The Paris Experience

The Paris experience

The dust has settled, the ridiculous calls for a replay are dying away and we are left with the stark reality that we won't be in the South Africa next summer. So what can we take from the experience? In my opinion it is probably in the top three Irish away performances I have ever seen. The manner in which we played through the French, creating a number of great chances was a real positive and answered the pathetic criticism which has dogged the team throughout the campaign.

Given the size of the country I don't expect Ireland to “achieve” on the world stage very often. All I want is a team that is competitive and a team we can be proud of. A lot of fans who travel regularly have spoken of being revitalized by this campaign. After the negativity and the nightmare under Stan, we have roared back into life this time around. Bari, Sofia and last Wednesday were proof positive of the “new Ireland”.

I was in Paris from Tuesday night onwards, taking a half day and hitting the plane/train combo to make it there. Rendezvoused with the troops and headed for a bite to eat. This was a somewhat prolonged affair and we weren't back in the hotel till after three.

Matchday and the weather was perfect. All of us had done the main sites before so we opted for a cruise along the Seine, bite of lunch, and a visit to the Military Museum in the afternoon. Then it was back to get the “match gear” on and head for the stadium. Anyone that knows me would know I am not a good person to be around before a game as I just want to be in the stadium as early as possible.

The game itself was both fantastic and awful at the same time. Fantastic to see us play so well, awful for the end to come as it did. Keane's goal reminded me of Pizza's goal in the 95 Cup Final, even the whole slow motion nature of the way it went in. The goal produced absolute bedlam around us, but a middle age lad took a real tumble and had to be escorted away by the medics, which curtailed the celebrations.

Half time was a bit surreal as we were playing so well and everyone was sure the French were going to pummel us in the second half/ I said to me da that I was really worried when Duffer and Keano missed and so it turned out. If we had scored the second I am 100% certain we would have gone through as the French would have need two to beat us and that was never going to happen.

When the French scored it was a just like getting a dig in the stomach. That sickening feeling when you can feel something slipping away. In the stadium no one had an idea of the controversy. I was only when I started getting all the texts from home that I realised that something was amiss/

I was hurting on Wednesday and Thursday, no doubt. To come so close and have a decision like that go against you, it really takes it out of you. After the game, plenty of French fans came up to apologise. We went for something to eat around 1am on Thursday morning and the table of lads beside us were totally apologetic. It wasn't a faux sincerity, as one of them said “Shame on us”. To come so close and miss out is heartbreak and it could be twenty years until we come that close again.

There was a very anti-climatic feel after the game as the Irish were stunned at the manner of the defeat and the French were stunned by the manner of victory. There was no mad celebrations from the home fans, both sets of supporters just shuffling off into the night.

The atmosphere before and during the game was absolutely magic. We may have had far less travelling than we did in 2004 but it somehow felt a lot louder. The introduction of the Singing Section in Croker and the impetus ybig.ie has provided has undoubtedly helped that, evidenced through the campaign. The wall of noise from our section all night, and even at the denouement was a sight to see(and hear). You still have the quotient of eejits travelling and everyone has a story to tell about them and their antics. On the whole though, the traveling support tends to be great.

The Eurostar back home at 6.43am on Thursday was carnage. A mix of French people heading for London for a day's work and a load of lads who drank through the night and headed for the train. I was between the category, as I had been out till after 4am but was suited and booted as I was heading for the office on Thursday afternoon.

I was absolutely shattered come Thursday evening and increasingly embarrassed by the reaction of the nation at large. There was never going to be a replay, it was a shite decision, but hey that's the way it happens. Any real supporter of a team could reel you off fifteen decisions of similar magnitude that has happened to their side in the last decade.

Roll on 9/2/10 and the draw for the Euros. C'mon YBIG.