| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1964-03-21)21 March 1964 (age 60) | ||
| Place of birth | Limerick, Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1981–1985 | UCD | 99 | (11) |
| 1985–1987 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
| 1987–1988 | Shamrock Rovers | 26 | (5) |
| 1988–1990 | Limerick City | 56 | (10) |
| 1990–1992 | Derry City | 50 | (5) |
| 1992–1997 | Dundalk | 126 | (14) |
| 1997–1998 | Bohemians | 9 | (1) |
| 1998–1999 | Monaghan United | 11 | (1) |
| Total | 377 | (47) | |
| International career | |||
| 1984 | League of Ireland XI | 1 | (0) |
| 1986 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Joe Hanrahan (born 21 March 1964 inLimerick) is an Irish formerfootballer who played during the 1980s and 1990s.
He picked up many honours, including theFAI Cup in 1983–84 and was namedPFAI Young Player of the Year in the same year. He played forUCD in the1984–85 European Cup Winners' Cup narrowly being beaten byEverton in a two-legged tie as Everton went on to win the competition, with Hanrahan nearly scoring the equaliser in the second leg.
Hanrahan came from a sporting family – his father had playedhurling for Limerick and three of his brothers (Peter, Gary and Dave) played in theLeague of Ireland. He played schoolboy football with local side Vereker Clements earning five schoolboy caps for Ireland and soon attracted interest from cross-channel in the shape ofWolverhampton Wanderers.
Despite this interest from Wolves, Hanrahan decided to sign for UCD where he spent four productive years. He made hisLeague of Ireland debut on 10 September 1981 atDundalk F.C. The highlight of his time atBelfield was the 1983–84 season where he picked up anFAI Cup winners medal, scoring "after a mazy dribble" in the replay as UCD beatShamrock Rovers 2–1.[2][3] His form was noticed by his fellow professionals and he was votedPFAI Young Player of the Year.[4] He also gained Inter-League and Under-21 representative honours during that season. He captained theIreland youth team that qualified for the1982 European Championships in Finland, but was unavailable for the finals because of university examinations.[5]
The FAI Cup win qualified UCD for the1985 Cup Winners' Cup. Drawn against English clubEverton in the first round,The Times' match preview picked out Hanrahan as a player to watch.[6] A goalless draw atTolka Park was followed by Everton scraping through 1–0 in the return leg atGoodison Park; Everton "went on to win the competition but they wouldn't have done had a late Joe Hanrahan shot in the second leg been a few inches lower",[7] asPeter Reid, who played for Everton in that match, remembered 23 years later: "in the last minute a lad called Joe Hanrahan had a chance and if he'd have stuck it in we'd have been out" on theaway goals rule.[8]
In August 1985, after scoring five goals in four trial games he signed forManchester United. He played in friendlies ahead of the1986–87 season, but never made the breakthrough. Unsettled after two years without a competitive appearance, and despite speculation about a £40,000 transfer toPort Vale,[9] Hanrahan's contract was cancelled and he returned to Ireland.[10] He signed forShamrock Rovers in 1987 and after five goals in 27 games in the clubs infamous reign at Tolka Park, he moved to his hometown clubLimerick City in 1988 under the management ofBilly Hamilton. They finished third in the league that season but Hamilton left during the 1989–90 season and Limerick never challenged.[11]
Hanrahan was on the move again in 1990 whereJim McLaughlin took him up north toDerry City. His first Derry goal came in a friendly againstManchester United on the 8th of August when he netted a last minute equaliser.[12] He won twoLeague of Ireland Cup medals at the club, scoring in the 91 final against his old club Limerick. He played forDundalk,[13] until they released him in the summer of 1997. He then joinedBohemians alongside his brother Peter, a move which caused some surprise because of his age and reputation for being injury-prone, and also played forMonaghan United before retiring[14]
Rather more relevant to the real world will be the performances of Kevin Sheedy, Everton's Republic of Ireland international, and Joe Hanrahan, the best of the Students