Describe and post the goal, emotions of people, ambiance etc (How did the person(s) next to you react, what did they or commentator say (if you watched), how the stadium erupted, how many minutes were left to the whistle? Did you, the stadium, the nation hold the breath? Anything. What reminds and revives the emotion and memory. Which makes it special, memorable.). 

And if you want to tell more: What importance did it have to the team, to Ireland, to you.  Why was and is it so emotional? Share your experience, share your memory and how it revives when you remember it.

That`s why we love football, and more you remember such moments more you love it, it and your team. (But of course football and love of it (and of our team) is not all about  joy. Rather, these moments are so special and emotional because footballers and fans did their best, worked as never, desired as never, it was almost unexpected, because it was so hard, it was, because we were not favourites, and we were not favourites because in such circumstances one loses and one was almost destined to lose, but then, out of sheer love for the game, for the team one overcomes all of these. I think what shines at these times is this desire, faith and hope in our heart of hearts that we will win despite all of the facts, rankings etc. It is not about knowing and reasoning that we will win. So it is about this (and not only about joy): despite (usually) losing on this or that level, despite disappointments, you believe in your team, against all facts, and you go with this belief to the stadium, you count hours to the game, and you got envisioned this great wins already. And sometimes it really happens and it is inevitable now that if so many fans wait for the match and go to the stadium with such dreams, no result can subdue them, no result can make them turn their back to the game, and in such an ambiance and such a love of the game (of your team) starts the way towards these emotional moments.

Grown men breaking down in tears.

 

You said that the last time.

 

Was only 9  in 1990 and remember the penno's well, but Houghton was the first time I really grasped the emotion of it all. Great memories.

Stuttgart 1988.  First game in a major finals and a 1-0 win over England.  

 

2. John O'Shea's equaliser in Gelsenkirchen (my 1st away match!) 

 

3. Ray Houghton's winner v Italy at WC94 - and the final whistle (in between was absolute torture )

 

4. Penalty shoot-out v Romania at WC90

 

Obviously would also have mentioned Robbie Keane's goal v Germany in 2002 but bx of a boss wouldn't let me off work to watch the game.  Was able to have the radio commentary on in work but obviously NOWHERE near the same.

 

Sheasy's goal in Gelsenkirchen. I was very emotional after that goal, the goal coming in the same town that Vim Kieft broke our hearts 26 years earlier.

 

 

Outpouring of relief, delight, ecstasy, pride and unbridled joy.  Will never be surpassed.

 

That fleeting moment between Razor scoring, looking at the linesman and seeing no flag raised. Time seemed to stand still...

Quinn sliding in to score against Holland 1990

Packie's save Romania 1990

Quinn scoring in Wembley 1991

Alan McLoughlin hitting that peach of a volley in Windsor Park 1993

Rayyyy Houghton!! 1994

Anfield 95 speaks for itself

McAteer v Holland, ended up 2-3 rows forward in the east stand hugging some auld culchie

More recent: 

O'Shea in Gelsenkirchen since living in Germany and being in the German end made it all the sweeter

Shane Long for obvious reasons

Brady against Italy, doing the unthinkable with 5 minutes left

Honourable mentions too for Slovakia 0-4 Armenia,  Georgia 1-0 Scotland, and when it was announced Roy Keane was returning to play for Ireland.

Not being there was the 2nd leg play off v Iran. Was in the Palace on Camden st and place was packed at something like 2 in the day. It was mental and amazing.

2/ Shane Long Germany game Lansdowne , Just the sheer madness in 114 never seen anything like in in that section .

3/ Wales in Croke Park , I was in tears as soon as the anthems started as a life time been told it would never happen but it did .

nobody expected it

we had to hang on for 20 mins ( we would not have hung on against Italy for 20 mins)

they were world champions

it actually mattered as we qualified

first tie the Aviva was really rockin

still get emotional watching it again - will take it to the grave

 

special mention for Estonia 0-4 Ireland - watched stone cold sober

By the time Euro 16 came Id been living in Canada almost 4 years and visa trouble meant I couldnt travel back for it. Brady's goal was a bit more personal because we're both from Baldoyle and I've known him pretty much all my life. Knocked off work early for the Italy game and Im pretty sure I still had my head in my hands after Weso's miss and then it came. To see your mate score a goal of that magnitude for our country in a major championships was something else. Then seeing his brothers Cian, Darren, Redser and his girlfriend at the final whistle sent me into tears. A brilliant night that was

Houghton v Italy

McAteer v Holland

Robbie Keane v Germany

O'Shea v Germany

Long v Germany

Brady v Italy

After the double dejection of the performance and result in Bordeaux and the short 4-day turnaround, it was difficult initially to get up again for the Italy game. Everyone I knew was flying back home after the Belgium game. After ten days on the batter, I was half-tempted to join them myself. 

