WCQ, Sept 10th, 1980, Dublin
Republic of Ireland - 2, Netherlands - 1
This was the last time the Irish beat the Dutch in a competitive game but for a long while it didn't look so bright for Eoin Hand's side who had to come from behind. They started brightly but after Gerry Daly had had the best chance of the first half cleared off the line by Frans Thijssen the visitors started to get a grip on the game and the home side's chance appeared to have passed.
In the end a Gerry Peyton error opened the way for Simon Tahamata to give his side the lead but 11 minutes from time Tony Grealish set Daly up for an equaliser before Mark Lawrenson's diving header from a Liam Brady free won the game for the hosts.
IRISH TEAM: Peyton (Fulham), Langan (Birmingham City), Dave O'Leary (Arsenal), Pierce O'Leary (Shamrock Rovers), Hughton (Tottenham), Daly (Derby County), Lawrenson (Liverpool), Grealish (Luton Town), Brady (Juventus) capt, Stapleton (Arsenal), Givens Birmingham City).
WCQ, Sept 9th, 1981, Rotterdam
Netherlands - 2, Republic of Ireland - 2
The Irish might well have led from the first minute when Mick Robinson missed from close range but things went from bad to worse when Steve Heighway contributed towards Frans Thijssen's opener by misplacing a pass intended for Brady.
The winger made amends by setting up the equaliser for Robinson and after Arne Muhren had punished Dave Langan's foul on Johnny Rep from the penalty spot Lawrenson came to the rescue again. Beating two players out on the right he sent in a cross which Frank Stapleton headed home from close range.
IRISH TEAM: McDonagh (Bolton Wanderers); Langan (Birmingham City), O'Leary (Arsenal), Lawrenson (Liverpool), Devine (Arsenal), Martin (Newcastle United), Grealish (Brighton), Brady (Juventus) capt, Heighway (Minnesota Kicks), Stapleton (Manchester United), Robinson (Brighton). Subs: Ryan (Brighton) for Heighway (60 mins), Whelan (Liverpool) for Martin (74 mins).
ECQ, Sept 22ns 1982, Rotterdam
Netherlands - 2, Republic of Ireland - 1
Dave O'Leary's mistake after just 50 seconds led to the Dutch taking an early lead, Dick Schoenaker finally tapping home after some nervous fumbling around the six-yardbox. Schoenaker set up Ruud Gullit for the second with the future international skipper beating Chris Hughton before blasting home 15 minutes into the second period.
In between, Seamus McDonagh kept the Irish in the game with some fine saves and Daly scored a late consolation for the visitors thanks to an outstanding piece of skill from Liam Brady.
IRISH TEAM: McDonagh (Bolton Wanderers), Lawrenson (Liverpool), Martin (Newcastle United), O'Leary (Arsenal), Hughton (Tottenham), Daly (Coventry City), Grealish (Brighton) capt, Brady (Juventus), Galvin (Tottenham), Stapleton (Manchester United), Robinson (Brighton). Subs: Waddock (QPR) for Galvin (75 mins), Walsh (FC Porto) for Daly (82 mins).
ECQ, Oct 10th 1983, Dublin
Republic of Ireland - 2, Netherlands - 3
The Irish came into the game with a long unbeaten run to their credit in competitive home internationals. The sequence looked set to continue after an opening half an hour in which the locals were well on top. Kevin Moran, Tony Grealish and Stapleton were all involved in the first goal after seven minutes which Gary Waddock put away and Brady made it 2-0 with a penalty after Gullit had brought down Stapleton.
When Gullit's 52nd minute shot was parried by McDonagh, though, the then 20-year-old sweeper followed up to score and a quarter of an hour later Marco Van Basten equalised for the visitors. Worse followed nine minutes later when the Dutch pair linked up and Gullit finished powerfully to wrap up the game.
IRISH TEAM: McDonagh (Notts Country), Devine (Norwich City), Lawrenson (Liverpool), Moran (Manchester United), Hughton (Tottenham), Waddock (QPR), Grealish (Brighton) capt, Brady (Sampdoria), O'Callaghan (Ipswich Town), Stapleton (Mancheser United), Robinson (Liverpool). Subs: Galvin (Tottenham) for O'Callaghan (74 mins), Sheedy (Everton) for Grealish (81 mins).
ECF, June 18th 1988, Gelsenkirchen
Republic of Ireland - 0, Netherlands - 1
A memorable day for the Irish even if they didn't quite get the draw that many felt they deserved. Again the Republic, led this time by Jack Charlton, came into the game unbeaten in 12 games, but again the Dutch proved too strong.
Early on Paul McGrath headed Ray Houghton's corner against the post but after that it was the central defensive partnership of Moran and Mick McCarthy who were the key Irish figures. Despite their heroics, though, the Dutch scored the only goal of the contest. Ronald Koeman's shot spinning luckily to Wim Kieft who headed home past Packie Bonner while Van Basten looked offside.
IRISH TEAM: Bonner (Celtic), Morris (Celtic), McCarthy (Celtic), Moran (Manchester United), Hughton (Tottenham), Houghton (Liverpool), McGrath (Manchester United), Whelan (Liverpool), Galvin (Sheffield Wednesday), Stapleton (Derby County) capt, Aldridge (Liverpool). Subs: Sheedy (Everton) for Morris (45 mins), Cascarino (Millwall) for Stapleton (82 mins).
WC Finals, June 21st 1990, Palermo
Netherlands - 1, Republic of Ireland - 1
The Dutch made the stronger start and led from the 10th minute when Koeman kicked off a neat move that was finished impressively by that man Gullit again. John Aldridge came close to equalising a couple of but as the game moved into its final quarter things were getting a little uncomfortable as elimination loomed for the Irish.
