It was always going to be divisive.
Since 2000, Ireland have consistently started to perform in the sporting world.
Euro 2016 last year proved that, the 2002 World Cup proved that and 12 medals at the Olympics proved that.
So, when RTÉ decided they were going to decide on Ireland’s greatest sporting moment between 2000 and 2012 it was always going to be a tough task. Each of the five nominated were all deserving winners in their own right.
- Sonia O’Sullivan’s silver medal in 2000
- Ireland’s 41-10 victory over England in Croke Park during the 2007 Six Nations
- Padraig Harrington’s 2007 British Open win
- Ireland’s Grand Slam win in 2009
- Katie Taylor’s Olympic gold in 2012
All you have to do is look at the highlight videos of each of the sporting moments to get immediate goosebumps and maybe even tears (definite tears).
Ireland v England 2007
No words needed, indeed. Was England's historic trip to Croke Park #irelandsgreatest sporting moment of the noughties? @rte2 10pm pic.twitter.com/QFlUlXuVBy
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 30, 2017
Sonia O’Sullivan 2000
'The gutsiest race I have ever seen Sonia run.'
But was it #irelandsgreatest sporting moment of the noughties? Find out @RTE2 10pm pic.twitter.com/OiC2f8MUPa— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 30, 2017
Padraig Harrington 2007
If it is to be, it is up to me… Was Padraig Harrington sealing the 2007 Open in such dramatic fashion #irelandsgreatest Sporting Moment of the noughties? @RTE2 10pm pic.twitter.com/yUQCKkvFZn
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 30, 2017
Katie Taylor 2012
"'Is it me?' Katie is asking"… Is Katie Taylor's gold in London #irelandsgreatest Sporting Moment of recent times? @RTE2 10pm pic.twitter.com/pU17izTMkd
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 30, 2017
Grand Slam 2009
"Drop at goal… Grand Slam at stake." Was that match in Cardiff in 2009 #irelandgreatest sporting moment of the noughties? @rte2 10pm pic.twitter.com/MBCjiCzsW0
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 30, 2017
How could you choose between any of them? They are all fantastic feats in their own right.
RTÉ has been running this series for the past few weeks but the 2000’s has definitely been the hardest one to call and the votes proved it.
In the end, it was Padraig Harrington’s nailbiting win over Sergio Garcia at the British Open in 2007 that was voted best Irish sporting moment of the 2000’s and it was a deserved winner.
The vote breakdown for the top three showed just how close it was though.
- Padraig Harrington – 25%
- Ireland’s Grand Slam – 24%
- Ireland vs England – 22%
And #IrelandsGreatest moment of 2000-2012, as voted by the Irish public, is… pic.twitter.com/1gWi1IVRHH
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 30, 2017
Eamon Dunphy was on the panel for the night discussing some of the options and said of Harrington:
“Padraig Harrington is an amazing sportsman, I think he has an amazing mind. He’s gone on looking for things and golf is a mind game.
“As Donal (Lenihan) said, to put it in burn and then to get up and down and make your bogey against Garcia was tough and I think Harrington has been a great Irish sportsman.”
Golf is a mind game and Padraig Harrington has an amazing mind, says Eamon Dunphy #irelandsgreatest pic.twitter.com/eO4dQyoPJE
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 30, 2017
And the backing from the public wasn’t something that Harrington took for granted as he went to Twitter to share his delight but was humble as always:
“They’re all great moments. Some closer to the heart than others. It’s a pity that we have to choose.”
They’re all great moments. Some closer to the heart than others. It’s a pity that we have to choose #irelandsgreatestsportingmoment #rte
— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) November 30, 2017
