Ahead of the biggest week in Irish football betting for years I thought I would look at a classic kit from one of their greatest ever triumphs.

Back in 1994 the side were led by Englishman Jack Charlton who had led them to a very credible quarter final spot at the 1990 World Cup, though this had been tempered by failure to make it to the European Championships in Sweden in 1992.

However Charlton’s men did book a place at the ’94 World Cup and a tough looking group featuring Mexico, Norway and Italy – the side that knocked them out of the 1990 World Cup.

And it was Italy who were Ireland’s opponents in their opening game of the campaign on June 18 1994 in the Giants Stadium New Jersey. Ireland made the perfect start when Ray Houghton chested the ball down 25 yards out before lifting a volley over the stranded Gianluca Pagliuca and into the net. It would prove to be the only goal as the side held on for a famous win.

That put Ireland in pole position and almost guarenteed them a spot in the next round. It would prove harder than perhaps envisaged as a stormy 2-0 defeat to Mexico checked their progress. The match was perhaps best known for a huge touchline bust-up between the officials and substitute John Aldridge, who was prevented from going onto the pitch. However a tedious 0-0 draw with Norway meant Ireland finished the group with 4 points. In an extremely tight group all four teams finished level on four points, but Ireland’s goal difference put them second ahead of Italy.

Ireland’s hopes were eventually ended by the Netherlands, who triumphed 2-0 in the second round clash in Orlando.

In that famous Italy game Ireland wore a kit made by Adidas. It was all green with the Irish flag colours as a trim on the collar and the Irish flag on the left sleeve. The shirt occasionally had Opel as a shirt sponsor although the team wore blank shirts in the Italy game. In Ireland’s remaining matches they wore their white away strip and a new kit made by Umbro was introduced after the tournament. Therefore the Italy match was the final time that kit was worn.

In other sports betting the odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup are starting to heat up, so it could be worth keeping your eye on them!