Ireland's Greatest Sporting Moment (RTE 2)

Say Your Number

Eamon Dunphy, Joe Brolly and Sonia O'Sullivan are on discussing the best sporting moments from the eighties.

Skid X

What's the point of it?

Brolly talking ****e as usual.

Ol' Donie

Have to admit I like Brolly and his nonsense.

Oh, and the point of it came out of an RTE scheduling meeting a couple of months ago.

"We need some cheap filler for a couple of nights in the winter. Something like Ireland' best sporting moment" but better. Use the archives and that. Have a few creative meetings over the next few weeks and present in it at our next monthly meeting."

Ol' Donie

Des claiming Sonia's Dad was a great football man.

I believe Eamonn and John are the judges of that, Des.

Skid X

Seamus Darby fouled the defender, should have been disallowed.

snowflaker

11 November 1987
Bulgaria 0 – 1 Scotland

Ol' Donie

I find it hard to argue that Kerry not winning 5 in a row is a better moment than them actually winning four in a row.

snowflaker

Oh yeah! Seamus' goal was 1982! That wins!

BillyBobBS

Who put the ball in the English net......

Skid X

Dunphy of Millwall calling Kerry failures.

Ol' Donie

Well, this might be harsh, but the 80s may have been a bit rubbish for sport here. Just a bit.

Alf Veedersane

They're really milking the sh*te out of this.

They should really have shown the long list of 'highlights' from the 80s to start.

Ol' Donie

Sonia was gas there.

We could have done a top 10, and talked less.

Skid X

RTE1 didn't get to show Barry McGuigan's World Title Fight until a day later, because they wouldn't pay enough money.

The next day the announcer introduced it as "a chance to see Barry McGuigan's great victory yesterday ..." and Arthur Murphy got flooded with letters from people who said they didn't know the result and it had been spoilt for them.

A full day later! They must have had the radio and television switched off for a full 24 hours.

Alf Veedersane

Was there ever a doubt that Houghton wpuld win easily?

Ol' Donie

It's gas, I've been listening to Ray Houghton complaining he way through hundreds of games on RTE for years now. Always pointing out what's wrong and who's not doing what they should and how much of everything is rubbish.

And I always think "You're amazing, Ray".

Ol' Donie

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Was there ever a doubt that Houghton wpuld win easily?

Nope.

I think he was at 42% the first time they showed how the voting was going. Before they even talked about the rest of them.

Alf Veedersane

Ol' Donie wrote: »

It's gas, I've been listening to Ray Houghton complaining he way through hundreds of games on RTE for years now. Always pointing out what's wrong and who's not doing what they should and how much of everything is rubbish.

And I always think "You're amazing, Ray".

Haha, can't say I always give him a free pass but I've often stopped mid-complaint when I remember that. Not just to win a huge match but a huge match against England.

And then Giant's Stadium.


Sploosh.

Dick phelan

I think the panel kinda missed the actually point of the show, it's to find our greatest sporting moment, moment not achievement Dunphy and Brolly playing down McGuigans win but it's not about what the best accomplishment was it's which moment sticks in people's minds the most, can't argue McGuigan vs Pedroza is one of the most iconic moments in Irish sport, if you were to go on actually achievement then Roach and Coughlan would be top 2 from tonight but neither is as remembered as Houghton in 88 against England which is what the show is all about.

DJIMI TRARORE

No surprise that Joe didn't pick Barry or Ray in his top 3, as for the Darby goal,it was an offaly sporting moment,not an Irish one

Rumple Stillson

DJIMI TRARORE wrote: »

No surprise that Joe didn't pick Barry or Ray in his top 3, as for the Darby goal,it was an offaly sporting moment,not an Irish one

Its Ireland's greatest sporting moment, not Ireland's greatest sporting achievement.

Dick phelan

The Darby goal is probably the most iconic moment of the last 40 years in the GAA, given how significant the GAA is to Irish life i certainly think it deserves inclusion, as pointed out it's irelands greatest sporting moment not achievement.

snowflaker

What did Brolly say about McGuigan?

spurshero

snowflaker wrote: »

What did Brolly say about McGuigan?

more or less that he beat a has been to win world title

snowflaker

spurshero wrote: »

more or less that he beat a has been to win world title

Yeah cos his opponents were world beaters...

valoren

Greatest for me is subjective. Can you definitively compare achievement in one sport versus another? Given the charge of naming a 'Great' moment will encompasse more that just the achievement. Great achievements have been made that we have never been partial to. And when we are partial to them, while we can appreciate the achievement in and of itself, other factors make that moment great.

