On This Day in the LOI | April 5 5th April 1970: Greg Costello was born on this day in Dublin. Costello is a former full-back who had a prominent League of Ireland career, most notably for Shelbourne. Having had a youth career at QPR, he moved back
On This Day in the LOI | April 5
5th April 1970: Greg Costello was born on this day in Dublin. Costello is a former full-back who had a prominent League of Ireland career, most notably for Shelbourne. Having had a youth career at QPR, he moved back to Ireland to sign for Shelbourne in 1991 and was part of the title-winning squad in 1991/92 season and won the FAI Cup with the club in 1993, 1996 and 1997. He also played for Kilkenny City, Athlone Town and Shamrock Rovers making a total of 295 career League appearances. He is the only player to score in two different FAI Cup finals at Lansdowne Road – the only goal of the 1993 final v Dundalk and a consolation goal v Derry City two years later.
On This Day in Irish Football | April 5
5th April 1959: The Republic of Ireland defeated Czechoslovakia by 2-0 in the first leg of the preliminary round of the inaugural European Championship then known as the European Nations Cup. The goal scores were Liam Tuohy (21) and captain Noel Cantwell (pen. 41). Although, this was the only preliminary round tie (17 countries had entered the competition), it was not the first-ever European Championship match as several first round ties had already been played. Christy Doyle (Shelbourne) won his only cap in this match and there were debuts for Tommy Hamilton and Brendan McNally.
5th April 1978: The Republic of Ireland defeated Turkey by 4-2 in a friendly match played at Lansdowne Road. at Greg Costello was born on this day in Dublin. Two goals from Ray Treacy (18, 23), player-manager Johnny Giles (3) and debutant Paul McGee (12) gave the Republic of Ireland a 4-0 interval lead. Turkey struck back with second-half goals from Onder (55) and Cemil (62). Giles and Treacy were playing with Shamrock Rovers and Ray Treacy was the last player attached to a LOI club to score for the Republic of Ireland for over 40 years until Graham Burke did so against the U.S.A. in June 2018. Seven players made their international debut in this match – David Langan, Noel Synnott, Maurice Daly, Ashley Grimes, Gerry Ryan, Paul McGee and substitute Synan Braddish.
