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Groundhopping: Ireland (v England, Aviva Stadium)

Competition: Nation’s League (Second Tier)

Date: 7 September 2024

Result: Ireland 0 – 2 England

Tickets:  (apparently over €100 each for quite a lot of the normal tickets – but for us, included in our season tickets)

Attendance: 50,359

Game/ Experience Rating:  ☆☆☆☆

The Game: This, of course, is a bitter rivalry, and the atmosphere reflected it, with relentless abuse directed to the England side… for about half an hour. England looking unaffected, truthfully. In fact, their dominance was substantial, with Ireland struggling to get decent posession, and there was something particularly galling for Ireland fans about the two former Irish players Declan Rice and Jack Grealish – the latter off a great passing move centred around Rice – scoring the two goals.

The booing was relentless (the irony of the like of James McLean also having played for different national teams when they were younger apparently lost on the home fans), but England under Carsley look a substantially better side than Ireland under their new Icelandic boss. The second half was disappointing, though England went close again. Ireland most frustratingly don’t really have any bite. In a game like this, they should. Still, a lively if one-sided experience.

The ground: The Aviva is rarely as lively at it was in the opening stages of this game, and then flat as anything. Plenty of Irish fans stayed under the stand well into the second half (I know, because the little lad decided he needed a loo trip). From lively to sedate in no time.

Extras: €10 for a programme seemed a bit much, I have to be honest. It’s a fairly basic programme at that.

Assorted asides: I had to keep my head down as an Englishman in an Ireland shirt (I’m an Ireland regular, going to easily two thirds of home games). While I only saw very minor verbal agro, I’m not sure allowing home and away fans to arrive down the same narrow route next to the river into the south/ west stand is a very clever idea.

My totals for the year so far:

Games: 9. Home wins: 2 Draws: 4 Away wins: 3

Goals: 24. Home goals: 11. Away goals: 13. Goals per game: 2.67

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Groundhopping: St Patrick’s Athletic (v İstanbul Başakşehir, Tallaght Stadium)

Competition: Europa League 4th Qualifying Round

Date: 22 August 2024

Result: St Patrick’s Athletic 0 – 0 İstanbul Başakşehir

Tickets:  €20 adults, €8 kids

Attendance: 6,219

Game/ Experience Rating:  ☆☆☆☆

The Game: The first, home leg of the final qualifying round for the Europa Conference League group stage, so a massive game for St Pat’s in a season where Shamrock Rovers have already qualified – two teams in the group would be massive for Irish football, and for Pat’s team currently in a fairly uninspiring 7th in the League of Ireland. Başakşehir are a government funded Turkish side with a squad that far exceeds Pat’s in value, but they simply weren’t very good on the night.

They should, on paper, have been significantly overmatched here, but instead the game was controlled by the Inchicore side, who will be really frustrated not to have won it. They created a series of chances – a close range header, a shot from outside the box that slammed against the post, and a cross that just failed to connect two yards out. The ‘nearly’ moments that might be key, but nonetheless, a really excellent effort against a team they should have struggled against. Of course, going out to the heat of Istanbul for the return leg and getting anything is a huge ask, and they’ll probably go out now. But it was a great watch, a memorably strong performance. No harm in those extra UEFA points either.

The ground:  I’ve now sat basically everywhere in Tallaght except behind the goals. In the rain, it was surreal today, with fans packed in back from the touchline to stay dry. A decent turnout, with the noise all over in the traditional away end, and a collection of Turkish fans in the South Stand.

Extras: There was a programme, but as usual I didn’t buy it.

Assorted asides: I found the Turkish fans confusing, largely clad in Galatasary and Fenerbarche tops. I wasn’t even 100% sure they were supporting the Turkish side at times, and the noise from them was loud but very intermitant. I don’t think they were too impressed with their side.

My totals for the year so far:

Games: 8. Home wins: 2 Draws: 4 Away wins: 2

Goals: 22. Home goals: 11. Away goals: 11. Goals per game: 2.75

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Groundhopping: St Patrick’s Athletic (v Sabah FK, Tallaght Stadium)

Competition: Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round

Date: 8 August 2024

Result: St Patrick’s Athletic 1 – 0 Sabah FK

Tickets:  €25 adults, €9 kids

Attendance: 4,352

Game/ Experience Rating:  ☆☆☆☆

The Game: St Patrick’s Athletic are having something of a horror season in the League of Ireland under former national poss Stephen Kenny, but Kenny has a reputation for doing damage in Europe and this was perhaps the best performance in Europe I’ve seen from an Irish side since the day of Dundalk doing damage.

