Great Sporting Upsets

1982 - All-Ireland Football Final, Croke Park.

Offaly 1-15, Kerry 0-17: It appeared that no team could stand in the way of Kerry's historic five in-a-row. The song was already written, the flags were already waving, but Seamus Darby had other ideas. Coming on as a substitute for Offaly, his stunning late goal eclipsed the Kerry dream. Kerry then fumbled the counter-attack and Offaly were All-Ireland champions.

1991 - Rugby World Cup, Cardiff

Samoa 16, Wales 13: Wales looked firmly on course for a quarterfinal place as they took on the tough-tackling but often tactically naive South Sea islanders. With Ieuan Evans among the try scorers, the Welsh looked to be on the way, but they had reckoned without the Samoans' tenacity and will to win, and their late penalties ensured a shock victory.

1972 - Olympic Basketball Final, Munich

Soviet Union 51, US 50: The Americans hadn't lost any game since winning the first Olympic title in 1936, but in chaotic fashion that record was sent crashing by the Soviets. Two free throws in the last three seconds put the Americans in front 50-49, and the umpire then blew up. Several hours later it was decided there were two seconds left and a court-long pass after the re-start set up the winning basket for the Soviets.

1989 - All-Ireland Hurling Semi-final, Croke Park

Antrim 4-15, Offaly 1-15: This looked to be Offaly's year as they demolised Kilkenny in the Leinster final. Antrim had just won their first Ulster title in 40 years and then turned all the prediction upside down by convincingly beating Offaly. They couldn't quite go all the way, however, and lost the All-Ireland final to Tipperary 3-9 to 4-24.

1994 - World Cup Group match, New York

Ireland 1, Italy 0: Ray Houghton's stunning goal for Ireland after 12 minutes shocked World Cup favourites Italy. The Irish then survived a series of Italian chances to cause one of the biggest upsets of the World Cup. Italy recovered to reach the World Cup final where they lost on penalties to Brazil.

1978 - New Zealand Rugby Tour, Limerick

Munster 12, New Zealand 0: Munster teams had often performed heroically against New Zealand, but this was the game that finally rewrote the history books. In front of 12,000 spectators at Thomand Park and helped by two drop goals from Tony Ward, Munster claimed their first ever win over the All Blacks.