Yes we will look back on the Year 2011 as a great year for Irish Football.
When you look back on the mess our International side was in just after Stauntons resignation great strides have been made.
Heres my top 3 in Chronological order
2011 CARLING NATIONS CUP WINNERS
(1). Ireland win the 4 Nations Cup- yes it was badly attended. No question about that but wasn't it great to see us beat 3 of our closest rivals and claim a Trophy into the bargain as well.
Highlight for me was obviously the 1-0 win over Scotland to see us win the first 4 Nations trophy. Closely followed by the 5-0 humiliation of the North.
SHAMROCK ROVERS QUALIFY FOR EUROPA LEAGUE
(2). Shamrock Rovers qualify for the group stages of the Europa League. An Airtricity league side manages to do what no other Irish club (North or South) have ever acheived. They managed to upset the form books and actually qualify for the Group stages of a major European club tournament.
IRELAND QUALIFY FOR FINALS OF EURO 2012
(3). And last but not least Ireland have qualified for the finals of next summers Euro Finals in Poland and Ukraine. After our home performance earlier in the tournament against Russia i believed that our chance was gone. But no this side regrouped and went on a lengthy unbeaten run to make it to the play offs. And the rest is History...
Yes a great and proud year for fans of the Irish Football team.
2011 - A Great year for Irish Football!!!!
posted on 18/11/11
yeah, lost it in the PL, but he was a Spurs Legend. Really hope he has a great tournament
posted on 20/11/11
yes indeed what a year. Remember at the start of last year, NI fans like yerman and Windsor truly believed that NI were better than the ROI lol what a joke.
posted on 20/11/11
Ha ha i remember those two clowns. They disappeared completely from the old BBC 606 boards after we beat them 5-0!!!!!!
They must have been right gutted.
posted on 21/11/11
Fair play lads you have had a great year and deserved to qualify for the Euro's.
The Carling Nations was a bit of an all round disaster and im not sure if it will run again. If it is to the games will have to be played in each country and not at one venue - just like the 6 nations. But ROI where the best team and NI.....we wont go there!
With Shamrock Rovers im hoping that NI can benefit as O'Neill and Magilton have gone as far as they can with them. Hopefully the will come into manage us. Also shows summer football is the way for the Irish league to go. But for Shamrock Rovers to go as far as they have in the Europa league is nothing short of phenomenal.
As bad as things are in the Republic, the football team hasn't let anyone down!
posted on 21/11/11
I agree GAWA if this tournament is to have a future it should not be played in the one ground. It was only done this time to showcase the new Aviva.
posted on 21/11/11
No one mentioned in this 2011 Great Year for Irish Football the elephant in the room....
Linfield winning their 50th League Title in their 125th year of existance,surely that deserves a mention?
posted on 21/11/11
Also did that Irish guy win goal of the year?
posted on 22/11/11
Welcome back Mick!! I've unfiltered you. Your not a bad old skin afterall
posted on 22/11/11
Only One ,cant believe you had me filtered .
Sensible EdinSpur -think you might be talking about Matty Burrows of Glentoran ,he didnt win European goal of the year ,bet if Messi,Rooney or Mich Shannon had scored it they would have been awarded goal of the year!
posted on 23/11/11
Cracking goal alright. On the subject of Messi. Don't get me wrong he is worldclass but every time he scores a goal the commentators go a bit overboard. I saw him score a 5 yard tap in for Barcelona on Sky and the commentator was so excited he nearly had a heart attack!!!!