Pat’s saw their own post hit in the first minute… and that was about it. From then on they piled on the pressure, with Sabah FK, admittedly not exactly a big name, but arguably more favoured than Pat’s, looking overmatched to the point that I stood somewhere in the second half where I couldn’t see the Pat’s goal, and it didn’t effect my enjoyment of the match one bit.

Pat’s scored a great goal in the first half, a volleyed finish from the edge of the six yard box, and then Sabah had a man sent off. From then on, they’ll be huge disappointment that they didn’t win by more, which makes a trip to Azerbaijan a tough challenge. It could easily have been a rout.

The ground:  We’re regulars at Tallaght Stadium, but still haven’t managed to get ourselves into the new North Stand (tickets wouldn’t go through this time, odd as it was clearly sparsely populated). Pat’s had made it their own, with the Invincibles in the traditional away section, complete with plenty of banners and making a decent noise throughout.

The atmosphere has definitely improved now there are stands on all four sides, and I noticed even the west stand seats have been replaced.

Extras: The small number of Sabah FK fans getting progressively more irritated in the heart of the West Stand was quite entertaining. I think they expected a win.

Assorted asides: I think this was a touch overpriced to be honest. Great game, better than most I’ve attended in Ireland, but if they’d knocked the price down a bit from €26 including fees for adults they could have sold a lot more tickets.

My totals for the year so far:

Games: 7. Home wins: 2 Draws: 3 Away wins: 2

Goals: 22. Home goals: 11. Away goals: 11. Goals per game: 3.14

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Groundhopping: Shamrock Rovers (v Sparta Prague, Tallaght Stadium)

Competition: Champion’s League Second Qualifying Round

Date: 23 July 2024

Result: Shamrock Rovers 0 – 2 Sparta Prague

Tickets:  €20 adults, €8 kids

Attendance: 9,684

Game/ Experience Rating:  ☆☆

The Game: This was an odd one: Sparta Prague are unquestionably one of the bigger European names to turn up at Tallaght Stadium in recent years, but in my view Rovers kind of beat themselves. The first goal was scrappy as anything, and basically amounted to giving the ball away and then failing to clear it. The second was a bit more involved, but Sparta were by no means impressive (though obviously a much better side than Shamrock Rovers). Their away following was fairly weak, too.

Rovers themselves created a couple of decent chances, but nothing more than that, and had very little of the ball overall, struggling to play out from defence and create any space. Irish sides have struggled in Europe in recent years and this was never likely to be the game that changed that, but it could and perhaps should have been better than a 2-0 loss, simply because Sparta struggled so much to create. Still, Rovers are poor by their usual standards this year, so perhaps it’s not unexpected.

The ground:  This was my first time in the four-sided Tallaght Stadium with the new North Stand, and it really does give it the feel of a better ground, a more rounded, high-level spot. Nice to see in the League of Ireland, it’s always been a decent place to watch football. Having decided to go last minute, we didn’t get to check out the new stand, but felt lucky to squeeze in at all (the East Stand is definitely my least favourite location in the ground, but we got in a few minutes before sell out).

Atmosphere was only okay for this, but still a fun experience.

Extras: There were programmes, but I didn’t bother. Long queues for the refreshments throughout the first and second half surprised me. Maybe they need more food outlets; maybe people should focus more on the game!

Assorted asides: A continuation of my habit of going to any Irish side in Europe. Shamrock Rovers are out of this tie in my view, but at least they drop down the competitions, which means at least two more games, and only one win in those two required to make a group stage. Fingers crossed the draw is kind!

My totals for the year so far:

Games: 6. Home wins: 1 Draws: 3 Away wins: 2

Goals: 21. Home goals: 10. Away goals: 11. Goals per game: 3.5

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Aston Villa (v Liverpool, Villa Park)

Competition: English Premier League

Date: 13 May 2024

Result: Aston Villa 3 – 3 Liverpool

Tickets:  £42 adults, £14 kids (North Stand Lower restricted view – front row!)

