is not included here; the mention of her name in the title is a reminder that this year’s contenders have a helluva lot to live up to.

Here goes…

1. Kicking off things with the wonderful Lionel Messi and this piece of genius against Getafe back in January.

2. Another one from January and this effort is from Parma’s Alessandro Lucarelli against Torino in Serie A.

3. It’s impossible to have a list of great goals without everyone’s favourite Swede called Zlatan. This effort against Leverkusen in February was nonchalant, yet clinical.

http://youtu.be/KQz8PoXgGf8

4. Okay, admittedly we don’t watch a whole lot of Jordanian football, but this goal from Syrian footballer Moataz Alsalhani for the Jordanian side Al Wehdat back in March was amazing.

Fluke or not, it’s still spectacular.

5. Wayne Rooney has his detractors, but he is always capable of something extraordinary. This goal against West Ham back in March fits right into the extraordinary category.

http://youtu.be/1JUFd3iVhMQ

6. Alexander Tettey scored this humdinger for Norwich against Sunderland back in March.

http://youtu.be/18ypx2NinTw

7. All the way from Japan, this strike from Hisato Sato for Sanfrecce Hiroshima v Kawasaki Frontale was breathtaking.

http://youtu.be/Ht0KV9Yohss

8. Gareth Bale really endeared himself to Madrid fans after this sensational winning goal against Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey back in April. This is just raw velocity.

9. You won’t see a better team goal anywhere in Europe than this one from Sean Gannon for Dundalk against St. Pat’s. This was a 36-pass move ending with a superb finish.

http://youtu.be/DMJtwfVcUJE

10. Still in April and yet another screamer, this time from Jonjo Shelvey for Swansea against Aston Villa.

http://youtu.be/f0JL9L6LL0U

11. Chris Forrester for St Pat’s scores outstanding goals on quite a regular basis and this one against Drogheda back in April was an absolute stunner.

http://youtu.be/aRBGXScbcLI

12. Back in May, Sulley Muntari signed off Milan’s horrendous season with this golazo against Sassuolo at the San Siro.

13. Andre Schurrle scored this beauty against Burnley in August and the assist from Fabregas is just outrageous.

http://youtu.be/NkOijA_tbi4

14. Mame Biram Diouf didn’t quite make it at Manchester United, but he endeared himself to the red side of Manchester with this brilliant solo goal against City for Stoke back in August.

15. Jeremy Menez scored this superb goal against Parma for Milan in September. Ingenuity at it’s very best.

http://youtu.be/FZlMiWFYjqA

16. Aiden McGeady won’t score better last-minute winners than this for Ireland. This effort, of course, was scored against Georgia back in September.

http://youtu.be/2P0-l-4_LCQ

17. There are long-distance goals and then there is this freakish effort from Moritz Stoppelkamp for Padeborn against Hannover back in September from about 80 metres out. Astonishing.

18. Phil Jagielka scored this stunning injury-time equaliser in the Merseyside derby for Everton at the Kop End in September. A fantastic strike.

19. In October, Erik Lamela scored this outrageous rabona goal for Spurs against Asteras Tripolis in the Europa League.

http://youtu.be/eXepe2f6778

20. David Silva is so important to Manchester City and this goal against West Ham showcases everything that is brilliant about the Spaniard; balance, poise and dead-eyed accuracy.