Memories still vivid 50 years on from famous USSR win

Fifty years ago today the Republic of Ireland stunned the USSR as they swept to a famous 3-0 win in the European Championship qualifiers.

Don Givens' hat-trick had Dalymount Park rocking with glee, and five decades on, the thrill of that victory still resonates.

The team will be honoured at the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland awards in December, with the memories still fresh and vivid for the men who made it happen.

"Having a manager who knew how to pick a team was crucial," remembers former defender Paddy Mulligan, then playing at Crystal Palace.

"Mick Meagan started it, Liam Tuohy improved it, and Johnny Giles took it to another level. We had very decent players then and Giles not only organised us, but gave us the belief that we could compete.

"I went out with Ray Treacy for the warm-up and Dalyer was jammed. I said to Ray, 'this crowd expects us to perform’. Ray took all sorts of punishment from the Russians but he kept them occupied and was the perfect foil for Don, who was a great out-and-out goalscorer."

Player/manager Giles was braced for a physical battle against the imposing USSR.

But he had no hesitation when it came to throwing in an 18-year-old Liam Brady, passing the torch to Ireland’s next great midfielder.

"I wanted Liam to come with us on our tour of South America earlier that summer but the FAI didn’t do their job," he says.

"I wasn’t going to let Liam wait any longer as I could see he was a class player. Eoin Hand missed out, but Liam was the future. He was born to play.

"Everyone was on it that day and it showed what we were capable of with proper preparation and when all our top players were available. Don was a very good player who got on a run with his goals. He got four against Turkey not long after."