Attendance: 42,600

Game/ Experience Rating:  ☆☆☆☆☆

The Game: My first time bringing the little lad to Villa, and he absolutely loved it. With Villa playing for a Champions League place, but clearly dead on their feet over the last few weeks, a Martinez error in goal in the very first minute gifting Liverpool the lead looked at ominous sign. Villa grew into the game, though, especially after Watkins beat his man and squared for Tielemans to equalise. The game had an air of chaos about it, with Moussa Diaby extremely effective on the break but unable to finish from at least three really good chances throughout the game.

Instead, Liverpool pulled away, and I must admit that at 3-1 just after half time, I turned to the little lad and said “that’s it” – it just didn’t feel realistic to come back given the state of the team recently. It turns out it wasn’t it at all. Villa were the better side for much of the game, and when Jhon Duran scored a long range beauty the place erupted, before an equaliser that may or may not have been intended made things 3-3, with both Villa’s late goals coming after the 85th minute.

Diaby could have won the game, drawing a top late save from Allisson, but the draw was enough to have Tottenham needing a win against league leaders Manchester City to catch Villa for that Champions League place. There was a sense of ‘nearly done’ in the vocal crowd reaction after the equaliser, and it proved right – the following day, Villa stepped out of Spurs’ reach to get into elite European competition for the first time in my lifetime. Incredible game.

The ground:  I loved showing the young lad around Villa Park, which was suitably adorned with a flag in every single seat to welcome the impressive team. We were in the very front row of the North Stand, the far side from the away fans, and my first time in the North Lower. It feels quite cramped and old school compared to much of the rest of the ground, but nobody sat down at any point from start to finish, so it had a terrific atmosphere.

We dropped in the shop for one last time – images of it being knocked down to buy a new one as Villa try to boost commercial revenue to aid the push towards the top-end of the Premier League appeared online only two days later. I’ve been going there since the mid 90s, so a strange feeling!

Extras: The ‘Up The Villa’ flags were a great momento, and I ended up bringing heaps of programmes home, mostly for Liverpool fans, but that’s Ireland! As the last home game, the speaches and crowd send off for the players was superb, too.

Assorted asides: The following day we rented a car and hit up Alton Towers Waterpark. Decent but a lot of effort for the reward all in.

My totals for the year so far:

Games: 5. Home wins: 1 Draws: 3 Away wins: 1

Goals: 19. Home goals: 10. Away goals: 9. Goals per game: 3.8

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Groundhopping: Leinster (v Northampton Saints, Croke Park)

Competition: Champion’s Cup Semi Final

Date: 4 May 2024

Result: Leinster 20 – 17 Northampton Saints

Tickets:  €26 (Hill 16 adult)

Attendance: 82,300

Game/ Experience Rating:  ☆☆☆☆

The Game: If you’re a regular reader of ‘Groundhopping’ (as if), you might know that it’s almost all about football, which makes this a bit of an aside, but I couldn’t resist the chance to see a high level rugby match from the iconic HIll 16 for less than €30. The game itself was actually not great – Leinster were utterly dominant for roughly the first hour, making for little in the way of contest, with James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park controlling the game. They lead by double digits for the bulk of the game.

Northampton woke up a bit in the second half, creating a tense atmosphere that felt a little bit unnecessary given the dominance Leinster had held throughout. Northampton got back within a kick and even held the ball – although in their own half – in the dying two minutes where a kick would have levelled up the game, but ended up giving it away. A good, close contest that didn’t seem like it would be a good, close contest for the majority of its lifespan.

The ground:  As a former Dublin football (GAA) season ticket holder, I’ve spent quite a lot of time in Croke Park, and it’s one hell of a place, just for the sheer scale of it. Hill 16, where I was stood, is an odd part of the ground on the face of it, an undeveloped terrace surrounded by massive stands that has some very substantial history connected to the formation of the State.

The atmosphere was decent throughout, and I was quite taken with the efforts of the Leinster mascot to pump it all up – unusually effective. At times, the aisles of the stand were crammed and the stewards had little interest, which felt uncomfortable and in some ways bordering on dangerous. It seemed to clear itself up in the second half. A phenomenal spot that’s rarely used for rugby or football, so you have to take the chance when it arises.

Extras: €8 for a medicore programme felt a bit much, but I guess it was a Champion’s Cup semi final. That aside, I didn’t really explore – the nature of Hill 16 is you have to hold on to your space or you end up shunted somewhere inconvenient (and honestly, watching rugby end on is not ideal in the first place).

