Top 5 Euro moments
Credit:
Ahead of Thursday’s visit of Juventus to Tallaght, ExtraTime’s team of feature writers pick their top European moments, words by Simon O’Gorman, Niall Farrell and Andrew Cunneen. Do you agree or disagree with our choice? If so let us know by commenting at the bottom of the page.
Cork City v Bayern Munich
In the autumn of 1991 Cork City were about to enter European competition for only the second time. Having been thumped by Torpedo Moscow on their debut two years previously they may have been looking for a less testing draw than the Bavarian giants, Bayern Munich, but the first leg played at Musgrave Park would provide the Leesiders with one of the greatest results in the club’s history.
Bayern playmaker, Steffan Effenburg, wondered out loud if he and his team-mates were seriously expected to play against “these old men”. It was a Hansen-esque moment that would come back to haunt the German about midway through the first half.
When Dave Barry, the Cork player who had prompted the ‘old men’ comment, smashed a shot into the Bayern net to give the home side an unlikely lead it led to a mini stampede of spectators towards the scoreboard where they scrambled to take pictures of the 1-0 scoreline before it changed.
As it turned out they had more time than they thought and the Bavarian side did not equalise until late in the second half when, inevitably, Effenburg scored for Bayern. But this was not a case of a desperate rearguard hanging on for dear life against vastly superior opponents.
In the second leg they held Bayern scoreless until the final twenty minutes when superior fitness told and the home side scored two late goals to win the tie 3-1 on aggregate.
Shelbourne v Hadjuk Split
With seventy-eight minutes gone, the scene was set for Shelbourne to adhere to the script and go out of the Champions’ League to Croatian giants Hajduk Split. A packed Tolka Park urged the side on, but Hajduk were a formidable foe and led 2-1.
Then, Alan Moore arched a hopeful cross in the general direction of defender Dave Rogers on the edge of the Hajduk penalty area.
Rogers volleys the ball sweetly past Suto in goal for Split, levelling the game and sending Tolka Park into rapture. Moore himself was the hero with seconds of stoppage time remaining, tapping in from a Joseph Ndo cross. The win propelled Shels into the third qualifying round of the Champions’ League and an historic meeting with Deportivo La Coruna.
Shelbourne v Deportivo
After the heroics against Hadjuk, Shelbourne became first Irish team to play in the third qualifying phase of any European competition and gave Deportivo a right scare at Lansdowne Road. 24,000 people in Lansdowne watched plucky Shels almost defeat Deportivo- getting a highly creditable 0-0 draw.
Shels fans still ponder ‘what if’ Alan Moore’s header wasn’t saved minutes after half time. What did transpire was a heroic display from Shels to take a draw to the Riazor in La Coruna. Although they lost 3-0 in the away leg, many rank the draw among the club’s finest results ever.
Limerick v Madrid
After winning the league in 1980, Limerick were drawn against a Madrid outfit who were at the time, one of the superpowers of world football and in a controversial move, the home leg was moved to Landsdowne Road.
This is often seen as a turning point in people's views on senior soccer in Limerick. Only a small minority traveled from Limerick to support their team, while the Dublin crowds also steered clear.
However, a historic night was to unfold as Limerick put it to Real, with local player Des Kennedy scoring not only in the home leg which Limerick lost by two goals to one but also scored in the return leg in Madrid.
Most Lims fans look back with pride at this tie despite Los Blancos progressing comfortably enough in the end.
Athlone Town v AC Milan
The scene was set; St Mel’s Park on a blustery October evening with practically the whole town in attendance. For those of you that have been to Town’s old stomping ground, you can imagine how uncomfortable the debonair Milanese must have found it.
Just a half hour into the game Terry Daly was chopped down in the box and when the referee pointed to the spot, the 12,000 packed into the rickety old ground went nuts. John Minnock, so reliable on so many occasions stepped up to take the kick, but it was not to be.