So my vote would be John Tracey winning silver in Los Angeles and that achievement made greater by some brilliant commentary. Sure it wasn't a gold but it's the marquee event at the Olympics but what made it memorable was an emotional Jimmy Magee listing out all of Ireland's past Olympic medals as he approached the finish line it made a great sporting moment all the greater.

“In the past Ireland has won bronze medals. John Caldwell. Freddie Gilroy. ‘Socks’ Byrne. Jim McCourt. Hugh Russell. They’ve won gold. Pat O’Callaghan. Twice. Bob Tisdall. Ron Delany. They won silvers with John McNally, Fred Tiedt, Wilkins, Wilkinson, and now for the 13th time, an Irish medal goes to John Treacy. The crowd stand for the Irishman from Villierstown in Waterford. The little man with a great heart . . ."

akelly02

Skid X wrote: »

Seamus Darby fouled the defender, should have been disallowed.

bullsh1t

Alf Veedersane

valoren wrote: »

So my vote would be John Tracey winning silver in Los Angeles and that achievement made greater by some brilliant commentary. Sure it wasn't a gold but it's the marquee event at the Olympics but what made it memorable was an emotional Jimmy Magee listing out all of Ireland's past Olympic medals as he approached the finish line it made a great sporting moment all the greater.

I'd argue that the marathon isn't the marquee event at the Olympics. The 100m, no?

valoren

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

I'd argue that the marathon isn't the marquee event at the Olympics. The 100m, no?

100m is the most hyped and get's the biggest audience for sure, but the marathon is central to the Olympic 'ideal' I guess tracing it back to the ancient olympics, it's the final event and the medals are presented during the closing ceremony.

Alf Veedersane

valoren wrote: »

100m is the most hyped and get's the biggest audience for sure, but the marathon is central to the Olympic 'ideal' I guess tracing it back to the ancient olympics, it's the final event and the medals are presented during the closing ceremony.

Fair point.

I still don't think it trumps the moment Ray Houghton scored our first goal in a major championships...against England.

But like you said, it's very subjective.

It does make for an interesting debate/discussion though.

Tombo2001

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Well, this might be harsh, but the 80s may have been a bit rubbish for sport here. Just a bit.

Quite the opposite

I would say the 1980s was Irelands greatest ever decade for sport.

- Eamonn Coghlan winning gold at the inaugural Worlds, Treacy silver in Marathon
- Kelly, Roche....need i say more
-McGuigan
-Charlton and Euro 88 - first time to qualify for a major final, and one we did incredibly well at.
- Golfers breaking through to big time with Ryder cup performances
-Dennis Taylor wins the snooker
- Great Kerry team, the Darby moment, and lets not forget arguably greatest ever gaelic footballer Matt Connor
-Norn Ireland qualify twice for world cup, Gerry Armstrong beats the Spanish.
-Ireland dominates the middle distance and is fourth in medals table at inaugural World Indoor Athletics

In a really sh*t time for Ireland, sport was a big pick-me-up.

Tombo2001

I know its a question of opinion - but for me the greatest sporting moment is Ron Delany winning gold at Olympic 1500m - the golden age of the metric mile and at that time the marquee sporting event in the world full stop; and to be frank nothing else even comes close.

We tend to see events with the lense of how we perceive sports today.

Our athletes of the 1980s were streets ahead of the gaelic players in terms of the levels they competed at. John Treacy's time from 1984 would be capable of winning Olympic Marathons today.

The year of the magic Darby moment - only 17000 people showed up to watch the semifinals - the GAA was not the big deal that it is today.

gimli2112

Didn't see the programme but when I saw it advertised I immediately thought of Roche wining the Tour the France in 86. There was one stage and (Delgado?) had left the rest behind and looked to have a winning advantage. Cameras had lost the main group. Camera looking down the road and a rider suddenly come barrelling around the corner through the mist, commentator went crazy realising it was Roche, who collapsed after finishing and went on to win. I'm not a cycling nut so hopefully this is what actually happened.


Coghlan winning the Worlds is a good shout too.

Alf Veedersane

gimli2112 wrote: »

Didn't see the programme but when I saw it advertised I immediately thought of Roche wining the Tour the France in 86. There was one stage and (Delgado?) had left the rest behind and looked to have a winning advantage. Cameras had lost the main group. Camera looking down the road and a rider suddenly come barrelling around the corner through the mist, commentator went crazy realising it was Roche, who collapsed after finishing and went on to win. I'm not a cycling nut so hopefully this is what actually happened. .

