Some of RTÉ Sport’s best-loved analysts will debate the moments that are dearest to the hearts of the Irish public. In front of a live studio audience, this show will reflect on the 50 years of Irish sport between Ireland’s first TV Sport broadcast in 1962 up until 2012. Although there have been some incredible sporting moments since, the cut-off will ensure that there is enough distance to ensure the moment stands the test of time.Irish sport has provided some pretty seismic moments in recent decades and it has seen the emergence of individuals who would define eras and go on to become legends. However, how many of those moments have transcended sport? How many have made the nation stand-still and lived long in the memory to stand the test of time? Ireland’s Greatest Sporting Moment will give you at home the opportunity to pick the moment that you think stands out above all others.
Presented by Des Cahill and Evanne Ni Chuilinn, the series kicks-off this Thursday 9 November with Eamon Dunphy, Joe Brolly and Sonia O’Sullivan debating the greatest Irish sporting moment of a momentous decade, the 1980s.
These moments were collated from suggestions received through social media and emails to the show. Our cross-sport expert panel collaborated to reduce the longlist (below) to a shortlist of five. Viewers will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite on the shortlist of five via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SMS or via rte.ie/sport. Voting lines will open at 9.30pm on Thursday November 9. Details will appear on rte.ie/sport and rte.ie/tv/programmes/915173-irelands-greatest-sporting-moment/
#IrelandsGreatest
The 80s Longlist
- Joe Connolly’s ‘People of Galway, we love you’ speech (1980)
Galway’s first All Ireland Hurling victory in 57 years inspired one of the most iconic speeches in GAA history.
- Alex Higgins wins World Snooker Championship (1982)
Higgins’ iconic celebrations with his crying daughter in his arms and her soother in his mouth produced an enduring image after one of Ireland’s best-loved and most complex sportsmen overcame Ray Reardon.
- Shergar Derby win (1981)
Before his disappearance in 1983, Shergar had captured the public imagination after an extraordinary debut season in 1981. He won the Epsom Derby by a record distance, the first in a historic triple, to which he added the Irish Derby and the King George. He was just about to go into his second year at stud when he was kidnapped.
- Ireland win Triple Crown (1982)
The peerless Ollie Campbell inspired Ireland to their first Triple Crown in 33 years. It has been argued that this team sparked the breakthrough of rugby in the modern era in Ireland and we are reaping the rewards today.
- Seamus Darby Goal (1982)
Probably the most famous goal in GAA history. With two minutes to go, Kerry were headed for the an unprecedented 5th All Ireland title, when Seamus Darby came onto the pitch and stole victory for Offaly.
- Eamonn Coghlan World Championship 5000m Gold (1983)
After suffering two fourth placed Olympic finishes, Coghlan found redemption at the inaugural World Athletics Championships. A run that will be forever remembered for Coghlan’s pre-emptive celebration coming around the final bend, while over-taking the Soviet Union’s Dmitry Dmitriyev.
- John Treacy Olympic Marathon Silver (1984)
The Waterford runner had finished 9th in the 10,000 metre final a week before he embarked on his first ever marathon. Treacy made his move with around the 20km to go and by the time the leading group entered the LA Coliseum, he was third alongside Portugal’s Carlos Lopez and Charlie Spedding of Britain. With about 300m left, Treacy put on a sprint finish to secure Ireland’s first Olympic track medal since Ronnie Delaney’s Gold in 1956.
- McGuigan wins WBA World Title (1985)
McGuigan’s opponent, Eusebio Pedroza, had successfully defended his title 19 times but he didn’t have enough to deny Ireland its first world champion in 35 years.
- Dennis Taylor (1985)
The Tyrone man overcame reigning champion and outright favourite Steve Davis in the longest World Championship Final ever in a game that broke TV viewing records, records that stand to this day.
- Ireland Triple Crown (1985)
After an exhilarating second half display against Scotland, Ireland recorded their first win in Cardiff since 1967. Next up was England in Dublin and Michael Kiernan’s dropped goal provided one of Lansdowne Road’s landmark moments.
- Dawn Run Gold Cup (1986)
Dawn Run became the only horse to complete the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup double and put Willie Mullins’ name firmly on the world racing map.
- Shamrock Rovers 4-in-a-row (1987)
Four league titles in a row and three FAI Cups during a period that would prove to be the pinnacle of the club’s success since its formation in 1899 and probably the greatest ever League of Ireland achievement.
- Dave ‘Boy’ comes so close in one of the greatest fights of the decade (1987)
In the first of their two fights at the King’s Hall, Belfast Larne’s Dave ‘Boy’ McAuley took reigning WBA Flyweight champion Fidel Bassa all the way to the 13th round before finally succumbing to the brilliant Columbian.
- Stephen Roche’s climb at La Plagne (1987)
Roche became only the second rider in the history of cycling to win the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the World Road Race in the same year. The moment that encapsulated his achievement was his incredible climb at La Plagne.
- John Fenton’s wonder-goal v Limerick (1987)
Cork’s 1987 Munster Final replay victory against Limerick will live long in the memory thanks to one of the greatest strikes in the history of hurling.
- Who put the ball in the English net? (1988)
Ray Houghton’s 6th minute header sealed an unlikely win for the Republic of Ireland against England at the 1988 European Championships.
- Ronnie’s shinner (1988)
A goal of astounding invention against the world’s best goalkeeper that just happened to come off Ronnie Whelan’s shin, put Ireland ahead against world football powerhouse, Russia.
- Christie O’Connor’s Ryder Cup 2 iron (1989)
Christie O’Connor Junior went into his singles match against Fred Couples as a huge underdog. All-square coming up the 18th O’Connor was left with 229 to the green, while Couples was left with just a nine-iron. Captain, Tony Jacklin’s implored Christie to give “one more good swing for Ireland”, then watched as O’Connor’s 2-iron approach landed 4 feet from the pin and won the point which secured a 14-14 draw and saw Europe retain the trophy.
- Offaly applaud Antrim off after historic All Ireland Hurling semi-final result (1989)
After one of the biggest shock results in the history of hurling, Offaly formed a guard of honour for their unlikely conquerors.
Monday 6 November
ENDS
Further information: Fergus McCormack, RTÉ Sport press officer, 086 8674751, Fergus.mccormack@rte.ie
Notes to editors:
Full list of episodes below, each longlist will be released the Monday before that Thursday’s broadcast.
Episode 1 – Thursday 9 November: 1980s – Eamon Dunphy, Joe Brolly, Sonia O’Sullivan
Episode 2 – Thursday 16 November: 1990s – Ruby Walsh, Derval O’Rourke, Ronan O’Gara
Episode 3 – Thursday 23 November: 1960s/1970s – Ted Walsh, Brian Kerr, Ger Loughnane
Episode 4 – Thursday 30 November: 2000s – Donal Lenihan, Derval O’Rourke, Eamon Dunphy
Episode 5 – Thursday 7 December – Final