Your own finest moment in a game

Floppybits

Right I robbed this of the Soccer thread as I thought it was a good one. So what is your finest moment in a game, is it scoring a winning goal or point, a great save, a last minute block? So come on spill the beans.

homerjay2005

so am i right in saying this is personal ya and not wathing?in terms of club, playing my first senior championship game at 17 against one of the best teams about in the country at the time in front of a huge crowd, stands out, just running out on the pitch was enough to make me well up for the game.

overall for me though, wearing the kerry jersey underage was my proudest moment. we lost lost to cork in the munster semi, but that first day i got the green and gold was a special moment for me.

redzerdrog

playing in croke park in front of 56,000 people

funnyname

jumping with at least 3 defenders and two others from own team, I was the smallest of all of them but I managed to out jump them to fist a goal with my weaker hand.

Diabhal Beag

Playing and winning a Junior Final in hurling at Pearse Stadium and scoring 5 points out of 2-10

Casei11

funnyname wrote: »

jumping with at least 3 defenders and two others from own team, I was the smallest of all of them but I managed to out jump them to fist a goal with my weaker hand.

a punched goal with your weaker hand is very impressive!

Nalced_irl

Most of mine would be something that happened while sitting on the bench hehe. So ill go with playing Lucan at about U15, bouncing ball and i take the wildest swing at it ever. Fresh air it but managed to (accidentally!) hit a Lucan lads shin. While unintentional im sure it looked filthy and deserved at least a yellow.... however, Lucan lad reacts, drops his hurl and goes for me. He gets sent off and the other 14 Lucan guys think im a psycho so easy clearences for the rest of the game as they are too scared to go near me

Orizio

I'm sure I kept some half-decent hurlers scoreless when I was younger. That's about as good as it gets for a corner back.

Nalced_irl

Orizio wrote: »

I'm sure I kept some half-decent hurlers scoreless when I was younger. That's about as good as it gets for a corner back.

Hehe, i hear ya. Was corner back also so was searching for something to say

mrgaa1

playing CHB in a school game many years ago - rampaging down the field and it was like the Red Sea and from about 25 yards out top corner of the net. 5 minutes later exactly the same thing again.
At minor level hitting seven frees out of seven in a county q/f including a 50 with just one step into the kick.
Best free ever hit - 2 yards from the corner flag - a sideline kick out of the hands. Straight over the bar.

Browney7

Under 14 county final years ago. We were 2 points down chasing the game and sent our full back up full forward so I had to cover full back. Opposition half forward (good hurler) was clean through our half back line so I took him out. Got booked but the free was missed. From the puckout our goalie put it in our midfielders hand and he ran the pitch and buried it.

We won by a point. The celebrations were serious I'll tell ya:D

looder

Am, 1 of 3 - playing 1st senior hurling match for club when I was 16/17 or been 2 points up in the pissing rain, only for a lobbing ball to come into the square with the last puck of the game, and been doubled on, but I read it and dived before ball was struck. Ball stayed out, final whistle blew, and we won 1st senior championship match in something like 6 or 7 years in Tipp (apart from relegation matches) or winning a minor county 'A' was pretty good too.

Scoring 2-2 off Shane Long (Reading Soccer player - former underage great in Tipp) in a schools match a few years ago deserves a mention, as I was told by the doctor not to play as I'd a broken jaw.

deccy15

Scoring 5-9 out of 6-12 in an u14 q-final.

Mushy

One match I remember playing very well in. Cant really pick one moment, think it was last 10/15 minutes where it really started. Player I marked hadn't got to ball first all match, first time he did, he ended up in fence around pitch I shouldered him so hard. No free against, ball came straight out of his hands.

Started intercepting passes everywhere too. Somehow it was level with bout 30 seconds left, opposition had free that they were dropping in. I jumped with 5 their lads around me, came out with ball, started attack down other end of pitch, ended 3 on 2 for us, lad hit post...whistle blew! So losuy, brother was about to tap in a rebound.

Back at like U-14, Championship match getting heated, it was close. Pulled off some teasing skill that lured 3 defenders to me. Spoted a gap, hammered it straight to teammate to turn and tap it in for goal. Then catch kick out, hit it to same lad, to turn and tap it in.

For school a few years back, getting a very lucky goal that changed the whole match. They nearly scored, dunno how they didn't, then in two passes and one shot, ball was in back of their net.

tipp86

looder wrote: »

Scoring 2-2 off Shane Long (Reading Soccer player - former underage great in Tipp) in a schools match a few years ago deserves a mention, as I was told by the doctor not to play as I'd a broken jaw.