Still, Athlone held on for a famous home draw by playing the Italians at their own game in defending. keeping the tie in the balance for the more expansive San Siro, Town held on for long parts but in the end they capitulated, conceding three times in the final third of the game.
Cork City v Bayern Munich
In the autumn of 1991 Cork City were about to enter European competition for only the second time. Having been thumped by Torpedo Moscow on their debut two years previously they may have been looking for a less testing draw than the Bavarian giants, Bayern Munich, but the first leg played at Musgrave Park would provide the Leesiders with one of the greatest results in the club’s history.
Bayern playmaker, Steffan Effenburg, wondered out loud if he and his team-mates were seriously expected to play against “these old men”. It was a Hansen-esque moment that would come back to haunt the German about midway through the first half.
When Dave Barry, the Cork player who had prompted the ‘old men’ comment, smashed a shot into the Bayern net to give the home side an unlikely lead it led to a mini stampede of spectators towards the scoreboard where they scrambled to take pictures of the 1-0 scoreline before it changed.
As it turned out they had more time than they thought and the Bavarian side did not equalise until late in the second half when, inevitably, Effenburg scored for Bayern. But this was not a case of a desperate rearguard hanging on for dear life against vastly superior opponents.
In the second leg they held Bayern scoreless until the final twenty minutes when superior fitness told and the home side scored two late goals to win the tie 3-1 on aggregate.
Shelbourne v Hadjuk Split
With seventy-eight minutes gone, the scene was set for Shelbourne to adhere to the script and go out of the Champions’ League to Croatian giants Hajduk Split. A packed Tolka Park urged the side on, but Hajduk were a formidable foe and led 2-1.
Then, Alan Moore arched a hopeful cross in the general direction of defender Dave Rogers on the edge of the Hajduk penalty area.
Rogers volleys the ball sweetly past Suto in goal for Split, levelling the game and sending Tolka Park into rapture. Moore himself was the hero with seconds of stoppage time remaining, tapping in from a Joseph Ndo cross. The win propelled Shels into the third qualifying round of the Champions’ League and an historic meeting with Deportivo La Coruna.
Shelbourne v Deportivo
After the heroics against Hadjuk, Shelbourne became first Irish team to play in the third qualifying phase of any European competition and gave Deportivo a right scare at Lansdowne Road. 24,000 people in Lansdowne watched plucky Shels almost defeat Deportivo- getting a highly creditable 0-0 draw.
Shels fans still ponder ‘what if’ Alan Moore’s header wasn’t saved minutes after half time. What did transpire was a heroic display from Shels to take a draw to the Riazor in La Coruna. Although they lost 3-0 in the away leg, many rank the draw among the club’s finest results ever.
Limerick v Madrid
After winning the league in 1980, Limerick were drawn against a Madrid outfit who were at the time, one of the superpowers of world football and in a controversial move, the home leg was moved to Landsdowne Road.
This is often seen as a turning point in people's views on senior soccer in Limerick. Only a small minority traveled from Limerick to support their team, while the Dublin crowds also steered clear.
However, a historic night was to unfold as Limerick put it to Real, with local player Des Kennedy scoring not only in the home leg which Limerick lost by two goals to one but also scored in the return leg in Madrid.
Most Lims fans look back with pride at this tie despite Los Blancos progressing comfortably enough in the end.
Athlone Town v AC Milan
The scene was set; St Mel’s Park on a blustery October evening with practically the whole town in attendance. For those of you that have been to Town’s old stomping ground, you can imagine how uncomfortable the debonair Milanese must have found it.
Just a half hour into the game Terry Daly was chopped down in the box and when the referee pointed to the spot, the 12,000 packed into the rickety old ground went nuts. John Minnock, so reliable on so many occasions stepped up to take the kick, but it was not to be.
Still, Athlone held on for a famous home draw by playing the Italians at their own game in defending. keeping the tie in the balance for the more expansive San Siro, Town held on for long parts but in the end they capitulated, conceding three times in the final third of the game.
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