Irish Players that have Scored Direct
from a Corner Kick
Scoring a goal direct from
a corner kick is one of the more difficult techniques in soccer and is
a rare event. Yet, surprisingly, this unusual feat has been achieved by
more than one Irish international footballer for the Republic of Ireland.
Even more surprisingly it has been achieved twice by the same Irish player.
Johnny Gavin
The First Irish Player to Score Direct from a Corner for the Republic
of Ireland
John Thomas Gavin, born
in 1928 and from Limerick, became the first Irish player to score direct
from a corner kick in an international match when he scored against Finland
in 1949. It was on the occasion of a 1950
World Cup qualifier in Dalymount
Park. Ireland beat the Finns 3-0 on 08 September 1949 and Johnny Gavin
scored the opening goal after 35 minutes direct from a corner kick. Con
Martin, father of Mick
Martin, added two further goals either side of the half time break.
Johnny Gavin was a winger
who played for Jamesborough United and Limerick in Ireland and played
for Norwich City, Tottenham Hotspur, Watford and Crystal Palace in England.
During his English career he scored 173 goals in 478 senior appearances.
It's not know if any of these goals were scored direct from corner kicks.
Gavin won seven international caps for the Irish Free State / Republic
of Ireland and he was the first player from Spurs to play for Ireland.
Johnny Gavin passed away in September 1979 at the age of 79.
Steve Staunton
Only Irish Player to Score Direct from a Corner for the Republic of Ireland
- Twice !
Steve
Staunton is both a former Irish international footballer and a former
manager of the Republic of
Ireland senior team. As an Irish intentional player he was hugely
successful and at 102 caps he was once the outright record holder. Staunton
represented Ireland at three World Cup finals - in 1990, 1994 and the
2002 World Cup. He assumed the
captaincy in the latter tournament after Roy
Keane was sent home following the infamous Saipan
affair. During his playing career with Ireland he scored eight goals.
Remarkably, and uniquely,
two of these goals were scored direct from corner kicks. During a friendly
match against Portugal in Boston, USA, in June 1992, Steve Staunton scored
directly from a corner kick. The Irish won the match 2-0. Amazingly Staunton
repeated this feat in another competitive match against Northern Ireland
less than a year later. On 31 March 1993 at Lansdowne
Road (now Aviva Stadium)
the Republic of Ireland beat near neighbour 3-0 in a 1994
World Cup Qualifier. Staunton scored the Irish third goal in the 29th
minute direct from a corner kick.
Stephen
Staunton went on to manage the Irish national team for the 2008
Euro Championship qualification campaign. Following a number of very
poor performances and results, including a humiliating 5-2 loss away to
Cyprus, he was replaced by Giovanni
Trapattoni for the 2010
World Cup qualifiers.
There are plenty more such
soccer facts and statistics but if you have any gems that you think should
be included or if you have any corrections please contact
Soccer Ireland today.
Stephen McPhail Scores
Direct from a Corner in 2000
Stephen McPhail scored
directly from a corner during the 2000 US Nike Cup against South Africa.
The goal helped beat the Africans 2-1 and to earn Ireland second place
in the annual US Cup exhibition tournament and followed draws with Mexico
(2-2) and the United States (1-1). McPhail scored his 'olimpico'
from the right corner to the far post, where a backpedalling Andre Arendse
was able to get his right hand to it. But the South African goalkeeper
could only push it into the underside of the top of the net as he fell
backwards into the goal along with the ball.
However there was some
suggestion that Niall
Quinn might have given the hapless keeper a slight 'nudge' as he attempted
to make the save.
[Thanks to Fiach Moriary for providing
information on McPhail's goal]
Republic
of Ireland Goal Facts - Irish Goal Information
- Ireland Goal Statistics
- Irish Goal Scorers
Goals Scored Direct from Corner
- Republic of Ireland Caps Information
- Last All Irish-Born Team
Republic of Ireland Soccer Information
- Irish Soccer Records - Republic
of Ireland Soccer Facts
Irish Soccer Information - Republic
of Ireland Wins Losses & Draws - Irish
Soccer Facts
Irish Dual Internationals - Irish
Soccer Statistics Index - Every
Irish International Footballer Ever
|
