The five key goals from Ireland’s Euro 2016 qualifying campaign

Aiden McGeady v Georgia – Boris Paichadze National Stadium, Tbilisi, September 7th, 2014

The fact that it’s way back as far as Ireland’s very first qualifier means it’s easy to forget but Aiden McGeady’s strike against Georgia proved to be a vital goal. And possibly the Irish goal of the qualifiers.

With the game locked at 1-1 after the Everton winger had put Ireland ahead before Tornike Okriashvili equalised, McGeady produced a moment of magic in the dying minutes.

Picking the ball up on the right-wing Seamus Coleman angled a hopeful ball into the box. It landed right at the feet of McGeady who had his back to goal.

Moving the ball away from the Georgian defender, he swivelled before curling a left-footed shot into the far top corner to seal a dramatic Ireland win.

John O’Shea v Germany – Stadion Gelsenkirchen, Gelsenkirchen, October 14th, 2014

Little did we know that this would be just the first of two magical moments against the world champions.

John O’Shea, an Irish stalwart, on his 100th appearance in a green jersey popping up to net an equaliser in the last minute against the best team in the world. You couldn’t write it.

After battering the Ireland goal for most of the game Toni Kroos finally broke the deadlock with 20 minutes to go. The Germans looked home and hosed.

And then, O’Shea struck.

McGeady found Wes Hoolahan on the right and the former Shelbourne man played a high ball towards the back post.

It looked to have beaten all of the Irish jerseys in the box but Jeff Hendrick didn't give up on it.

Tracking the flight of the ball to the back post Hendrick cushioned it back across goal where O'Shea stuck out his right foot to poke the ball past Manuel Neuer.

Shane Long v Poland – Aviva Stadium, Dublin, March 29th, 2015

The old football cliché of playing until the very last whistle no matter what surely sums up this Irish team. The fact that this is the third injury time goal in this list proves exactly that.

After losing 1-0 to Scotland in the previous qualifier it could be argued that Long’s goal on that March evening kept alive Ireland’s qualification chances.

Slawomir Peszko’s first half goal gave the Poles the lead at the break.

In the second period Ireland emerged as a different team and dominated proceedings but couldn’t put the ball in the net.

Until Long scuffed home from a few yards, that is.

A free-kick into the box from Robbie Brady forced a save from Lukasz Fabianski and Ireland were awarded a corner.

Brady again took and found the head of Hoolahan in the box. He nodded it down into the six yard box and Long got there with the studs of his boot to bobble the ball into the net.

Not as easy on the eye as McGeady’s in Tblisi but no one cared.

Shane Long v Germany – Aviva Stadium, Dublin, October 8th, 2015

Without a doubt this is the goal that will be remembered most fondly by Ireland fans.

Long’s strike was the moment that qualification for next summer’s tournament in France went from being a pipe dream to a possibility.

As The Irish Times soccer correspondent, Emmet Malone wrote: "To call the build-up a move would be to flatter it but after Walters had been appealing for a penalty following a budge by Mats Hummels, the ball ended up with Randolph who belted it beyond the striker as he wandered back towards halfway and into the path of the substitute. The Southampton striker was being chased by three defenders, with Jéröme Boateng the closest of them, but all that earned him in the end was a ringside seat as Long let loose and the ball flew far beyond the helpless Manuel Neuer and into the far top corner."

Pure delirium around the country.

Robbie Brady v Bosnia and Herzegovina – Stadion Bilino polje, Zenica, November 13th, 2015

The most interesting thing about the final goal on the list is that very few people saw it.

As Robbie Brady himself said after the game “I couldn’t even see who flicked it on, myself”.

Brady’s strike lit up the fog in Zenica and gave Ireland a crucial away goal to take back to Dublin. It also gave them the belief that they could beat this Bosnia side. And they certainly took that into the second leg.

From a long Darren Randolph clearance the ball was flicked on to Brady who was streaking down the right wing.

He got to the corner of the box, cut inside onto his left and fired a low shot into the bottom left corner of Asmir Begovic’s net.