The annual Puskas Award is handed out by FIFA to the best goal scored each year in world football. It's almost become a tradition at this stage that one of the nominees comes from Irish football - and it looks like we've already got this year's Irish contender. Shamrock Rovers player Graham Burke scored a frankly ridiculous goal against Derry City on Tuesday night.
Burke picked the ball up in the middle of the park and spotted the Derry keeper off his line. Nobody was expecting Burke to have a go, but he perfectly judged his shot and somehow managed to find the back of the net from the halfway line.
INCREDIBLE! Goal of the Season contender 🚨
Graham Burke, left-footed, half-way line 👀
Sensational 😍
WATCH LIVE | https://t.co/IBZkINEa20#WATCHLOI | #LOI pic.twitter.com/vmMIecjxON— SSE Airtricity League (@SSEAirtricityLg) April 13, 2021
It was an outrageous moment - and there's so much to pick apart in the video of the goal. Of course, the game is live on WatchLOI, meaning there were no replays of the goal and the camera had to swivel around in a panic to track the goal celebrations.
As well as that, the commentator was clearly taken aback by the goal, as there's next to no excitement in his voice despite a certain goal of the season being scored in front of his very eyes.
Nonetheless, Burke's goal is just the latest in a long history of spectacular goals scored in domestic Irish football. Most of the recent classics that come to mind have involved Shamrock Rovers, with Liam Scales also serving up a belter earlier this season against Dundalk in the President's Cup.
THAT IS SENSATIONAL! SCALES!
GOAL | @ShamrockRovers 1-1 @DundalkFC
48 | Scales with one touch to control, one touch to take it past the defender and BANG 😎
WATCH LIVE | https://t.co/IBZkINEa20#WATCHLOI | #LOI pic.twitter.com/xk3IQc72Pn— SSE Airtricity League (@SSEAirtricityLg) March 12, 2021
Last season also saw Dundalk player Jordan Flores nominated for the Puskas Award for his sensational volley against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght in February.
Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Dundalk - Wow! Jordan Flores scores a goal of the season contender to level things at Tallaght. You'll be watching this goal for years to come. #rtesocer pic.twitter.com/tIhtCrKfml
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) February 28, 2020
It's unlikely we'll see a better goal in the Airtricity League this season than Graham Burke's strike from the halfway line but if one does come along, it seems like a safe bet it will be in a Rovers game.
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