I remember coming accross him at schools aswell. He was touted for greatness even back then.

My moment is a funny one i must say. It was playing a minor match and scoring at 12. It was one of them scores that just stuck with me as it was a top class point and the fact i was only a baby on the team

dcr22B

Scoring a hat-trick in the first 5 minutes of my first ever hurling match at U16, gracefully retired after being benched for the following game (I only played the first game as they were short and I was FB for the footballers at the time).

rebel girl 15

I've three.

First one was an under 16 game, playing wing forward, and not doing very well, we went 11 points down, I was put in full forward, scored 3 goals, one with the left foot, one with the right foot and a fisted one - then with about five mins left, got the ball around the half forward line, sold a couple of dummies and set up the winning goal

Second one was a minor game, playing full forward, we weren't playing well, then just before half time I got the ball on the 45, and beat three defenders before planting the ball in the corner of the net with my left. 15 mins into the second half, my friend won a free just outside the 45, I made the run, she gave it to me, I soloed down the left side of the pitch, selling a number of dummies to the full back, got to the 20, bout 5 yards in from the sideline, turned and curled the ball into the top corner - what was most satisifying thing about that goal was that I had been practising putting the ball into that corner from a similiar position only a couple of days beforehand.

third one - schools game when I was 15, playing midfield, got the ball on our own 45, soloed up to their 45, right hand side of the goals and stuck it over the bar!
There's probably a couple of good saves I made when I was in goals as well, can't think of one that stands out.

xstarz 2kaii9x

I've got a few

1st-scoring 4 goals in a u16 football final- one from the 45 that completely lobbed the keeper-extremely happy with that one!:D

2nd-winning the county with the club for camogie u16!

3rd-scoring 1-7 against my unclesteam in football in a final!!! the look on his face after the match was pure priceless!:D

that's all for now!! heres hoping for another good season!:D

Rocky77

My best moment actaully doesn't involve something that happened in a match, per se...

Growing up I was always a Longford fanatic, going to watch county games; championship, league, All-Ireland B - anything really. Dessie Barry was boyhood idol. Got a load of abuse at school for not 'supporting' big counties but it was always my ambition to play for my county.

However, I was always an extremely limited player, though very honest and hard working. Was called in for county trials in my last year as a minor and did OK, first game of the season was a fortnight or so later up in Mullingar against Westmeath. As any sort of a panel had yet to be picked, management told the 40 or so lads training to all bring gear and 25 would tog from that. I went with zero expectation and was litterally staggered when my name was the last named on the night for the panel.

Even now I can't describe what it meant that after years of never expecting to be good enough to finally be involved and tog and wear the Longford jersey on the otherside of the boundary fence. Even kicking about in the warm up and at half time was a massive buzz.

I was involved for a couple of months, played once - I know the date off the top of my head even now. People may scoff and say 'sure you're easy plaesed - it's only Longford' but I'm extremely proud off where I'm from, support Longford in all sporting endeavours and although I've lived in Dublin for almost a decade and don't get home as often as I'd like due to work and other committments I'll always hold myself as a Longfordian first and foremost.

LeoB

Jeasus where do you start with a thread like this. Agree with Rocky77 and his sentiments.

My best moment came every time I put on a club jersey. My parish is so important to me and the people in it. We played in the Fingal league when I was growing up which was made up of mainly small rural clubs in North Dublin. A lot of us went to school in Swords so we always knew a good few from the opposition. The games were tough and fiercly competitive and from time to time a few digs were dished out. However we all get on well enough now.

I got the winning score in quite a few games as I ended up taking free's but one that stands out is an U/21 Fingal league game against St.Margarets where I scored 1..4 from play at Centre Fwd. Even if I say so it was brilliant about 4 passes involved a nicely timed diagional run and from just inside the 21yd line sent my shot accross the keeper to the corner of the net. That was 1982 or 3 and Ciaran Sutton was was my marker. He was on Dublin senior panel and I think he came on as a sub against Galway and may have played the following year against Kerry. Scoring a goal against John O'Leary in a tournament game. John was a very decent chap and one night I got him to help me coaching my U/10 Team when he lived in Rush and we had a penalty shoot for a bit of crack. I asked him which side he wanted me to place them and he grinned at me. The kids like me were stunned when when I put the first 2 past him feeling my luck would soon desert me I said I better let him save one as he was our guest sure enough my next one trickled wide to which he said, "Leo between the posts not the flags"

Mind you I got sent-off in 2 of my first 4 Senior games nothing to be proud of and missing a free in an important game which really upset me, but thats life......

