John O’Shea was never Manchester United’s most spectacular player. Following his debut on this day in 1999, he was a steady hand in a squad that consistently challenged for titles and trophies.
Even so, the Republic of Ireland international did manage to create a memory or two in the 12 years he spent around the first-team.
He only hit 15 goals in all competitions. One sticks out above all the others. It was early March in 2007 and United were on the hunt for a first Premier League crown in four seasons.
John O’Shea and Rio Ferdinand celebrate after the Irish defender’s dramatic late winner
O’Shea reached a dropped Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick first and hammered it into the net
It was a difficult game for United – shown by them losing Wayne Rooney to a leg injury
They travelled to Anfield to take on their eternal rivals Liverpool in direct competition with Chelsea for the title.
It was not an easy day for United.
They rode their luck for much of the game.
John Arne Riise nearly put a free-kick into the United net with 26 minutes on the clock before Dirk Kuyt was just about unable to turn in Craig Bellamy’s cross.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side created few chances and were hit by another blow in the last 20 minutes of the game.
Wayne Rooney had to be withdrawn after suffering a gashed leg and knee injury, courtesy of a challenge by Jamie Carragher.
But they ultimately won the tie courtesy of the injury time strike from defender O’Shea
And then United seemed to fall apart. The experienced Paul Scholes was involved in a running battle with Xabi Alonso throughout the game.
Scholes eventually lost his patience and raised a hand at Alonso. It was later clear that no contact was made but that did not stop referee Martin Atkinson from showing a red card to the English midfielder.
Liverpool had the numerical advantage and nearly took the lead shortly after. The exceptional Edwin van der Sar had to claw away a Peter Crouch shot, belying his massive frame to acrobatically reach the ball.
Paul Scholes was given his marching orders by the referee after clashing with Xabi Alonso
It was then that O’Shea put on his cape and became a hero. With more than 90 minutes on the clock, Cristiano Ronaldo fired a free-kick at Pepe Reina in the Liverpool net.
Reina dropped the ball and it fell to O’Shea, who showed an instinct in front of goal that few would have expected.
The defender rifled it straight into the back of the net, securing the win and another step on the way to United winning the league.
It is a moment recalled fondly by United fans and players alike.
Michael Carrick later said the moment was one of the best memories of his career
Michael Carrick, when shown a photo of his celebrations in front of the away fans, admitted it was one of his top United memories: ‘I’d not seen that photo until recently. If I was to think of a specific memory from my time here this would be very near the top of my list.
‘It was my first game at Anfield for United, we were going for the league, Scholesy got sent off and then Sheasy nicked a winner in the last minute… it’s one of the highlights of my career so far.’
Carrick enjoyed it, as did Ferguson, who performed a strange jig on the touchline.
With good reason too – the two extra points that goal earned contributed to United’s six-point advantage at the end of the campaign.
But O’Shea was just happy to score – and claim a team-mate’s dream as his own in the process: ‘The 90th minute at Anfield, in front of the Kop… Gary Neville’s just told me that is his dream and I’ve just gone and done it!’
Gary Neville told O’Shea he’d lived his dream while Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated wildly