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30 signs you're a hardcore Republic of Ireland football fan

Featuring Trigger, Thierry Henry, THAT Schillaci t-shirt and much more.

1. You think this is the greatest goal of all time

YouTube credit: Chimpanzeethat

2.  And this is a close second

YouTube credit: PeteTop Carton

3. You have a desire to play Gary Breen in every position

YouTube credit: Eddie Fitz

4. You’re skeptical MONKeano will work, but you’re really looking forward to it nonetheless

image

5. You share a soft spot for Daniel Timofte along with the rest of the country

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(INPHO/Billy Stickland)

6. You leapt for joy upon hearing of this goal

YouTube credit: FatherTed2006

7. You argued a lot with family members over the events of May and June 2002

image

(INPHO/Andrew Paton)

8. You knew all the words to this song

YouTube credit: GreenArmyTunes2012

9. And this one

YouTube credit: dzg189

10. You couldn’t help but laugh at this

YouTube credit: PeteTop Carton

11. You have an unusual fear of Toni Polster

YouTube credit: sp1873

12. You can still list off every member of the Euro 88 side

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(INPHO/Billy Stickland)

13. You know and retell this Jason McAteer anecdote

YouTube credit: tony713elo

14. The phrases 'I'm the gaffer' and 'magnificent' give you shivers... bad shivers

YouTube credit: ragaman7

15. You used to keep an eye on Bournemouth's results because they had Gerry Peyton in goal

image

(Mark Thompson/EMPICS Sport)

16. This video makes you all nostalgic

YouTube credit: killianm2

17. You couldn't sleep for days thinking about this catastrophe

YouTube credit: sp1873

18.  You lost a lot of respect for Thierry Henry after this

YouTube credit: IrelandGrandSlam2009

19. You wanted your parents to buy an Opel car in the early 1990s

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(INPHO)

20. You think Roy Keane is a far more complex individual than he's often portrayed as being

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(INPHO/Billy Stickland)

21.  The words 'danger here' bring back bad mem0ries

YouTube credit: selleymorrow

22. You've stuck with the team despite the occasional embarrassing result

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(INPHO/Billy Stickland)

YouTube credit: sp1873

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(Members of the Liechtenstein team celebrate -- INPHO)

23. You miss these lads

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(INPHO/Billy Stickland)

24. You didn't always agree with Trapattoni, but you still found him to be utterly charming

YouTube credit: aletubo

25. You constantly disagree with the RTÉ panel, but you wouldn't swap them for anyone else

YouTube credit: RDinHD

26. Except, maybe, for Aprés Match

YouTube credit: RTÉ - Ireland's National Television and Radio Broadcaster

27. You know who put the ball in the English net

YouTube credit: Chimpanzeethat

28. Paul McGrath vs Italy was the greatest central defensive performance you've ever seen

YouTube credit: 2014WorldCupBrazil

29. You own one of these t-shirts

image

Get it at Spreadshirt.

30. You remember where you were when this goal was scored

YouTube credit: dinadangdong

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(Additional suggestions by Patrick McCarry, Christine Bohan, Sinead O'Carroll and Fintan O'Toole.)

What have we missed? Let us know in the comments section below.

‘Exhilarating’ first night for Martin O’Neill but new boss warns of tougher tests ahead>

Andy Reid ruled out of Ireland’s trip to Poland>

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64 Comments
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    Mute @Aoifs2707
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:11 PM

    I remember that famous Goal McAteer got against Holland to well. I was doing the ironing,and accidentally ironed my hand while celebrating, and got a fairly bad burn. Still have the scar now!

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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:27 PM

    Great article. Euro 88 & Italia 90 really were great times. Hard to believe we all went so mad for those two summers. Hope we cab re-capture those days again with Martin & Roy.

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    Mute Luke Sullivan
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:31 PM

    Why is it, and if you look at the pic/link to get to the article, there’s always one guy in the wall that actually grabs his bollocks instead of protecting it?

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    Mute Daniel Murray
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:58 PM

    Ironing and watching football?! Your every man’s dream woman!

    217
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    Mute sportsmad
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    Nov 17th 2013, 10:11 PM

    After McAteer scored that goal I jumped up from the bar stool and virtually broke both my fists on the ceiling of the low ceiling of the Bar I was in, ouch !

    23
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    Mute Marcus Massey
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    Nov 18th 2013, 9:17 PM

    I was there! Greatest experience I’ve ever had at a soccer match.

    1
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    Mute Spud Byrne
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    Nov 17th 2013, 10:31 PM

    I was in an exam hall doing my Leaving Cert when Robbie Keane scored that goal against Germany. The examiner briefly left the room and when he came back in, he said, “Right lads, I need ye to remain calm and quiet as there are other exams going on in the rooms next door. But Ireland have scored against Germany.”

    The room exploded! It was unreal!

    Side note: I got meself a B3 in Tech Drawing that day. It was a good day, so it was. :)

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    Mute Michael
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    Nov 17th 2013, 10:46 PM

    My sis’s confirmation, the whole extended family went loony

    34
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    Mute Spud Byrne
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    Nov 17th 2013, 11:07 PM

    That sounds class! If I remember correctly too, the sun was actually shining. Made the day *even* better!