It was hard to spend the Monday and Tuesday in Paris watching the Northern Irish and Welsh celebrating their own qualification, when I couldn't see us beating Italy at that stage.

That all changed when you landed in Lille. There was a special atmosphere and build-up around the city all day. That only intensified when you entered the stadium and experienced the wall of Irish noise under the closed roof. 

The performance was great but would have counted for nothing without the win. The goal celebrations were manic. I was in the first row on the second tier directly behind the goal. I was glad of the perplex wall that protected us from the tier below. The rendition of ybig in the 88th minute was a moment I will take to the grave. 

Five minutes later, the full time whistle and the tears flowed. Strangers on all sides were hugged. The one or two Italians behind us and the match day stewards wore smiles almost as big as my own. You can't put a price on the quiet contentment and pride you felt on the metro back to the city centre and the return train to Paris.

Robbie Brady V Italy in Lille.

 Lovely story, truly a great moment 

Its great to hear stories like this.

What ya should have said was you have never seen Deise happy at a match! 

 

Heartbreak Euro '88:

Paul McGrath's header against the post and Wim Kieft's spinning header.

 

Joy WC 1990:

Niall Quinn's equaliser when Van Breukelen made a mess.

 

Anfield The Kop 1995:

Probably the best Ireland atmosphere I've witnessed beaten 2-0 by Holland but some night Jackie Charlton waved us goodbye.

 

Lansdowne 2001 v Holland:

Was in the West Stand when McAteer scored and thought it was going to collapse.

 

 

Can I add Gary Waddock's goal against the Dutch at Dalymount mid 80's place went wild including lads on roof.

 

 

 

I was at that game. I went by myself as a teenager. I didnt realise we lost until the next day, and even told a few people on the way home that we drew 2-2. I went for a piss and the Dutch scored and I never even knew it

 

 

Has to be without the greatest for me. 

2 weeks beforehand I wasn’t going to the game. At the end of September here in Western Australia we have a public holiday, was in the Casino on the Sat night and was in and out of the bookies and the Mrs was giving me grief. So I did a 6 team accum and f**ked $100 on it. Said to her there and then on the spot if this wins I’m going to the Germany and Poland games. She laughs at me. So anyway bet comes in the Sunday night and win $1600. Went into work Monday morning and booked the trip came home from work f**ked it in front of her and said I’m flying out next wed!

Left Perth Wed night on 22.30 flight, got hammered on the flight to Dubai and arrived into Dublin at 11.30 Thursday morning. Dropped bag into hotel, went to see a mate in the Dail and he got me driven out to LD to pick up a freebie off the FAI. When Shane Long scored I went bananas jumped on the 2 fellas beside me who had to be D4 ****s and were barely clapping and I didn’t stop for about 5 minutes. We had a session and a half that night and was in ribbons getting the flight to Warsaw and having to sit beside big Paulie the whole way while continuously belting out the same tune for the 2 hour flight wasn’t the perfect cure! 

Left Warsaw on the Monday and arrived back in Perth on Tuesday night and back into work Wednesday. I was never so f**ked in all my life! 

Robbie Brady was a close second! Myself, Daithi, Gaz and Honey Monster went nuts at the end of it! Some scenes!  

 

The Northern Ireland game where we won 3-0 before Malta was unbelievable and we knew we were going to a World Cup finally.

South terrace was incredible only a schoolboy but what an atmosphere- remember watching highlights that evening and Jimmy Magee who commentated that day referred to the terrace in commentary 'What a sight that terrace is...' as Que Sera rang out. 

 

George Dunlop was in goal for the North and the poor chap died a death after Whelan's first.

I remember chinning about 3 pints in 10 minutes sitting staring into space when i saw the German midfield in the lineups, my brother was asking was i ok 

1.Jason MaCateer -v- The Netherlands.

2.Robbie Keane v Germany

3.Robbie Brady -v- Italy.

4.Shane Long -v- Germany

5.Sean St Ledger -v- Croatia.

Mostly goals that came out of nowhere, in games which were not necessarily favourable towards us at kick off. Sledge's goal was a fantastic moment during a difficult time.