Killarney

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by Adam Moynihan



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As a footballing community, our happiest memories together have almost exclusively been narrated by RTÉ’s Belfast-born commentator George Hamilton.



From a nation holding its breath in Genoa to Ray Houghton doing the job for Jack in Giants Stadium, from getting no more than Ireland deserved in Kashima to Robbie Brady bringing us all to our feet in Lille. Hamilton has always been there, first to savour the moment and then to convert the pictures into words, at manic junctures when the best the rest of us can muster is a guttural, drawn-out ‘yes’.



Thankfully, and fittingly, Hamilton was on the mic in Glasgow on Tuesday night to once again lend his voice to another iconic moment in Irish football history.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“Fahey standing firm. Now it’s O’Sullivan. And there’s the run of Barrett… And Barrett’s given herself a chance here… Amber Barrett in on goal… Amber Barrett makes the breakthrough!“That was sheer brilliance from Amber Barrett. The first touch to take her clear was absolutely terrific. And Amber Barrett kneels in celebration in honour of the Donegal folk who passed away in the disaster in Creeslough. What a moment for the Donegal girl.”</blockquote>



I’m not sure if anything I’ve ever written in my capacity as a sports journalist has brought a tear to someone’s eye; that transcription is probably as close as I’ll get.



The goal itself was superb. Niamh Fahey’s cushioned header scuppered a Scotland attack and regained possession for the Irish. Denise O’Sullivan’s turn and pass lit the fuse. Barrett’s first touch with her left was like something out of a video game. Inch perfect in its execution, it rapidly propelled the Potsdam striker from a threatening position into a deadly one. Amber Alert to Red Alert in an instant.



The second touch with the right improved the angle and settled things down. And then the finish… The finish was world class. An impudent toe poke that left the unsuspecting keeper flat-footed, a flash of brilliance that could easily grace any of Ronaldinho’s highlight reels.



From beginning to end, the move was perfect. Unstoppable. Unbelievable. Unforgettable.



Then came the celebration. A celebration not only of the joyous goal that preceded it, but also of the people represented by the armband around Barrett’s left bicep. The Donegal woman took a knee and bowed her head as she pointed to the black band. The 10 victims of last Friday’s tragic accident at Creeslough honoured amid the outpouring of emotion.



It took a brave defensive effort to keep the Scots at bay for the remaining 25 minutes or so. An assured display by goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan (the American-born granddaughter of a Kerryman, I hasten to add) was pivotal. Her first-half penalty save from the boot of Scotland striker Caroline Weir seemed to fill her and the players in front of her with confidence.



Beautiful scenes followed the final whistle as Vera Pauw and her players, many draped in tricolours, danced arm in arm and basked beneath the Hampden Park floodlights.



Misguided individuals would have you believe that singing an offensive-to-some pub song in the dressing room “overshadowed” what happened on the pitch. Nothing can overshadow something this big and this bright. It would be like trying to cast a shadow over the sun.



At last, Ireland’s dream of World Cup qualification has been realised. Now it’s time for another, larger dream to take its place: the World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand beckon for the girls in green.



With Katie McCabe on corners and Megan Campbell launching grenades from the sidelines, no team on Earth will fancy taking on the Irish.



More memories to be made. More moments for George to savour.



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Nothing can overshadow something this big and this bright

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