Dublin- Mau Utd 3 Celtic 2

On travelling to Dublin I was wondering if I would find answers to whether, for what I think is an ever diluting passion towards all things Celtic, in Ireland is a reality or just a musing I have. I didn’t find out whether that was true or not, but what I did find out that worldwide the name of Celtic is known.

Walking around Dublin’s, too busy, multicultural city centre on the game of the day you would have struggled to guess that a game between two of Irelands favourite sons was happening that evening. The fact was that I was quite perplexed at the lack of atmosphere in the city pubs with even one when I asked if they were showing the game they didn’t have a clue what I was on about.

Mrs G decided against my plan to go off the beaten tourist path and try and find a local pub to watch the game. After I had dragged her to Kilmainham Goal that day I decided that if she wanted to go to the expensive temple bar area to watch the game then I would agree. So headed south across O’Connell Bridge into the height of the tourist trap.

Found a wee pub that had a band playing, for the wife, and once had ascertained that the game was on bought a 5-euro pint and found a seat. The pub we were in had 3 TV’s in the area we were sitting. A big one and 2 smaller one’s unfortunately where I had got a seat the bar manager decided that the telly I was watching was going to show the Arsenal game.

The game started with five hoop wearing fans in the pub and a lot of interested, but albeit passing mixture of locals and tourists watching the game. Next to me were 3 lads, who turned out to be just as vocal in their support of the hoops as me.

These lads were French and were travelling to Derry to watch PSG last night. These lads were belting out “You’ll never walk alone” when the TV panned to the travelling Celtic support and made it known that they were backing us at every opportunity.

When asked way they were supporting Celtic, was told that the passion of the Celtic support is famous in France and they, the PSG Nord Curve Ultra’s, look to the Celtic support as a blue print for how the club should be supported. Was shown their members card and when in return I produced my Celtic team card the look on their faces was like a wean on xmas day.

A number of pictures were took with my team card, with me holding it, them holding it and a photo with it on the table. It was a magical experience probably one we don’t get very often that fans of opposing club were over the moon to meet what they called a card carrying Celtic fan.

It wasn’t for show, as when speaking to them one of them said his favourite player was Shaun Maloney and all off them could name the Celtic players. They had a genuine love of the hoops and that’s when I started thinking that our club is something very special.

Thank god then the team produced a performance that by the end of the night would make me proud to be wearing the hoops and have everyone talking to me in the pubs about a Celtic performance, which after our pre-season world tour woes gave us back our pride.

The other hoops in the bar were not as vocal as the ultras and myself. When JvoH scored, there was delay, had it went in I couldn't tell from my vantage point in the bar. JvoH wheeled away celebrating I started to think we could do something here. I knew at that point even if e were to end up losing the game we were going to give a performance.

Would have basked in the moment longer if that ref, a rush of blood to Arthur’s heid and a cheating Welshman hadn’t all got together to give Man Utd a boost just when it looked like we were going to frustrate them.

Then came what makes the fact that if you don’t keep the ball at any level of football then you will be punished. Tommy G gave the ball away, but his mistakes were punished. Naka and McGeady gave the ball away more so than the baldy Dane but they got away with it.

Naka made up for it though. His free kick was a special moment for the Japanese Bhoy. But it was one, which I expected. The way the wall was lined up and the fact that he had a target the size of the Stretford end to aim at, always made him favourite to score.

Later on that evening I meet 5 Japanese tourists with Nakamura 25 on the back of their Hoops tops. Hands shook all round. What a moment that must have been for them. Pity Naka wasn’t at his best all evening.

But then maybe I’m being a bit hard on them. It was a step up in quality and all our creative players worked hard to keep the shape of the team. They had to, as it was not a night for passengers.

Right maybe we were outclassed, we made our own mistakes, had Arthur to thank for not getting a doing and ran out of steam when we should have been pounding them for an equaliser. I for one think that Miller was brought on too early and GS played a possibly tactical trump card a bit too soon.

But at the final whistle I applauded my team. The PSG fans sang “You’ll never walk alone” and the Hoops came out with the plaudits. Everyone who came up to speak to me after the game, Irish Man Utd fans, a Danish Bronby fan apologising for Tommy G mistakes and telling me of the dangers held in Copenhagen and that Morten Weighthorst is his favourite ever player and English tourist saying that they expected an easy Man Utd victory.

We gave Scottish football a shot in the arm but more importantly the good ship Celtic a boost after that night in Bratislava.

But after glorious failure comes the heightening of expectations. Playing Man Utd and getting a performance is an easy job. Playing games, which now some are expecting to win easily is harder. The Bronby fan told me enough to believe, while we could beat Copenhagen, if we don’t produce a similar level of performance as we did on Wednesday they have enough quality to trouble us.

I maybe didn’t get any questions to the answers I wanted concerning how Celtic is viewed in Ireland. I never meet enough locals to make a judgement. What I did find was performances increase your worldwide appeal and that the Celtic fans are held in high regard by fellow football fans all over Europe.

Now I wonder how these “special” fans will reacted if we get a sluggish performance tomorrow against Dunfermline and maybe. “Help my boab” go 1-0 down as the team struggle to pick themselves up. Maybe for once after Man Utd the fans will know that this team can produce the goods and we should give them our backing win lose or draw.

Hail Hail