I've been there many times to support the Rebels and also to Landsdowne and Dalymount ( as a youngfella ) to support the boys in green.
Last night was , however, a strange experience.
First, on the way to the ground, there was almost an eerie silence with hardly a busker or flag-seller in sight and a distinct lack of colour when compared with a September Sunday. Walking through Mountjoy Square ( always like to go the scenic route ) was like following a hearse at a removal or funeral.
Game delayed by 15 minutes because of traffic, yet when it did kick-off , there were many empty seats around where I was. Sure enough, from the first minute to about the 10th we were constantly interrupted to allow people pass us in as they took their seats.The worst was yet to come. 20 minutes in, 2 guys had us all standing up again as they looked for their seats. This meant that, had the game started on time, they would have got just 10 minutes of the first half ! They were no sooner in then than they decided it was time to " stand up for the boys in green " forcing everybody else to do so as well. 2 minutes to half time, one of them got up to leave ( all standing up again to let him out or look over the people who were letting him out ). From the steps he shouted back to his buddy " Joxer, is it Bud again ? "
4 or 5 minutes into second half they arrive back, stand up again for the lads, and then spend the next 10 minutes wondering aloud when the Mexican Wave was going to start. They almost achieve ultimate orgasm as they notice it building up around them.As soon as they recovered their breath, off out with Joxer. I thought it kinda natural that a trip to the gents might have been in order given what he had just gone through. Just a few short minutes later, however, he arrives back breathless with 2 hot-dogs and apologises to his buddy about there being no ketchup available. ( Shame on you Croke Park ! ) Another "stand up " was quickly followed by a MW and then, with about 6 or 7 minutes to go, they both got up and announced to all who had to stand up to let them out that they were leaving to " beat the traffic "
They were lucky that the seats in the stadium face out onto the pitch, otherwise they mighn't have seen any of the play.
I wouldn't fancy their chances of lasting more than 3 minutes at an All-Ireland hurling final. Talk about justifiable homicide !
Ya should've stabbed the fuckers. Typical Dubs delaying the kick off in Croker as per usual. i couldn't imagine missing the throw in in hurling, I'd be going ballistic if I was late for any match but these fellas are at it all the time.
Didn't seem to be much of an atmosphere at both soccer matches if honest, thought the rugby was a bit strange too but better than the football. dya think it's to do with the pitch size??
A trip to Croker for soccer
Linear Mode
