O’Leary and Bonner (centre). Credit: INPHO / Billy Stickland
WITH THE EUROPEAN Championships just days away now, past glories of the Irish national team, and in particular, the Charlton era, are inevitably being relived.
This week, we spoke to legendary RTE commentator George Hamilton (who will be attending his 17th major tournament when he covers Ireland at Euro 2012) about what are likely to be the most famous words he has ever spoken.
Having earned a place in the knockout stages of Italia ’90 thanks to three draws against England, Holland and Egypt in Group F, Ireland played out a scoreless draw with Romania after 120 minutes in Genoa, meaning a penalty shootout was needed to settle the tie.
Packie Bonner had just kept out Daniel Timofte’s attempt to keep it at 4-4 when Arsenal defender David O’Leary stepped up. We’ll let George take it from here…
It wasn’t a pre-thought thing as I don’t like the idea of making notes of what you’re going to say.I find a pre-prepared comment sounds very stilted. The final whistle is blown and off goes the commentator into this big spiel about this and that, which may not have any relevance about the events.
It was June 25, which was the end of the Irish government’s six-month presidency of Europe and there was a press conference in Dublin Castle, which was being hosted by Charlie Haughey. It was on at the same time as the game and was being televised on the Six One news. We were on the RTE 2 . When the match went to extra-time and penalties, someone in the news room made the wise decision to say ‘hold on a minute, we can’t carry on here while this potentially historic moment is about to happen elsewhere’.
They stopped the press conference and advised journalists present to watch the TV monitors. Back in RTE, the editor of Six One decided to take live pictures of the game, which meant that the game was being transmitted on the two channels. I was told this, so anybody who was watching Irish television at that moment was watching this match.
Right before Dave O’Leary’s turn, it just seemed the absolutely appropriate thing to say. Put yourself in my position that your mind is now filled with an image of two televisions -one showing the news, which had cut to the penalties, and one also showing the match.
…And everybody’s watching, so there was nothing else to say except that.”
Watch the shootout in full below. Skip to 14:20 for O’Leary’s:
YouTube credit: chimpanzeethat1
Still get the goose bumps every time I see this. COME ON IRELAND!!!!
Remember it well was on holidays with my parent’s, I was about 10 and we were over in pontins in England. I watch the match in our chalet and when Bonner saved the peno I ran out onto the road screaming and broke down crying when my dad shout o leary scored. Everyone must have wondered what the hell just happened to that poor kid.
Hahaha ! Good story, Dave. Hopefully the nippers of this generation will be reminiscing about these championships in decades to come!
Come on you boys in green!
Guys I don’t usually like helping people but please please please if you know anyone going to Poland ask them to be very careful where they are exchanging their money……. Lots of places to fleece you, CHANGE YOUR CASH BEFORE YOU GO
Was the Romania match not in Genoa?
The worst commentator in the world. Constantly makes mistakes, forgets names, zones out for much of the match and doesn’t even know the rules of the game. He cant even write about it correctly, that’s twice this week, in two separate articles he has made a mistake also. He wouldn’t have a job anywhere else in the world, only in Ireland!!!
Get a life troll!!
A welcome break from all the doom and gloom,,,, come on Ireland!!! :-)
I was workin in McDonalds in O’Connell st. Mad. Remember loads of lads having to lift a car with people in it to let a bloke out from under after it rolled on him durin the madness. Beep beep beep olé olé.
Haha mayhem!
COYBIG
It was, of course.
@paula Brennan > he is actually not a bad commentator I actually think your full of s***
Hair still stands up on d back off d neck watchin that !!
Some craic, absolutely love watching this clip!!!
The state of Cascarino in that pic. The clues that he wasn’t really Irish were there, weren’t they?
Big Cas qualified for Irish citizenship through his grandparents and always gave 100% when he pulled on that glorious green jersey.
Good enough for me.
I remember it so well all heroes, bring on more of that
Busying myself looking back through all the great times we had at tournaments, hair on neck absolutely rigid LOL.
Here’s hoping the forthcoming euro’s will have the same magical moments…
@paula the mans a legend ur frickin idiot
Got seriously patriotic that night and booked tickets to Rome,500 ton for a day trip but referee aside worth every penny.
I’m ashamed Dunphy is Irish, hopefully he will run the current Irish team down too, leading them on to greater results!
While over the top at least he says what he thinks. I’d you want to be ashamed to be Irish there’s many many better reasons than him.