Ireland Football Trivia

1. In order to play in the 1990 World Cup finals, Ireland first had to qualify from a European based qualifying group. What other nation qualified from the same group?

From Quiz Italia 90: Luck of the Irish

Answer: Spain

Ireland and Spain both qualified from Group 6 in the qualifiers. Spain won the group. Going into the final round of games, Ireland knew that qualification was not a given. If Hungary beat Spain and Ireland failed to beat Malta, the legacy of Italia '90 may have ended up very different. As it so happened, Spain beat Hungary 4-0 and Ireland beat Malta 2-0 in Malta to secure a place at the 1990 World Cup. Northern Ireland were also in Group 6.

From Quiz Sports in Ireland

Answer: The Gaelic Athletic Association

The Gaelic Athletic Association (or GAA) was started in 1884 by a man named Micheal Cusack. The traditional Irish sports that are put into the category of the "Sports of the GAA" are Gaelic football, hurling, handball, and rounders.

From Quiz Cork City FC

Answer: 1984

Cork City came into existence in 1984. It marked the return of top flight football to the City. Previous clubs such as Cork Hibs and Cork Celtic had folded in the 1970s.

From Quiz Irish Football and Irish Players

Answer: Euro '88

Ireland were knocked out after a 1-0 loss to a very fortunate Dutch team.

From Quiz Italia 90: Luck of the Irish

Answer: Jack Charlton

Jack Charlton became the first non-Irishman to manage the Irish national team, when he succeeded Eoin Hand in 1986. At the time, many Irish fans were up in arms at the fact that the job was given to a man from England. An Irish legend exists about Jack Charlton, after the World Cup campaign. The story suggests that 'Big Jack' would call for a round of drinks in many Irish pubs and always pay by cheque. The landlord would frame the cheque (as a souvenir) and never cash it, leaving 'Big Jack' getting the beer for free. Now, that is lucky!

From Quiz Sports in Ireland

Answer: 0

Every single county in Ireland has a Gaelic team. There are 32 counties in all of Ireland (including Northern Ireland).

From Quiz Cork City FC

Answer: Bobby Tambling

Tambling lasted only 13 games before being replaced by Tony 'Tucker' Allen. City finished 9th in the table in their first season.

From Quiz Irish Football and Irish Players

Answer: St. Patricks Athletic

The fee for McGrath was 30,000 pounds, A bargain I think!!

From Quiz Italia 90: Luck of the Irish

Answer: Kevin Sheedy

The match took place on the 11th June 1990, in the Stadio Sant'Ella stadium in Cagliari. Gary Lineker scored in the first half for England before Sheedy scored the equaliser. The match finished 1-1. Although he had previously played a few times for Liverpool, Kevin Sheedy will probably always be considered a legend amongst Everton fans. He also played for Hereford United and Newcastle United in his career.

From Quiz The Irishman Played for Who?

Answer: Cobh Ramblers

Roy played for Cobh Ramblers from 1989 until 1990 before Brian Clogh signed him for Nottingham Forest (1990-1993). Most famously however, Roy played for Manchester United from 1993 until 2005, where he missed playing in United's successful Champion's League victory in 1999 through suspension. Controversy and Roy Keane clashed again in 2002 when he was sensationally sent home from the Irish World Cup squad just before the competition began. Roy has also managed Sunderland and Ipswich Town.

From Quiz Cork City FC

Answer: 1987-88

City won the League Cup under Eamonn O Keeffe in 1986-87.

From Quiz Italia 90: Luck of the Irish

Answer: Egypt

Egypt would go on to finish bottom of the group in Italia '90 (they were involved in the only match of the group that didn't end in a draw; a 1-0 defeat to England). The match finished 0-0 in a somewhat poor encounter. The game took place on the 17th June 1990, in the Stadio La Favorita in Palermo.

From Quiz The Irishman Played for Who?

Answer: Reading

Born on the 18th of September, 1983 (sharing a birthday with John Aldridge). Kevin's clubs have included St. Patricks Athletic (2002-2003), Cork City (2003-2005), and Reading (2005-2009). He signed for former Irish international player and manager, Mick McCarthy at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2009.

From Quiz Sports in Ireland

Answer: Croke Park

Croke Park is where all Gaelic football finals, semi-finals, and quarterfinals are played. It has 82,300 seats, and is the fourth largest stadium in Europe.

From Quiz Cork City FC

Answer: 1992-93

Noel O Mahony led City to the legaue title after a three-way playoff with Shelbourne and Bohemians.

