Hero of the night last night, Ireland's John O'Shea, in action against Austria last year
The Irish senior football team has in recent years had a string of poor results, but last night’s 1-1 draw away to world champions Germany drew some interesting responses on Twitter.
Last night’s Euro 2016 qualifier was the third match so far in the campaign and proved to be the second time this year that Ireland have pulled a result out of the bag in the dying moments.
It also marks a return to Ireland scoring a last-minute equaliser against German opposition, having done so in an even grander scale 12 years ago at the 2002 World Cup when Robbie Keane scored against the eventual World Cup finalists.
Ireland’s goalscorer even came from the most unlikely source in the form of John O’Shea, who also celebrated the night with his 100th cap for Ireland, although FIFA has tried to spoil the party by saying he is, in fact, only on 99 caps.
Of course, with Irish success being a rather irregular affair, here is how people flocked to Twitter to chip in their thoughts on the big result.
Can’t stop watching that #johnoshea goal from last night , moments like that are priceless, @FAIreland #Euro2016Qualifiers #GerIrl
— Chris Carton (@chrismufc12) October 15, 2014
Austerity over AND we thwart the Germans in the same day?! Now that’s revenge. #GERIRL #COYBIG
— Joe Donnelly (@kildarejoe) October 14, 2014
Even the players themselves got in on the act and couldn’t resist taking a selfie for the fans back home.
Plane selfie number 2 from last night courtesy of our centurion and man of the hour, John O’Shea! #GerIrl #COYBIG 🍀 pic.twitter.com/UaWtvYHs35
— FAI (@FAIreland) October 15, 2014
Meanwhile, German fans, who last Saturday saw their side succumb to a shock 2-0 loss to Poland, were obviously a little taken aback by what had just happened, judging by their official Twitter page.
90+4′ GOAL for Ireland. John #OShea levels the scores in the dying seconds… #DFBTeam #GERIRL 1-1
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) October 14, 2014
However, in their typical style, the RTÉ panel members were quick to bring the mood down ever so slightly, with Eamon Dunphy receiving the full brunt of Twitter’s outrage.
“Martin O’Neill is Trapattoni with a Derry accent” – only Eamon Dunphy could come up with that classic!! #GERIRL #COYBIG
— Clear-cut View (@clearcutview) October 15, 2014
I think the panel are being played out of position. Two of them should be retired…. #gerirl
— Fionn Davenport (@fionndavenport) October 14, 2014
90+4′ GOAL for Ireland. John #OShea levels the scores in the dying seconds… #DFBTeam #GERIRL 1-1
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) October 14, 2014
But now, despite it being the day after, some people still have a beaming smile on their face.
It’s lashing outside which give me all the excuse I need to watch John O’Shea’s goal on loop for the next 12 hours
— Shane O’Mahony (@ShaneOMahony2) October 15, 2014
John O’Shea image via Shutterstock
