Wild Geese with Giovanni Trappatoni

Geese stun Irish soccer and win Grand Final

Dublin, Ireland -- Giovanni Trappatoni watched the Wild Geese FC win the Grand Final in one of the biggest upsets in soccer history, beating Goodbody Bulls on penalties after it finished 1-1 in the final Sunday. Kevin Loughran scored in the 17th minute, but soon afterwards the Bulls equalised. But when it eventually went to penalties, Martin Lynam kept his nerve to score the final penalty kick - the Geese were champions. The noisy Geese fans who filled Irish Town stadium erupted when the referee blew the final whistle. Some of the Geese players collapsed on the turf while others hugged their coach Mark Cullivan as he ran onto the pitch. "What happened here is that the Geese team wrote soccer history," Cullivan said. "I hope this reverberates all over Europe. I hope when we get home on Tuesday, there will be incredible scenes."

Jubilant Wild Geese Squad

The unheralded Geese, a soccer outsider given little chance of advancing from a first-round group had never been to a major tournament before this. The Goodbody fans could only watch in despair as their heroes collected runners-up medals after their club's first appearance in a major final. "We are the champions, something achieved after many years," captain Malcolm Lane said. "All Geese should celebrate this victory. We are the best team. This is a unique moment and I believe we deserved it.

Jubilant Wild Geese Squad

"We got this far after beating many great teams including the Goodbody Bulls, which was very good today. It's the greatest moment of my career. When Kevin Loughran scored, I thought we could not lose the cup." While there were celebrations in the Geese homeland, there was heartbreak all over Ballsbridge. In European soccer terms, the Geese surprise -- 20-1 shots before the championship - was one of the greatest upsets in sport. "We couldn't take advantage of our chances," Goodbody coach Eugene Sheehy said. "There were shots that could have gone in, which would have changed the result. Unfortunately, they didn't go in. "I want to congratulate my colleague Mark Cullivan and the Geese team and to say to the Goodbody people we are the runners-up, and we are going to win something in the future." Cullivan became the first Cavan man to guide a team to a major soccer title. With no stars, Cullivan took a team ofphysically powerful and fast players and honed them into a hard-working team that relies heavily on stopping their opponents from using their skills. The Wild Geese had to start the final without Niall Joye who, like Roy Keane in 1999, sacrificed himself with a couragous semi-final display. The Geese finally broke the deadlock in the 17th minute with a similar set piece to the goal they scored against Capita in the Semi-Final. A Martin Lynam throw found Dadie Serge who oppened up the Goodbody defence before laying back to Loughran, who blasted in.

Oliver Tormey taking penalty

Sheehy had do something special and brought on subs and got the got the equalizer just before half-time. For the remainder of the game the Bulls surged forward, and Malcolm Lane was forced to make crucial saves. But it was again the team spirit, the work ethic instilled by Cullivan, which aphyxiated the Goodbody attack. The basis of their success rested on their pillars of the Geese in defence. Goalkeeper Malcolm Lane and the men in front of him - Neil Murray, Kevin Loughran, Gerard Tormey, Francis Naughton, Martin McAdam and Martin Lynam. They threw up an almost impregnable barrier. There might be doubts about Wild Geese FC's ability but they certainly know how to organise a defence. Cullivan has moulded a side that also knows how to mix it in midfield and strike when the chances come. As a spectacle the final was not a classic -- there were too many wasted balls, poor passes and fouls for that. But as an upset success it is an achievement that will not be matched for decades. As the the T-shirts of the Geese fans in the stadium read: "This is the year of the Geese." There is really no argument with that.

Malcolm Lane accepting Gardy Latortue trophy from Anita Exantus, from Haiti, and Paul O'Donovan from Concern Worldwide

For more images see: http://www.wildgeesefc.org/?q=gallery&g2_itemId=145 Video Footage of the match(by Anita on a Vado camera)

Part1 - First Half

Part2 - First Half

Part3 - Second Half

Part4 - Second Half

Part5 - Penalty Shootout and Celebrations

Goodbody Bulls - www.goodbody.ie
Wild Geese FC - www.wildgeesefc.org
Inter Sevens football organisers - www.intersevens.com
Support by FAI - www.fai.ie
Charity - www.concern.net