Seamus Coleman is named in 2014 Premier League Team of the Year
Richard Sellers
Richard Sellers
A terrific season at club level for Everton full-back Seamus Coleman, in which he made 41 appearances and scored seven goals, earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
Irish women’s U19s team make it to the European Championships semi-final
Heading into their first European Championship in Norway, Ireland were the outsiders in a group which contained Spain, England and Sweden back in July. However, Dave Connell’s girls caused a major upset by topping the group with three wins from three. A place in the final proved a step too far as they lost out to eventual winners the Netherlands in the last four.
Anders Hoven / INPHO
Anders Hoven / INPHO / INPHO
Aiden McGeady’s late winner against Georgia
Ireland came away from a tricky trip to Tblisi with all three points thanks to a couple of moments of magic from Everton winger Aiden McGeady. Having opened for the scoring for the visitors on 23 minutes, McGeady produced a mesmerising piece of skill to make a yard for himself on the edge of the Georgia box before stroking home for a 2-1 win.
Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
The SSE Airtricity League Premier Division came down to the wire with the top two Dundalk and Cork City meeting at Oriel Park on the final night of the season. Cork held a one-point advantage going into the game but goals from returning captain Stephen O’Donnell and Brian Gartland sealed a first title in 19 years for Stephen Kenny’s Lilywhites.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
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Robbie Keane’s hat-trick in the Gibraltar rout
Ireland racked up a a 7-0 victory over Gibraltar with captain Robbie Keane bagging himself a 12-minute hat-trick to take his international tally to 65 goals.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
John O’Shea reaching 100 caps and scoring equaliser against the Germans
Wearing the captain’s armband and winning his 100th senior cap for Ireland, John O’Shea popped up injury-time to help Ireland snatch a 1-1 draw away to world champions Germany in Gelsenkirchen.
Wes Hoolahan’s overhit cross was recycled brilliant by Jeff Hendrick and the Sunderland defender beat Mats Hummels to the ball to flick past Manuel Neuer.
https://vine.co/v/OqiBFeMLgp7
St Pat’s end their FAI Cup drought
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
53 years on from their last FAI Cup success, St Patrick’s Athletic were finally crowned champions of the country’s premier cup competition after seeing off 2012 winners Derry City in the final in November. PFAI Player of the Year Christy Fagan scored both goals as the Saints defeated to he Candystripes 2-0 at the Aviva Stadium.
Here are their fans reacting to the second goal:
https://vine.co/v/Oe7EUI7PVu0
Irish fans at Celtic Park
After all the arguments about tickets in the build-up to the game, around 10,000 Ireland fans made themselves heard at Celtic Park for the much-anticipated qualifier against Scotland in November.
Despite the large support, however, Martin O’Neill’s side were second best on the night and lost out to Shaun Maloney’s well-taken goal.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Robbie Brady free-kick v the US
After the disappointment of defeat in Glasgow, Ireland ended the calendar year on a high by overcoming the US at the Aviva Stadium. Robbie Brady featured at left full-back in a second-string team and scored twice in the 4-1 win.
His second, a perfectly-executed free-kick from 25 yards out, is undoubtedly one of the Irish goals of the year.
https://vine.co/v/OJZWObzJAOz
David McGoldrick’s debut
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
David McGoldrick and Cyrus Christie made their bows for Ireland on that night and both newcomers impressed. Ipswich Town striker McGoldrick had a particularly eye-catching international debut — setting up two goals with exquisite passes.
Shay Given coming out of international retirement
Having hung up his international boots after Euro 2012, 38-year-old Shay Given made his Ireland return in the friendly win over Oman in September. The Aston Villa stopper may be behind David Forde in the pecking order but he is seemingly ahead of Darren Randolph and Rob Elliot after starting against the US.
Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
Stephanie Roche’s Puskas Award nomination
The Ireland striker is up against Robin van Persie and James Rodriguez in the final three.