That came third, the climb at Le Plagne

Tombo2001

have to say

I hate the way our footballers achievements in making the last 16 or whatever are seen as such major sporting achievements, that rank ahead of for example Stephen Roche being the greatest cyclist on the planet.

The way people raved about the soccer team at the Euros last year....they really didnt achieve all that much.

I suppose greatest sporting 'moment' is a bit ambiguous.

In other words - the only reason to pick Houghton is because soccer matters more to people, not because of what was achieved.

Alf Veedersane

Tombo2001 wrote: »

The way people raved about the soccer team at the Euros last year....they really didnt achieve all that much.

I suppose greatest sporting 'moment' is a bit ambiguous.

In other words - the only reason to pick Houghton is because soccer matters more to people, not because of what was achieved.

Soccer matters to more people and more people play it across the world.

And people didn't rave about Ireland's achievements in the Euros, per se. It was unexpected to get to where they did and push France so close because the team was made up of players mostly plying their trade outside of the top leagues in Europe.

Context.

Anyway, more people voted for Seamus Darby's goal than for Roche. Does that mean that Offaly football matters more to people than Roche winning the TdeF?

ozzy jr

Tombo2001 wrote: »

In other words - the only reason to pick Houghton is because soccer matters more to people, not because of what was achieved.

Ah no, in fairness it was a great moment. The country stopped to watch that game and for the underdog to beat England in our first game at a tournament, was special. It was the 80's after all with the trouble in the North still going strong.

As they said last night, if it was 1-0 against Russia, no one would be talking about it today.

It was a terrible programme though, Des Cahill is a woeful presenter.

Dick phelan

All about what moment matters most to people nobody can honestly argue that Ireland beating England in 88 is as big an achievement as Roach or Coughlan but the moment was a bigger deal to people then others which is what it's all about. Case and point i reckon Ireland beating England in Croker will be easily top 5 it was in sporting terms a pretty insignificant win, no championship at stake but everything around the game and it's cultural historical significance places it well above many far greater victories.

nagdefy

valoren wrote: »

Greatest for me is subjective. Can you definitively compare achievement in one sport versus another? Given the charge of naming a 'Great' moment will encompasse more that just the achievement. Great achievements have been made that we have never been partial to. And when we are partial to them, while we can appreciate the achievement in and of itself, other factors make that moment great.

So my vote would be John Tracey winning silver in Los Angeles and that achievement made greater by some brilliant commentary. Sure it wasn't a gold but it's the marquee event at the Olympics but what made it memorable was an emotional Jimmy Magee listing out all of Ireland's past Olympic medals as he approached the finish line it made a great sporting moment all the greater.

“In the past Ireland has won bronze medals. John Caldwell. Freddie Gilroy. ‘Socks’ Byrne. Jim McCourt. Hugh Russell. They’ve won gold. Pat O’Callaghan. Twice. Bob Tisdall. Ron Delany. They won silvers with John McNally, Fred Tiedt, Wilkins, Wilkinson, and now for the 13th time, an Irish medal goes to John Treacy. The crowd stand for the Irishman from Villierstown in Waterford. The little man with a great heart . . ."

It a really good post but most of the nation didn't actually see the moment live on tv. It happened in the middle of a Sunday night here. Unlike Houghton's goal v England in 1988, Timofte v Bonnar in 1990 when the streets were empty in our cities and towns.

I think the 1990s may have some of the following in their 5 moments. 2 soccer, Bonnar v Timofte 1990 and the bould Ray Houghton again v Italy 1994. Possibly Kevin Foley's goal v Dublin in the 1991 4 match saga. Possibly Clare winning the 1995 hurling all-ireland. Sonia winning the 5,000m gold in the world championships in Gotenborg in 1995 will be there. I mightn't pick it but if Coughlan's was included it nearly has to be.

Overall i think some of the soccer moments touched most people nationally. Beating England will always help like the Euro 1988 moment.

I think the winner will be Ireland beating England in Croke Park in rugby in 2007. You have so many moments. respect for God save the Queen. Irish Anthem sung with such emotion, John Hayes crying etc. Shane Horgan's try, gaa style where Hogan the Tipp captain was shot on Bloody Sunday.