Assorted asides: There is something genuinely quite funny about the cliche of Leinster fans and the north side of Dublin. I thought it was tongue in cheek, but quite a few looked genuinely quite uncomfortable, and I overheard one making quite a lot of noise about how he’d never be back unless Leinster play in Croke Park again. It’s just a stadium and a less affluent part of the city, lads.

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Groundhopping: St Patrick’s Athletic (v Waterford, Richmond Park)

Competition: League of Ireland Premier Division

Date: 19 April 2024

Result: St Patrick’s Athletic 1 – 1 Waterford

Tickets:  €18 adults, €5 kids

Attendance: 4,376

Game/ Experience Rating:  ☆☆☆

The Game: I must admit I saw less of the action at this game than I’d have liked to – the drawback of bringing a two year old who needs to be watched, and the need to keep her happy by giving her space to run around in the corner of the Camac Stand. From what I saw, it was of modest quality at best, with both sides scrappy in midfield and creating relatively few chances. Waterford led early on from a corner, with Pat’s equalising in the second half and then pushing for a winner that never really particularly looked like coming.

Both seem to lack a bit of patience and control, and I think they’ll be mid table at the end of the season in a League of Ireland that has a couple of quite poor teams this year (and a few other really decent looking ones).

The ground:  I’ve been to Richmond quite a few times and this is the first time I’ve seen it quite as packed as it was tonight, and my first time in several years since moving away from the area – the growth of the league of Ireland continues, and I believe this must have bene very close to a sell out, if not a total sell out, judging by how packed the stands were. So far as I can tell it’s close to impossible to get into the main (Inchicore side) stand this season due to season tickets.

There’s one main covered seated area that has space for home and away fans, another large uncovered seating area behind one goal and the rest is terraced standing. It’s all a bit old school but I’ve always liked that, nice to see so many packed in.

Extras: I liked the almost hidden food stall right at the far end of the Camac. Richmond seems to have decent facilities these days, but with the four kids in tow, I passed on the trip to the club shop or any search for a programme, and ended up buying small heaps of sweets.

Assorted asides: The kids were fascinated with the river running behind the terrace, in particular when a ball was blasted into it and they could watch it float down.

My totals for the year so far:

Games: 4. Home wins: 1 Draws: 2 Away wins: 1

Goals: 13. Home goals: 7. Away goals: 6. Goals per game: 3.25

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Groundhopping: Blackburn Rovers (v Sheffield Wednesday, Ewood Park)

Competition: EFL Championship

Date: Sunday, April 21, 2024

Result: Blackburn Rovers 1-3 Sheffield Wednesday

Tickets: Adults – £25-30, Seniors – £20-25, Age 18-23 – £15-20, Age 12-17 – £10-15, Under 12 – Free

Attendance: 21,718

Game/Experience Rating: ☆☆☆☆

The Game: With both sides embroiled in a battle to avoid relegation to League One, it was little
wonder that they both came out flying.

Josh Windass gave Wednesday an early lead, but Rovers levelled courtesy of a player who has been
the scourge of Championship defences this season.

Sammie Szmodics has been a standout performer for the Lancashire outfit and it was no surprise
when he fired home the equaliser. His efforts for Rovers recently resulted in a call-up for the Republic of Ireland squad and his performance highlighted why that was fully deserved.

Szmodics has become hugely popular with Irish sports bettors this season, delivering numerous
payouts for people who wager in the ‘anytime scorer’ market. However, punters who backed Rovers to win on the top Irish betting apps were left frustrated as Wednesday scored twice after the break to claim a valuable victory.

The result boosted the Yorkshire side’s chances of avoiding the drop and left Rovers looking
nervously over their shoulders.

The Ground: It is not too long ago that Rovers were hosting Premier League games at Ewood Park
and their stadium remains an excellent venue.

The atmosphere was helped in no small part by a 7,000-strong contingent from Sheffield who made
plenty of noise throughout the game. The playing surface was also in excellent condition despite the number of games that have been played on it this season.

Extras: Standard fare for a second-tier club. The prices were not too bad and the McDonald’s across
from the ground was an added bonus.

Assorted Asides: Rovers’ demise in recent years has been well-documented, with owners Venky’s
making a complete mess of running the club. It is sad to see how far things have fallen and conversations with their fans painted a sorry picture about the ineptitude they have had to endure.

Allowing under 12s in for free is a nice touch by the club, but they are unlikely to retain many of
them if Rovers’ fortunes do not improve on the pitch.

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