To mark the 10 year anniversary of the opening of the re-developed Aviva Stadium we've been asking you to select your "Greatest Aviva Moment" and Ciarán Kelly's penalty shoot-out heroics for Sligo Rovers in the 2010 FAI Cup final has won your vote.
Kelly stopped four of Shamrock Rovers' penalties in the shootout as the Bit O'Red put their 2009 heartbreak behind them to lift the cup and it edged out Seani Maguire's last-gasp winner for Cork City in the 2016 decider.
It's time for the final - which was the 'Greatest Aviva Moment'?
Seani Maguire's late goal for @CorkCityFC
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Ciarán Kelly's penalty heroics for @sligorovers@AVIVAIRELAND has been the proud sponsor of the Aviva Stadium since 2010 #SafeToDream— Off The Ball (@offtheball) May 22, 2020
"It obviously shows the appreciation that Irish people have for the League of Ireland," Kelly said of two League of Ireland moments reaching the final. "I think in the next period of six to 12 months people will get behind the league, and they'll [hopefully] get the backing of the FAI.
"It was one penalty at a time, I was trying to speak to myself," he told Off The Ball this week of the 2010 decider. "I didn't look at our penalties, for the main reason that I didn't want to get emotionally involved in the shoot-out.
"It was one penalty at a time, I was trying to speak to myself. I didn't look at our penalties, for the main reason that I didn't want to get emotionally involved in the shoot-out.
"I was just sipping a bottle of water and just focusing on a piece of ground while our penalties were going in or not going in! I didn't really focus on the score.
You've voted Ciarán Kelly's FAI Cup final penalty heroics for @sligorovers as your 'Greatest Aviva Moment'@AVIVAIRELAND | #SafeToDream pic.twitter.com/w5AsuwCnfi
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) May 22, 2020
"Gary Twigg's penalty [first] was just to my right-hand side, and I just focused on his technique. The way his stance was I knew he was tired and was going to go back to his 'safe-kick' of opening his body up and just pushing it into the corner. I was fortunate enough to guess the right way."
"Chris Turner's penalty... he took a penalty in 2009 for Dundalk in Oriel Park, and I remember at the time I went to the right-hand side and he went down the middle.
"Some strange focus within me said 'This is the same penalty, same technique, he's going to strike it.' I kind of held my position as long as I could, and if I had to go I could still use my left leg to push off. But I stayed and held my ground, and fortunately enough it worked out right in the end.
"The decision while he was on his run up to stay set was brave, but I was full of confidence from the first two penalties. I felt that because I had such a clear mindset I was able to make that decision - I just felt time was so slow.
"Even on the second penalty save, I don't think I celebrated. I felt I was in so much control at that point in time. The fourth penalty save, you can even see how confident I was.
"I went so early, I had made my mind up that Paddy Kavanagh was going to my left-hand side. I went so early that I think I was on the ground when it hit me.
"I know it's probably a little bit cheeky, but I was thinking [about] how we were going to celebrate! That's how confident I felt at that moment in time prior to the kick."
Aviva Ireland has been a proud sponsor of the Aviva Stadium for 10 years. Since 2010, over 7.2 million fans from around the world have attended matches at the Aviva Stadium. We’re encouraging fans to tell us your favourite moments from the iconic venue by following Aviva Ireland on Instagram and Twitter and sharing them using #SafeToDream