I don't think any individual winning a medal in a World Championship or Olympics will trump a 'Team Ireland' moment. Even though the achievement of the individual may be a lot greater than a team winning a 6 Nations Game in a tournament they didn't win!

Cork Boy 53

nagdefy wrote: »

It a really good post but most of the nation didn't actually see the moment live on tv. It happened in the middle of a Sunday night here. Unlike Houghton's goal v England in 1988, Timofte v Bonnar in 1990 when the streets were empty in our cities and towns.

I think the 1990s may have some of the following in their 5 moments. 2 soccer, Bonnar v Timofte 1990 and the bould Ray Houghton again v Italy 1994. Possibly Kevin Foley's goal v Dublin in the 1991 4 match saga. Possibly Clare winning the 1995 hurling all-ireland. Sonia winning the 5,000m gold in the world championships in Gotenborg in 1995 will be there. I mightn't pick it but if Coughlan's was included it nearly has to be.

Overall i think some of the soccer moments touched most people nationally. Beating England will always help like the Euro 1988 moment.

I think the winner will be Ireland beating England in Croke Park in rugby in 2007. You have so many moments. respect for God save the Queen. Irish Anthem sung with such emotion, John Hayes crying etc. Shane Horgan's try, gaa style where Hogan the Tipp captain was shot on Bloody Sunday.

I don't think any individual winning a medal in a World Championship or Olympics will trump a 'Team Ireland' moment. Even though the achievement of the individual may be a lot greater than a team winning a 6 Nations Game in a tournament they didn't win!

How about Michael Carruth`s Olympic gold medal in Barcelona 1992, Michelle Smith`s four Olympic medals in Atlanta 1996, Cork`s All Ireland double in 1990, Gordon Hamilton`s try against Australia in the 1991 Rugby World Cup or Ken Doherty winning the World Snooker title in 1997? I can`t remember if Steve Collins world title winning fight was shown on RTE or if it was on Sky Sports. If it was on RTE its surely worthy of inclusion.

nagdefy

Cork Boy 53 wrote: »

How about Michael Carruth`s Olympic gold medal in Bacelona 1992, Michelle Smith`s four Olympic medals in Atlanta 1996, Cork`s All Ireland double in 1990, Gordon Hamilton`s try against Australia in the 1991 Rugby World Cup or Ken Doherty winning the World Snooker title in 1997? I can`t remember if Steve Collins world title winning fight was shown on RTE or if it was on Sky Sports. If it was on RTE its surely worthy of inclusion.

Yes Michael Carruth's is one alright. While some may argue Michelle's were great moments at the time, in my memory, there were doubts from the beginning. Also they were spread out over 4 nights, 3 gold and one bronze.

Also Cork's double was a better achievement than say the 2 gaa i mention. But they were a fortnight apart as moments. Cork hurlers particularly were alway very strong also, lacked surprise. Not so the footballers, 7 all-irelands i think and also completing a double in 1990 after 1989. You hadn't the novelty of a team winning an all-ireland in 81 years like Clare and the Anthony Daly speech.

I think the Gordon Hamilton moment was brilliant but 3 minutes later it was totally devalued in my opinion.

Very good points re. Doherty and the underrated Steve Collins. However if Dennis Taylor didn't make the cut hard to see Doherty. Snooker is a relatively lower profile sport. Collins v Eubank twice and Benn twice were on Sky, a lot of the public didn't see it.

I think we get subjective too. In the 2000s Laois winning the first Leinster football title in 57 years is my highlight! But realistically that's not a national moment. The Cork double was a great achievement. A moment... i don't know.

Also in the 2000s the England v Ireland Croke Park 2007 game seems to be more of a moment than the brilliant achievement under Declan Kidney of a Grand Slam, first since 1948, in 2009. Deccie is a forgotten man in Irish rugby i feel and probably O'Sullivan too. 3 triple crowns. But Joe Schmidt seems to have a greater place in the publics' heart. 2 championships but the last 2 seasons and the 2017 WC were disappointing. O'Sullivan had the greatest consistency probably. Sorry i digress..

hawkwing

"I think the winner will be Ireland beating England in Croke Park in rugby in 2007. You have so many moments. respect for God save the Queen. Irish Anthem sung with such emotion, John Hayes crying etc. Shane Horgan's try, gaa style where Hogan the Tipp captain was shot on Bloody Sunday."


He was not the Tipp captain that day which is a mistake often made.

valoren

"The nation holds it's breath....YES! We're there!!!"

You all know what I'm referring to without the need to elaborate.
That's going to be the over all winner.

