And by victory, sometimes we mean ‘a moral victory’ and sometimes we mean a draw… we are Irish after all.
There’s been a lot of negativity regarding Ireland’s chances of qualifying for the European Championships. What people are forgetting is that we’ve a habit of waiting until the last possible moment before we come up with the goods.
In this qualifying campaign alone John O’Shea, Aidan McGeady and Shane Long have all scored late goals to keep our hopes alive.
So let’s get behind the lads and remember, we’re far from out of contention.
Here are 7 of our favourite late moments…
Alan McLoughlin v Northern Ireland, 1993
Charlton’s heroes only needed a draw to go through to the 1994 World Cup, but Jimmy Quinn and a strong Northern Ireland side had other ideas.
They lead 1-0 in Windsor Park until McLoughlin stepped up in the dying moments and blasted Ireland state-side. The rest is history.
Clip via Harry316
Gary McKay (Scotland) v Bulgaria, 1987
The year was 1987. Everybody assumed Ireland had not qualified for Euro 88. They had played all their games and were relying on a Scotland team that had not won away from home for 5 years to beat Bulgaria.
In steps Gary Mackay with a goal that sent Ireland to their first major tournament.
Clip via FatherTed2006
Robbie Keane v Germany, 2002
Ireland had dominated this World Cup group game, but they weren’t getting the rewards they deserved. That was was until Niall Quinn knocked down a ball into the path of the oncoming Robbie Keane who dispatched it beautifully.
Clip via dinadangdong
Matt Holland v Portugal, 2000
When Ireland were drawn in a group with Portugal and Holland for their World Cup Qualifiers, few people expected them to qualify.
Our pessimism seemed justified when we played Portugal in an early group game. They were beating us 1-0 and it looked like we’d be leaving Lisbon with nothing.
Then this happened.
Clip via Chimpanzeethat
Keith Fahey v Armenia, 2010
Ireland’s 2012 qualifying campaign was efficient if nothing else, but it looked like it might end fruitless for large portions of this game. Fahey stepped up with about 15 minutes to go to keep Irish eyes smiling and our hopes alive.
Clip via Luis Arrieta
For our last two, we’ll pick out two favourites from this qualifying campaign… remember folks, keep the faith and COYBIG
Shane Long v Poland, 2015
The Tipp man kept Irish hopes alive with a 91st minute leveller against the Poles.
John O’Shea v Germany, 2014
If we can draw with the World Champions in Germany, surely we can nick something from them when they visit Dublin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmbtnQ6MNj0
The campaign might not be going exactly as we want it to, but if there is one thing these goals show it’s that Ireland are far from out of it yet.
So get behind the lads when they play Georgia and Poland next month, because those matches might just end up on a list like this very soon.
You can buy tickets here. #MakeTheMatch
