Ireland in Seven-Goal Thriller
Twenty-six years ago I stood on Lansdowne Road’s South Terrace and watched Ireland put 6 goals past Cyprus.
Tony Grealish and Michael Robinson scored screamers from outside the box. Gerry Daly nabbed 2. Stapleton was on the scoresheet. And incredibly so was Chris Hughton.
In school I sat with Hughton’s cousin, and we were very happy. Fullbacks of, to be honest, not a huge amount of talent, don’t score very often. But hey, it was Cyprus.
A couple of years later and I was at Dalymount watching Ireland put 8 past Malta. Eight! This was before Jack Charlton invented Irish football, in a time when Irish teams scored goals.
Today there were 7 goals in Ireland’s match against Nicosia in Cyprus. Thanks to Setanta and how they control television rights, there was nowhere in Kansas City I’m aware of, to watch the game.
Ireland scored 2 goals. Conceded 5. Against Cyprus.
Ireland have been humiliated by more goals in the Maracana, but that was a friendly. And that was Brazil. But Cyprus. Five goals. Thanks again to Setanta for not letting us watch that.
More and more the performance of Brian Kerr as Ireland manager with a bunch of players who aren’t world-beaters - or even Cyprus-beaters - looks very good indeed.
See Also:
• Irish Lose: O Dear, O-dear O-dear O-dear
• Ireland Play Argentina: Meeting Maradona
• Ireland Lose Convincingly. I’m convinced
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