Colin Sheridan: Cillian Murphy's Oscar win the latest in Ireland's many 'Italia '90' moments

Cillian Murphy compared his recent Oscar win to Ireland lighting up the World Cup in 1990. Colin Sheridan looks back at some of the occasions that will forever be ingrained on the nation’s psyche

Italia '90: Packie Bonner saves a penalty to win the match and put Republic of Ireland into the quarter-finals and a match against the hosts Italy. Picture Inpho/Billy Stickland

Perhaps the most surprising thing about Cillian Murphy’s Oscar win for best leading actor was how little of a surprise it actually was. 

As soon as he was cast by Christopher Nolan as J Robert Oppenheimer, Murphy was installed as a prohibitive favourite for whatever year the movie premiered. It’s an unusual position for an Irishman of any discipline on the global stage to find himself in. The Favourite.