‘It was a massive opportunity and we let it slip’ – frustration for Joey O’Brien after Shelbourne pay for costly errors

‘It was a massive opportunity and we let it slip’ – frustration for Joey O’Brien after Shelbourne pay for costly errors

Joey O'Brien: 'There was nobody near him. There was no need to concede the corner.' Photo: Sportsfile

As an ironic homage to Ireland’s history in this part of the world, a member of the Shelbourne travelling support sought out a retro orange jersey for the trip to Skopje, a shirt that will always be synonymous with the 1997 defeat at this venue.

In the end, Shelbourne suffered heartache that was closer in personality to the late meltdown two years later that cost Ireland a place at European Championships.