Then, a long punt upfield from Bonner and some hustling from Tony Cascarino prompted some panic at the heart of the Dutch defence allowing Niall Quinn to get in and slip the ball past Hans van Breukelen. Shortly afterwards it became clear that both sides knew a draw would be enough for qualification.
IRISH TEAM: Bonner (Celtic), Morris (Celtic), McCarthy (Millwall) capt, Moran (Blackburn Rovers), Staunton (Liverpool), Houghton (Liverpool), McGrath (Aston Villa), Townsend (Norwich City), Sheedy (Everton), Aldridge (Real Sociedad), Quinn (Manchester City). Subs: Whelan (Liverpool) for Sheedy (62 mins), Cascarino (Aston Villa) for Aldridge (62 mins).
Friendly, Apr 20th 1994, Tilburg
Netherlands - 0, Republic of Ireland - 1
Tommy Coyne might well have scored very early when Andy Townsend appeared to leave the goal at the striker's mercy but he made up for firing straight at Ed de Goey 10 minutes into the second period when he finished off a fine move that also involved Ronnie Whelan and John Sheridan.
Late on a Marc Overmars cross skimmed the crossbar before being cleared but the Irish hung on to score their first win in 14 years against a side who only three months later would prove far more formidable.
IRISH TEAM: Bonner (Celtic), Kelly (Leeds United), Phelan (Manchester City), Moran (Blackburn Rovers), Babb (Coventry City), Whelan (Liverpool), Townsend (Aston Villa) capt, McGoldrick (Arsenal), Coyne (Motherwell), Sheridan (Sheffield Wednesday), Staunton (Aston Villa). Subs: McAteer (Bolton Wanderers) for McGoldrick (71 mins), McLoughlin (Portsmouth) for Phelan (84 mins), Coyle (Bolton Wanderers) for Coyne (86 mins).
WC Finals, July 4th 1994, Orlando USA
Republic of Ireland - 0, Netherlands - 2
The fact that the Dutch looked so much the better side is fairly easy to forget in light of the fact that both of their goals came from dreadful mistakes by Irish players. But the form of Overmars and Peter van Vossen went a long way towards making a victory for Dick Advocaat's side inevitable.
Both goals came in the first half. Terry Phelan gave away possession to Overmars for the first with the winger then crossing for Dennis Bergkamp to finish from six yards. And Bonner, the man who had wrapped Ireland's place in the last eight of the previous World Cup, was to blame for the second when a relatively harmless Wim Jonk shot from 25 yards slipped though his arms and into the net, thus ensuring Holland's progression on this occasion.
IRISH TEAM: Bonner (Celtic), Kelly (Leeds United), Phelan (Manchester City), Babb (Coventry City), McGrath (Aston Villa), Keane (Manchester United), Townsend (Aston Villa) capt, Houghton (Aston Villa), Coyne (Motherwell), Sher- idan (Sheffield Wednesday), Staunton (Aston Villa). Subs: McAteer (Bolton Wanderers) for Staunton (64 mins), Cascarino (Chelsea) for Coyne (75 mins).
EC play-off, Dec 13th, 1995, Liverpool
Netherlands - 2, Republic of Ireland - 0
Having seen his side beaten so comprehensively in Lisbon and so miss out on automatic qualification for Euro '96, Charlton reign as Ireland manager was brought to an end by an almost equally emphatic defeat in the play-offs at Anfield.
Bergkamp and Overmars were both outstanding for the Dutch even if Patrick Kluivert will be the one remembered for killing off the Irish supporters' dreams of another major championships. Alan Kelly performed bravely but there was simply no stopping either of the goals while the striker should really have had his hat-trick before the night was out.
IRISH TEAM: Alan Kelly (Sheffield United), Gary Kelly (Leeds united), Irwin (Manchester United), Babb (Liverpool), McGrath (Aston Villa), Phelan (Chelsea), Townsend (Aston Villa) capt, Kenna (Blackburn Rovers), Cascarino (Marseille), Aldridge (Tranmere Rovers), Sheridan (Sheffield Wednesday). Subs: McAteer (Liverpool) for Townsend (50 mins), Kernaghan (Manchester City) for Aldridge (72 mins).
Friendly, June 4th 1996, Rotterdam
Netherlands - 3, Republic of Ireland - 1
Fairly low-key stuff with the Dutch preparing for the European championships and the Irish doing little more than giving them a bit of a workout. As it happens Bergkamp stole the show although it was Gary Breen who opened the scoring with a close range header after Alan McLoughlin's corner had been partially cleared and then sent back in by Alan Kernaghan.
Having equalised with the help of a rather cruel deflection, Bergkamp set up Clarence Seedorf for the second and was then involved in the third two minutes from time with Philippe Cocu this time the scorer.
IRISH TEAM: Given (Blackburn Rovers), Harte (Leeds United), Phelan (Chelsea), Kernaghan (Manchester City) capt, Breen (Birmingham City), Kenna (Blackburn Rovers), O'Brien (Tranmere Rovers), McLoughlin (Portsmouth), Connolly (Watford), Cascarino (Marseille), Moore (Middlesbrough). Subs: O'Neill (Norwich City) for Cascarino (45 mins), Kennedy (Liverpool) for Moore (45 mins), Quinn (Manchester City) for Connolly (64 mins), Cunningham (Wimbledon) for O'Brien (70 mins), Fleming (Middlesbrough) for Kenna (78 mins).
WCG = World Cup qualifying
ECQ = European Championship qualifying