One thing I would say to younger posters here is to do with my biggest regret, "Drinking" (to much). You really only get one good crack at playing at a decent level so take it you can enjoy your pints later on. I have worked since I was 15 so always had money for pints and this is my only regret among many broken bones, medals missed scores ect

Oh I refereed an All-Ireland final in Croke Pk between De La Salle Waterford and Padraig Pearse Roscommon in 2000. Kevin Moran now senior hurler played well for De La Salle. Nice memory

blackbelt

My best moments all came in important league matches.I scored 1-3 from play against a local rival club who I'd know a lot of their players.The feeling of getting a result and a scoreline like that was great for me because I could slag them off afterwards in good friendly banter.

Came on as a sub one day against Wanderers up in the mountains and were a point down.I scored a point to level the match after catching a high diagonal ball and under pressure from 2 defenders and the goalkeeper running out to meet me.Could have easily being a goal but the team all congratulated me after.

Another was in a friendly against Joeys OCB in a challenge match.Not that these matches don't mean too much but we were in total control until they clawed the lead from 10 down to 4 and we were under pressure.There was no ball being pumped up to the forward line where I was and we went very defensive getting players back to the point we had no midfield.I remember making a dashing sprint of 50 metres to their midfielder who was slow to transfer the ball up front.I ran with so much pace and as he was about to draw his leg and kick the ball,I jumped to the ground from behind him and blocked the ball and too the impact of his leg and shot in my arms.Such was the force of my run and his kick that I corkscrewed into the ground.I thought it was a great memory as for a full forward at the time,that never happened for me to get back like that.

Geard

One of my proudest moments was when our school got to the schools U-16 final of the county. We won that day and I was playing right corner back. A proud moment for me because I was 14 and wasn't on the panel until the seim-final because a few of the boys recomended me because one of the boys got injured. Was also pleased because I kept my man scoreless.

Another is not exatly a memory but this year our minor manager is one of the senior players on the club team. And he would train us with them so I got the oppertunity to train with my child hoodheros every week. Which was a bit special for me.

sslazio11

So many memories came flooding back when I read this thread. I'll pick two, one for each code:

Football: Playing centre-back and holding a Kerry minor scoreless in a minor county league semi-final replay that we won by 2 points. By far and away the best game of football I've ever played. That was in 1998. Sigh.

Hurling: Winning a Novice County Championship in 2004 at wing-back, after only taking up the game in 2001. Won a fair few football medals, but this is the one I hold most dear.

Great thread, really helped to lift the torpor of my first day back at work after the holidays!

sneem-man

Only 2 spring to mind...

Playing for the u21's touching the ball 3 times yet scoring 2 goals(county)

Playing for the club and scoring 2 points from 50s on a windy day

The Rook

I’m a keeper and was playing a very competitive Intermediate game against Ballinteer St.John’s in Marlay Park, high ball came in and my full back and their full forward both jumped up, the full forward got his fist to it an sent it goalbound. I wasn’t going to dive for it as I was thinking “Ah what’s the point, that’s a definite goal” and then thought “Ah sure give it a go, you don’t know what might happen”. So I dived full stretch to my right to flick it over for a point….which was nice enough, but the best part of it was that the full forward had already started celebrating his goal, and by the time I landed (it seems like I was in the air for a very very long time) he had his head in his hands. He shook hands with me straight away which was decent!

yahoo_moe

sslazio11 wrote: »

So many memories came flooding back when I read this thread.

Absolutely - makes me feel far more talented than I am when I just think of the good memories

As others have said, wearing the Dublin jersey underage (even on the B team) will always be a great memory, but for me it's the club stuff that wins out - late scores in tight matches are always the ones you remember.

Although hopefully if this thread is done again next year, I'll be able to put "getting picked all year and scoring regularly" - having come back two seasons ago after not hurling from age 16 to 24, I'd rather that than the occasional important contributions I've had so far.

The_Kew_Tour

scoring 4-3 in championship B final when I was u16.

scored 18-26 in 6 games.

Lemlin

County final a few years back. I was marking the other team's 'danger man' - don't want to use names on here.

We were warned before the game that this man was on unplayable on his day. He scored one point in the first half and in the second they had to move him down the pitch because he wasn't getting near the ball.

zenmonk

Was brought along to an interfirms football match as a sub one day( I played hurling at the time so they assumed I could play football) . A car load of players got delayed on the way to the game and we had to take the field with what we had i.e I started.