13 best Irish football moments in 2014
Seamus Coleman is named in 2014 Premier League Team of the Year
A terrific season at club level for Everton full-back Seamus Coleman, in which he made 41 appearances and scored seven goals, earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
Irish women’s U19s team make it to the European Championships semi-final
Heading into their first European Championship in Norway, Ireland were the outsiders in a group which contained Spain, England and Sweden back in July. However, Dave Connell’s girls caused a major upset by topping the group with three wins from three. A place in the final proved a step too far as they lost out to eventual winners the Netherlands in the last four.
Aiden McGeady’s late winner against Georgia
Ireland came away from a tricky trip to Tblisi with all three points thanks to a couple of moments of magic from Everton winger Aiden McGeady. Having opened for the scoring for the visitors on 23 minutes, McGeady produced a mesmerising piece of skill to make a yard for himself on the edge of the Georgia box before stroking home for a 2-1 win.
Dundalk win the Premier Division title decider
The SSE Airtricity League Premier Division came down to the wire with the top two Dundalk and Cork City meeting at Oriel Park on the final night of the season. Cork held a one-point advantage going into the game but goals from returning captain Stephen O’Donnell and Brian Gartland sealed a first title in 19 years for Stephen Kenny’s Lilywhites.
Robbie Keane’s hat-trick in the Gibraltar rout
Ireland racked up a a 7-0 victory over Gibraltar with captain Robbie Keane bagging himself a 12-minute hat-trick to take his international tally to 65 goals.
John O’Shea reaching 100 caps and scoring equaliser against the Germans
Wearing the captain’s armband and winning his 100th senior cap for Ireland, John O’Shea popped up injury-time to help Ireland snatch a 1-1 draw away to world champions Germany in Gelsenkirchen.
Wes Hoolahan’s overhit cross was recycled brilliant by Jeff Hendrick and the Sunderland defender beat Mats Hummels to the ball to flick past Manuel Neuer.
https://vine.co/v/OqiBFeMLgp7
St Pat’s end their FAI Cup drought
53 years on from their last FAI Cup success, St Patrick’s Athletic were finally crowned champions of the country’s premier cup competition after seeing off 2012 winners Derry City in the final in November. PFAI Player of the Year Christy Fagan scored both goals as the Saints defeated to he Candystripes 2-0 at the Aviva Stadium.
Here are their fans reacting to the second goal:
https://vine.co/v/Oe7EUI7PVu0
Irish fans at Celtic Park
After all the arguments about tickets in the build-up to the game, around 10,000 Ireland fans made themselves heard at Celtic Park for the much-anticipated qualifier against Scotland in November.
Despite the large support, however, Martin O’Neill’s side were second best on the night and lost out to Shaun Maloney’s well-taken goal.
Robbie Brady free-kick v the US
After the disappointment of defeat in Glasgow, Ireland ended the calendar year on a high by overcoming the US at the Aviva Stadium. Robbie Brady featured at left full-back in a second-string team and scored twice in the 4-1 win.
His second, a perfectly-executed free-kick from 25 yards out, is undoubtedly one of the Irish goals of the year.
https://vine.co/v/OJZWObzJAOz
David McGoldrick’s debut
David McGoldrick and Cyrus Christie made their bows for Ireland on that night and both newcomers impressed. Ipswich Town striker McGoldrick had a particularly eye-catching international debut — setting up two goals with exquisite passes.
Shay Given coming out of international retirement
Having hung up his international boots after Euro 2012, 38-year-old Shay Given made his Ireland return in the friendly win over Oman in September. The Aston Villa stopper may be behind David Forde in the pecking order but he is seemingly ahead of Darren Randolph and Rob Elliot after starting against the US.
Stephanie Roche’s Puskas Award nomination
The Ireland striker is up against Robin van Persie and James Rodriguez in the final three.
Robbie Keane winning MLS MVP
The Ireland skipper was named the MLS Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the first time thanks to his exploits for LA Galaxy this year.
Originally published at 0900
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2014 COYBIG Ireland Republic Year in Review