PTH2009

valoren wrote: »

"The nation holds it's breath....YES! We're there!!!"

You all know what I'm referring to without the need to elaborate.
That's going to be the over all winner.

Can't beat the reeling in the years clip of that with 'There she goes' by the LAs playing over it

nagdefy

hawkwing wrote: »

"I think the winner will be Ireland beating England in Croke Park in rugby in 2007. You have so many moments. respect for God save the Queen. Irish Anthem sung with such emotion, John Hayes crying etc. Shane Horgan's try, gaa style where Hogan the Tipp captain was shot on Bloody Sunday."


He was not the Tipp captain that day which is a mistake often made.

Who was captain that day Hawking? At any rate it doesn't make much difference an Irish player was shot and killed on that spot and he was a one time captain of Tipperary.

Cork Boy 53

gimli2112 wrote: »

Didn't see the programme but when I saw it advertised I immediately thought of Roche wining the Tour the France in 86. There was one stage and (Delgado?) had left the rest behind and looked to have a winning advantage. Cameras had lost the main group. Camera looking down the road and a rider suddenly come barrelling around the corner through the mist, commentator went crazy realising it was Roche, who collapsed after finishing and went on to win. I'm not a cycling nut so hopefully this is what actually happened.


Coghlan winning the Worlds is a good shout too.

It was in 1987.

Cork Boy 53

I forgot to mention Wayne McCullagh`s silver medal at Barcelona 1992 in my shortlist, but I assume, that if there is a boxing moment from the 1990s included, then Carruth`s gold medal will be the one.

nagdefy

Whenever RTE are in need of a bit of filler tv and decide to run 'Ireland's Most Anticlimactic Sporting Moment' Tuesday against Denmark will be near the top.

Goalless draw away in the first leg, all to play for, score after 5 min...and we all know the rest.

Sonia when she had that bug in Atlanta 1996 or perhaps some other problem effecting her and failing to qualify from her heats in the 5,000 and 10,000 would be another.

Rugby Quarter final losses in the World Cup. Argentina 2015 the most recent in my memory.

Gaa moments..heartbreaking Mayo losses.

Somehow i feel there's a follow on programme.

Riskymove

nagdefy wrote: »

W
Rugby Quarter final losses in the World Cup. Argentina 2015 the most recent in my memory.

France 07 still the pinnacle there...not even getting out of the group despite "Golden Era" and even a grandslam just a couple of years later

still utterly bewildering as to what happened

nagdefy

Riskymove wrote: »

France 07 still the pinnacle there...not even getting out of the group despite "Golden Era" and even a grandslam just a couple of years later

still utterly bewildering as to what happened

I think they over trained. The forwards had lost some body bulk and were being bullied around the place, compared to that years 6 Nations. Georgia was an embarrassment in that regard.

When you think of how we beat England in Croke Park in February 2007 and then they reach the WC final and were dam close to getting a match winning try with a centre break. Mind boggling..

If ever the adage 'we don't handle the favourites tag well' was true.

Cork Boy 53

nagdefy wrote: »

Whenever RTE are in need of a bit of filler tv and decide to run 'Ireland's Most Anticlimactic Sporting Moment' Tuesday against Denmark will be near the top.

Goalless draw away in the first leg, all to play for, score after 5 min...and we all know the rest.

Sonia when she had that bug in Atlanta 1996 or perhaps some other problem effecting her and failing to qualify from her heats in the 5,000 and 10,000 would be another.

Rugby Quarter final losses in the World Cup. Argentina 2015 the most recent in my memory.

Gaa moments..heartbreaking Mayo losses.

Somehow i feel there's a follow on programme.

The RWC 2023 vote yesterday could also be included after all the hype over recent months that Ireland would be awarded the tournament.:rolleyes:

Anyway, not that any such programme will ever see the light of day but here are some more anticlimactic sporting moments that come to mind.

Eamonn Coghlan`s two Olympic fourth place finishes in Montreal 1976 and Moscow 1980.
Barry McGuigan`s world title loss to Steve Cruz in 1986.
Cian O`Connor being stripped of his Olympic gold medal from Athens 2004.
Any of the Irish boxers in Rio 2016.
Rory McIlroy`s collapse in the final 9 holes in the Masters in 2011.
All of Ireland`s matches in Euro 2012.
Ireland`s defeat by Argentina in the 1999 World Cup at a time when the Pumas were not a particularly strong team.

Any more suggestions?