    35
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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Nov 18th 2013, 12:40 AM

    I was doing my Junior Cert, two rooms away from the AV room where we could hear the celebrations. One of those great sporting moments I’ll never forget

    16
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    Mute Caroline
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    Nov 18th 2013, 10:37 AM

    Lol that Germany match was on during the English paper 2 Leaving Cert exam… I couldn’t concentrate & the supervisor had to find out the result for me! Was pure torture trying to remember my Hamlet stuff that afternoon!
    Never actually seen that Ronnie Whelan goal before… The power of that throw in – why can’t players do that anymore?

    8
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    Mute Jamie Domican
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    Nov 17th 2013, 10:26 PM

    Richard Dunnes performance against Russia is a close second to Paul McGrath.

    107
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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:23 PM

    Sided with Mick over Saipan while the auld lad took Keanes side, the stubborn bastard didn’t even get up to watch the Cameroon match which resulted in me banging the sitting room ceiling with a sweeping brush to wake & annoy him when Matt Holland equalised

    106
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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:57 PM

    Brilliant! Remember that goal watched it in bed fecking leg cramped up when I jumped for the goal. Celebrated by trying to stretch it. Can’t tell you what I said to the tv for keano’s goal against the Germans .

    17
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:22 PM

    McAteer ordered a 15″ pizza and the guy asked him would they cut it into 8 or 12 slices…”just 8 slices…I’d never eat 12 of them”….Trigger indeed.

    88
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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:45 PM

    One of the Liverpool players were locked out of their car and someone asked McAteer to get a hanger, he came back with a full wooden hangar

    53
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    Mute Eel Knack Mole
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    Nov 18th 2013, 10:15 AM

    After an Ireland game he spotted Jimmy White in a Dublin nightclub. “Hey Jimmy!” he called out. “One Hundred and Eighteeeeee!”

    21
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    Mute Pat Farrell
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    Nov 18th 2013, 12:13 AM

    Here’s another sign you’re a die-hard Ireland fan. .. You don’t care who in the FAI she’s banging, but that chick “singing” the National anthem before home games has GOT to go! !
    We need to get the crowd – and the team – going before a game but she doesn’t do it.

    67
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    Mute Kevin
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:28 PM

    Ducked a Leaving Cert exam to go to pub and watch the Ireland v Germany game in pub – not my proudest moment, but will never forget that goal and the crowd going crazy. Great tournament!!!

    66
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    Mute Montys Moonshine
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:49 PM

    Bet it was worth it. You could always repeat the leaving but never repeat that moment.

    73
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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:14 PM

    Or you bought that manky orange kit from the 90s. Jesus that was awful

    65
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    Mute Irishoversea
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:22 PM

    If u did ur the greatest Irish fan ever..

    46
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    Mute Montys Moonshine
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:48 PM

    I still have that Jersey. I was always embarrassed wearing it but I persevered all the same

    27
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    Mute Casey Mc Quillan
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    Nov 18th 2013, 8:46 PM

    Ha I still have that orange kit!!!!!!

    1
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    Mute Jason Power
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:29 PM

    You know that ’88 is summarised as: we won a game we should have lost, we drew a game we should have won and we lost a game we should have drawn

    62
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    Mute Ignoreland
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    Nov 17th 2013, 11:22 PM

    Ah here! Not a mention of Ray Houghton’s goal against Italy in the 94 World Cup?

    53
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    Mute Gerry McLoughlin
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:29 PM

    Thanks for the wonderful memories… Hopefully the next few years will bring as many fantastic moments for us to reminisce over

    50
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    Mute Petr Tarasov
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:19 PM

    You know who The Ginger Pele is!

    49
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    Mute Charles J. Ahern
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:35 PM

    You sang the “Fields of Athenry” over and over during the Spain Euro 2012 match …. :-(

    44
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    Mute Rand McNally
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    Nov 17th 2013, 10:32 PM

    You recognise the name Joe Lapira.

    43
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    Mute Gary Mason™
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    Nov 17th 2013, 10:05 PM

    31. You more than likely don’t support your own national league

    39
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    Mute Michael
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    Nov 17th 2013, 10:45 PM

    31 – dont support the league of ireland
    32 – support the English premier league

    30
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    Mute Davin Lynch
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    Nov 17th 2013, 11:09 PM

    They’re great stats,thanks for that.

    25
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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    Nov 18th 2013, 12:44 AM

    You know Michael that it’s possible to support a LOI club & support the National team. & some of us are even members of GAA clubs too. Waterford United, Waterford GAA, Mt Sion & Ireland. All 3 causing me lots of suffering & a lot of great times.

    25
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    Mute Davin Lynch
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    Nov 18th 2013, 12:47 AM

    Dundalk/man utd. It can be done ya know.

    14
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    Mute Michael
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    Nov 18th 2013, 1:05 AM

    I tip my hat to you gents, but most people dont!
    most ppl despise our league!

