To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sport NI, we collated a Top Ten Sporting Moments list and asked the public to tell us their favourite. The moments took place between 1973-2023.
Joey Dunlop won the public vote with 57% as Dennis Taylor came second and Northern Ireland beating Spain at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in third.
Watch the video above and also find out more about each sporting moment that made the Top Ten list below.
Joey Dunlop OBE – 1st TT win – 1977
Joey Dunlop OBE won his first of 26 Isle of Man TT races in the 1000cc Jubilee Classification at the 1977 Jubilee Classic. It was the beginning of a legendary career which also saw Dunlop win 24 times at the Ulster Grand Prix, 13 times at the North West 200 and 5 Formula TT World Championships in a row between 1982-1986.
Northern Ireland men’s football team beating Spain at the 1982 FIFA World Cup
Gerry Armstrong scored the winner in a 1-0 win against Spain at the 1982 FIFA World Cup. The victory was famous as Northern Ireland beat Spain on their own turf and saw out the final 30 minutes with ten men after Mal Donaghy was sent off.
Dennis Taylor winning the World Snooker Championship in 1985
Dennis Taylor lifted his first World Championship after beating Steven Davis 18-17 in the final frame, whilst never leading in the match. The final frame lasted 68 minutes with both players missing chances to clinch the title, which is why the contest is known as the ‘black ball’ final.
Wayne McCullough winning Olympic silver at Barcelona 1992
Wayne McCullough produced Northern Ireland’s best performance at the Olympics with silver at Barcelona 92. McCullough lost out to Cuban Joel Casamayor but went on to become the first boxer from Northern Ireland to win a WBC championship.
Ulster Rugby winning the Heineken Cup in 1999
Ulster Rugby beat French side Colomiers 21-6 at Landsdowne Road, Dublin to lift the Heineken Cup, the top European Rugby Union competition consisting of teams from France, Ireland, Italy, Wales and Scotland. All 21 points came from the boot with Simon Mason kicking six penalties and Captain David Humphreys with a drop goal.
Celebrating the top moments in 50 years of sport, Michael McKillop, four-time Paralympic Gold medallist, John Kinnear, Team Manager Ulster Rugby 1999, and Marissa Callaghan, Captain NI Women’s Football Team 2022, join Sport NI Interim CEO, Richard Archibald and George Lucas, Chair of Sport NI at the House of Sport, Belfast.
Tyrone GAA’s three All Ireland Senior Championships in a decade during the 2000’s
Tyrone GAA lifted three of their four All Ireland Senior Championships during the 2000′s with victories in 2003, 2005 and 2008. Their first came with victory over Armagh which was followed up by two more victories against Kerry, the most successful team in All Ireland Senior Championships history.
Michael McKillop and Jason Smyth winning their first gold medals at the Paralympics at Beijing 2008.
Both Michael McKillop and Jason Smyth won their first of many Paralympic golds to create a moment to remember at Beijing 2008. McKillop claimed 800m T37 gold in a then World Record time with Smyth claiming gold in both the T13 100m and 200m in also World Record times.
AP McCoy wins first Grand National in 2010
Sir Tony McCoy won his first Grand National at the 15th attempt aboard ‘Don’t Push It’ to grow his list of Horse Racing accolades. Previously, his best was two 3rd placed finishes. Sir Tony went on to then win the 2010 BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Kelly Gallagher MBE winning Paralympic gold at Sochi in 2014
Alpine Skier Kelly Gallagher MBE was not only the first athlete from Northern Ireland to compete in the Winter Paralympics but won Britain’s first ever Winter Paralympic gold medal at Sochi 2014 in the Super G competition.
NI women’s football qualification to the Euros in 2022
Northern Ireland Women reached their first ever finals by beating Ukraine 4-1 over a two legged playoff. Julie Nelson scored their first ever finals goal in the 4-1 defeat to Norway. Qualifying for the tournament was transformative for women’s sport in Northern Ireland with the knock on effect to be seen for years to come.
