An Pholainn

Some photos I took at last night's friendly between Ireland and Poland in Croke Park. There was an enormous Polish support at the game, outnumbering the bemused Irish fans by 2 or even 3 to 1. Red and white Polish banners hung all around the stadium and on the empty Hill 16, many with the names of the towns back home. I picked out some others: 'London', 'Edinburgh', 'Waterford'. A large Polish flag hung from the Cusack Stand on the halfway line: 'Dublin Brigade'. A collosal banner was held slightly longer over the token line of Gardai deployed to the midst of the lower tier clamour as it was passed from one side of the Cusack to the other. And as the remaining Irish supporters trudged to the exits after the final whistle, Polish pop tunes blared round the stadium (after a blast of 'Teenage Kicks' which we were told was recorded 30 years to the day previous) - triggering another huge roar from the visiting support who were in no rush to go anywhere. The Polish who travelled from near and far whipped the night sky over Croke Park into as intimidating an atmosphere that no away support are ever likely to match. Ask Stephen Hunt - his ears are probably still ringing from the deafening whistles as he stepped up to pull a late goal back for Ireland from the penalty spot.