Scored 2-1 including a last minute goal that won the game. We were a Clare team in the mid 90s and our team had alot of the successful Clare footballers of the time, we beat a Limerick selection.

The management found it hard to replace me in the final against Kerry until half time when I was so obviously out of my depth it was embarassing!

ciarriaithuaidh

Keeping Tadgh Kennelly scoreless several times is something to crow about now i suppose..he wasnt even one of the top 3 players in his underage sides back then,but that all changed at about 16 or thereabouts.

homerjay2005

ciarriaithuaidh wrote: »

Keeping Tadgh Kennelly scoreless several times is something to crow about now i suppose..he wasnt even one of the top 3 players in his underage sides back then,but that all changed at about 16 or thereabouts.

??? he was sh*thot when he was younger and was indeed, the star of the show for emmets. he was also on the kerry minor panel (and starting) when he was 15 turning 16 from 97-99. not many lads can say the same. i marked him several times and he scored f*ck all too, but thats the way alot of local games went, very few people stand out...

civis_liberalis

Stopped playing football at u-15 level, so I don't have a wealth of things to choose from, but scoring 2-5 of my national school's total of 2-10 in some competition that felt like the All-Ireland Final at the time was my best I think, just for the memories. I'd say I was about 11 at the time.

They used them small under-age goals and it seemed that there were hundreds of people there, because they all stood in a line around the sideline and I was tiny of course.

My second goal put us four points up. It was perfect. I lost my balance trying to lose a defender, while pulling on the shot. It looked like I sort of meant to do it, sliding into the shot, even though I was just falling over:D. Right in the top corner without touching the angles at all.

The 2-5 I scored was a real flash in the pan. I wasn't even on the team most of the time. I just seemed to do everything right. I used to be very nervous on the pitch as a child.

It was mostly owing to our "manager", one of the teachers who was an arsehole that was passed around between schools because he couldn't keep his temper in check or behave in a civilised manner for very long when left to his own devices.

I'd have a drawer full of All-Ireland medals if it wasn't for that cnut telling me how shít I was

RHunce

winning county u16F premier, beating a team who hammered us by 20 points u.12F final! brilliant:D

pulling on the green and white of limerick and beating kerry in a schools munster football final! magical

playing my first senior championship match at 16yo

im normally LWB and scoring a hat trick for the u21's when i was 16 was a special moment, i scored a point also, all in the second half, didnt score at all in the first, my first and last time being in the forwards

sos33

winning both football and hurling county titles with my club ,the hurling in particular after years of fallen short ,also i had the great pleasure of playing the nypd in the gaelic grounds last year in new york ,paraded around before the game by the nypd pipe band ,have my jersey framed at home ,has the date ,venue etc on the jersey ,great memories:D

ciarriaithuaidh

homerjay2005 wrote: »

??? he was sh*thot when he was younger and was indeed, the star of the show for emmets. he was also on the kerry minor panel (and starting) when he was 15 turning 16 from 97-99. not many lads can say the same. i marked him several times and he scored f*ck all too, but thats the way alot of local games went, very few people stand out...

He wasnt that sh*thot till around under 16 homerj..didnt get a kick in the u-15 co.final in 95 (giving away my club there) but the following year, especially playing for north kerry in the u-16 divisional c'ship was when he really started to blossom..funnily enough, mentioning his time on the minor panel, his first year 97 was probably his best, although to be fair in 99 he had nothing around him..worst Kerry minor team in living memory that year.

hunter164

Probably scoring for Dublin last year. U.16 that is

LIVE FOREVER

There is no I in team :rolleyes:

scoopmine

Winning a u16 champ final after losing the league final! Being told I was captain for my last year in minor. Scoring a point in a cavan jersey in my only game for the county!

Gingy

Still waiting for it to happen...Love pulling on the jersey and playing hurling and football for the club and someday I'll have a decent story to tell about it!

rivermetimbers

i think scoring 2-4 from midfield in a minor champ semi final, we conceded a peno in the last few m inutes which would have knocked out... i was the senior team keeper at the time, so i went into goals for the kick, and saved it!(albiet, a very poor peno)
the manager bought me a heap of pints in the pub after the game... kinda sums up what is wrong with football, play well and get rewarded with pints, i was too young to care tho!!

RGS

Has to be the evening i played with my two brothers and father in a Junior Hulring league game===father was 51 at the time and played in goal whereas my youngest brother was playing his first adult game at 16.

Was memorable also for the fact i got split above the eye and needed 6 sitches--my now wife was a nurse in the A&E that evening and we were getting married a couple of weeks later---she was not a happy camper that evening.