    9
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    Mute Davin Lynch
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    Nov 18th 2013, 1:10 AM

    Up the town! I know what you mean, I urge everyone to support local clubs, local everything really. It’s what we used to do really good,lost our morals old chap.

    13
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    Mute Brendan Meehan
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    Nov 18th 2013, 8:22 AM

    Ireland 1 – Holland 0. Don’t forget Roy Keane’s tackle on Marc Overmars seven seconds into the game. He cut him in half and the referee indicated play on! Set the tone for the whole match.

    30
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    Mute Graham Lynch
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    Nov 17th 2013, 11:58 PM

    That’s a brilliant compilation. Bring a tear to the eye

    21
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    Mute Billy Nomates
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    Nov 18th 2013, 12:25 AM

    John Byrne – Le Harve

    20
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    Mute Eel Knack Mole
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    Nov 18th 2013, 10:12 AM

    You have a bizarrely detailed knowledge of the geography of Poland.

    19
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    Mute tom callaghan
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:37 PM

    Jesus the amount of scrolling longest journal story of all time

    19
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    Mute Luke Sullivan
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:43 PM

    Took 5 mins for the page to load on my connection.

    15
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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Nov 17th 2013, 11:48 PM

    Gotta plan pages like this a bit better.

    1
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    Mute Tiger Bayliss
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:57 PM

    Dalymount roar, Liam Brady’s last international cap, three amigios making their debuts & the great Charlie O’Leary

    18
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    Mute Conor Slattery
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    Nov 17th 2013, 10:30 PM

    Ireland 1-0 Holland - 1st Sept 2001

    I finished work and walked outside to see no sign of my dad in the spot where he usually picked me up. Rang home no answer. I walked the 6 miles home and arrived home to find that I had missed the spectacular moment when McAteer scored and put Ireland one nil up. I haven’t spoken to my dad since.

    17
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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Nov 18th 2013, 1:51 AM

    Ya got a bit squashed as a 5 year old at Dalymount for Paul McGraths debut V Italy

    13
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    Mute Jason Power
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:37 PM

    Just noticed number 3 above RE Gary Breen is my mate’s younger brother’s YouTube clip. Galwegian Eddie Fitz not only recorded this video he was the kids teacher too, not anymore though. Small world.

    12
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    Mute Áine Hensey
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:45 PM

    Brilliant. I definitely qualify.

    11
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    Mute Shane Kearney
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    Nov 18th 2013, 1:00 PM

    You get heart palpatations once the game reaches its late stages

    11
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    Mute Ben Redline
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    Nov 17th 2013, 9:20 PM

    Ha ha that was good :))

    8
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    Mute Ruth Keogh
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    Nov 18th 2013, 9:34 AM

    The French ‘goal’ still haunts me

    6
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    Mute Barry Teehan
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    Nov 18th 2013, 2:09 PM

    Got refused a visa 2 days before the Ireland Italy match because the arseholes in the US embassy were overrun and couldn’t cope with the demand. Gutted as I saw all the rest of the lads off to the airport . Ended up back working in the pub and didn’t even get to see the match because the tv was put outside to accommodate the crowds. Bittersweet day it was !

    6
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    Mute The Irk Circle
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    Nov 18th 2013, 10:32 AM

    You remember the party train to Zilina. ‘Oh, John Delaney, he used to be a w****r but he’s alright now’… http://youtu.be/f1iOQMdDk-E

    6
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    Mute Roger Cummiskey
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    Nov 18th 2013, 8:59 AM

    A real Irish football fan can name all the players on the Irish team and where they are from.

    4
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    Mute frank walsh
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    Nov 18th 2013, 7:34 AM

    In number 23. Who’s the number nine cant remember for the life of me

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    Mute OC 95
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    Nov 18th 2013, 1:01 AM

    Coybig Hon the Irish

    4
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    Mute Scarab Sikhalima
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    Nov 18th 2013, 1:19 AM

    Agree with these bar Après Match. Small doses only please..

    4
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    Mute Shane Harris
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    Nov 18th 2013, 9:57 PM

    I was in a bar in Dorchester in Boston for that Ireland v holland game it was 9am 20 dollars in and you got a fry and a pint can’t remember much after that goal.

    2
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    Mute Kieran Casey
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    Nov 18th 2013, 8:20 AM

    I can name the 88 team cant name more than 5 of the present team cause their crap…!

    2
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    Mute The Bionic Rats
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    Nov 18th 2013, 10:20 AM

    what’s wrong with their crap? :-)

    15
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    Mute T Beckett
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    Nov 18th 2013, 10:17 PM

    I know a sign you’re a hardcore Republic of Ireland fan.

    You call yourself an Ireland fan. (Unless you’re a blow in from Sky or something).

    2
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    Mute Eamonn Duggan
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    Nov 18th 2013, 7:23 PM

    Lansdowne actually rocked for the Holland game, nothing since has come close

    1
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    Mute Enda S
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    Nov 19th 2013, 12:46 AM

    You believe Toto Schillaci has a 200 mile an hour shot!!

    1
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