We're fans of innovative thinking here at Balls.ie, so we've wracked our brains to try and find some of the most ingenious outside the box ideas in the history of Irish sport.
We've whittled our list down to five famous incidents from five different sports, with some of the biggest sportspeople in Ireland mentioned below.
What do you think? Have we missed any?
Five Irish Sports Stars Who Thought Outside The Box
When Katie Taylor pretended to be a boy to get fights as a child
Katie Taylor has risen to be quite possibly the greatest sportsperson this island has ever seen - but it was a long time before her sport of women's boxing was even recognised.
Only made an Olympic sport in 2012, Taylor was central to the push to get women's boxing to be recognised, and in her own climb to the top she had to face a few personal obstacles.
Speaking to Sky Sports in 2019, Taylor revealed that during her childhood she had had to pretend to be a boy on one occasion to manage to get herself a fight scheduled:
Women's boxing wasn't allowed in Ireland at the time. It wasn't sanctioned at all.
We had to get fights, so I had to walk into these arenas with the head gear on and the hair all tucked up.
I used to just be known as 'Kay Taylor.' Every time I took the headguard off at the end of the fight, then, there was uproar!
Ronnie Whelan's genius finish at Euro '88
Ireland's first ever appearance at a major tournament was a fever dream, with a win against bitter rivals England getting it all underway in perfect style.
After a draw with eventual champions the Netherlands, it all rested on the final group game against the USSR - where Ronnie Whelan pulled out something truly magic.
From a long throw-in, it looked as though the only option was to chest the ball or head it down to a teammate. Then Ronnie did this...
📆 ON THIS DAY...
3️⃣2️⃣ years ago, Ronnie Whelan scored ⚽️ this cracker at EURO 88#COYBIG #OTD#OnThisDay pic.twitter.com/YbCABel4K1— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) June 15, 2020
Unfortunately, Ireland would eventually be knocked out - but it is rightly remembered as one of the greatest goals in Ireland's football history, for the genius quick thinking and brilliant finish from Ronnie Whelan.
Peter Stringer's sneaky try in the Heineken Cup final
The 2006 Heineken Cup final was a tense affair for Munster. After defeat in the finale in 2000 and 2002, the pressure was on to finally deliver a European crown, with swathes of Munster fans travelling to the Millennium Stadium to potentially witness history.
With a scrum on the Biarritz five metre line near the end of the first half, Munster hoped to make the most of their sustained pressure, by utilising the ferocious strength of their pack.
It was some clever on-the-spot ingenuity from Peter Stringer, however, that fooled the entire Biarritz defence.
1⃣5⃣ years ago today, Peter Stringer fooled the whole of Biarritz as Munster finally ended years of hurt in Europe.
☘️ This iconic try helped the Irish province to a 23-19 triumph, securing their first ever Heineken Cup title.pic.twitter.com/cBXH4RXpNF— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) May 20, 2021
Manouevring to pass the ball out left, Stringer waited until the Biarritz back line had shifted, leaving a narrow gap with the sideline through which Stringer sprinted to score Munster's first try. They would go on to seal a famous victory, with Stringer's clever try the most iconic moment.
Shane Curran introduces Gaelic football to the kicking tee
Roscommon hero Shane Curran is remembered by fans of the county for his brilliant performances between the sticks during a 15 year spell as the county's goalkeeper.
His 1-1 in the Connacht quarter-final against Sligo in 2004 was perhaps his most famous moment, but his longest-lasting impression on the game was his use of a tee when taking kick-outs.
Having used them throughout his career, Curran then moved to a business career after retirement, in which he sought to create a market for goalkeepers to purchase adjustable kicking tees. Given how commonplace they now are, this was some prescient thinking outside the box from Curran.
7 March 2004; Shane Curran, Roscommon goalkeeper. Allianz Football League 2004, Division 2A, Round 4, Roscommon v Donegal, Dr. Hyde Park, Co. Roscommon. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / SPORTSFILE *EDI*
Andrew O'Shaughnessy concealing his identity
It may not be the most famous on this list, but hurler Andrew O'Shaughnessy had a brilliant idea for evading the attention of some particularly thorough markers in a Harty Cup semi-final during his school days.
The former Limerick hurler played for St. Colman's School in the Harty Cup semi-final of 2002 and, such was the attention on the ability of O'Shaughnessy, their rivals Cashel Community College were rumoured to be planning to take O'Shaughnessy out immediately.
But back then it was far easier to conceal one's identity - so that's what O'Shaughnessy did, swapping his hurley and helmet with a teammate so the Cashel players wouldn't find him.
When the Cashel corner back took out O'Shaughnessy's teammate and left himself on a yellow card, it left O'Shaughnessy free to wreak havoc, and St. Colman's would go on to win the semi-final, and the final against Templemore. Outstanding.
SEE ALSO: When The Harrington-Garcia Feud Reached Its Zenith At The 2008 PGA Championship