From Quiz Irish Football and Irish Players

Answer: Niall Quinn

From Quiz Italia 90: Luck of the Irish

Answer: 1-1

The match took place on the 21st June 1990, in the Stadio Favorita in Palermo. Ruud Gullit scored in the first half of the game and Niall Quinn scored an equaliser in the second half. It was a tense match in which neither side could afford to lose if they wanted to qualify for the next round of the competition. As it turned out, the game ended in a draw and both teams qualified.

From Quiz The Irishman Played for Who?

Answer: Celtic

Packie was born on the 24th of May, 1960. He was spotted by Celtic scouts whilst playing in goal in the FA Youth Cup for Leicester city and signed for Celtic in 1978. his Celtic career lasted 17 years. Packie played in two World Cups (1990 and 1994) and one Euro Cup (1988) for Ireland. His most famous moment for Ireland (which is one of Ireland's most celebrated sporting moments) came in the 1990 World Cup when he saved a penalty from Romania's Daniel Timofte in the penalty shoot-out in the second round tie. Ireland went on to the quarterfinal stage where Italy knocked them out of the competition.

From Quiz Sports in Ireland

Answer: The Sam Maguire Cup

The Sam Maguire Cup is won by the team who wins the Gaelic Football final, and the Liam McCarthy Cup is won by the team who wins the Hurling Final. Micheal Cusack may have founded the GAA but he doesn't have a trophy named after him. Ronald McDonald has absolutely nothing to do with Irish sports.

From Quiz Cork City FC

Answer: 1998

City beat Shelbourne 1-0 in the final. Derek Coughlan scored the winner.

From Quiz Italia 90: Luck of the Irish

Answer: Ireland got second in the group after drawing lots with The Netherlands

In a first in World Cup finals history, Ireland and The Netherlands were deadlocked in second position in Group F. They both drew all three games, both had scored two goals and both had an identical goal difference (both scored two and conceded two goals). FIFA proceeded to draw lots and Ireland came out the fortunate ones. Had Ireland lost the drawing of lots, they would have played West Germany in the second round.

From Quiz Sports in Ireland

Answer: Camogie

Hurling (in senior level) is only for men, while camogie is only for women.

From Quiz Cork City FC

Answer: 2-0

City needed to win the game to lift the league trophy. A draw would have seen Derry win it. Cork's first league title was 12 years earlier in 1993.

From Quiz Irish Football and Irish Players

Answer: Don Givens

From Quiz Italia 90: Luck of the Irish

Answer: David O'Leary

At 4-4 in the penalty shoot-out, Daniel Timofte stood at the spot for Romania. His penalty was a good strike but Packie Bonner in the Irish goal saved the penalty. It was an incredible moment in Irish sporting history. When David O'Leary stepped up to take his spot kick, many Irish fans could not watch, including manager, Jack Charlton (there was a strong opinion that O'Leary would miss the penalty). The penalty went into the back of the net and Ireland were through to the next round. Kevin Sheedy, Ray Houghton, Andy Townsend and Tony Cascarino scored Ireland's other four penalties in the shoot-out.

From Quiz Sports in Ireland

Answer: Maurice Davin

Maurice Davin was the first president of the GAA. Micheal Cusack was the founder, but not the president. George Bernard Shaw was an Irish writer, and Arthur McGuinness was the founder of Guinness, a very famous beer.

From Quiz Cork City FC

Answer: Damien Richardson

Richardson, or Rico as he is affectionately known, led City to league honours in 2005 in his first season in charge. He took over from Pat Dolan who was sacked before the season started.

From Quiz Irish Football and Irish Players

Answer: Niall Quinn & Quinn

Niall Quinn took a player/coach role at Sunderland in 2002.

From Quiz Italia 90: Luck of the Irish

Answer: Salvatore Schillaci

Better known as 'Toto' Schillaci, Salvatore scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory for Italy in Rome, on the 30th June 1990. Roberto Donadoni struck a rasping shot that Packie Bonner (the Irish goalkeeper) could only parry into the path of Schillaci, who made no mistake with his effort. Schillaci went on to win the 'Golden Boot' as top scorer in the competition with six goals.

From Quiz The Irishman Played for Who?

Answer: Philadelphia Fury

Johnny, born on the 6th of November, 1940, played for one year (1978) for Philadelphia Fury. He is far more synonymous with English clubs, Manchester United (1957-1963) and their big Yorkshire rivals, Leeds United (1963-1975). Johnny also played for West Bromwich Albion from 1975 until 1977. He also enjoyed a stint as Ireland player/manager from 1973 up until 1980, later becoming a key pundit for RTE (Irish television).

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