Croke Park #Fail - skydiver misses stadium, lands on railway tracks

Hapless parachutist takes match ball on whistle-stop tour of Drumcondra.

There were red faces at Croke Park this afternoon prior to the 'Croke Park Classic' - the American football match taking place between Penn State and the University of Central Florida - after a skydiver who was to have dropped into the stadium with the match ball missed his mark, and landed on nearby railway lines.

Skydivers representing both teams were supposed to land on the pitch at GAA HQ as part of the pre-game buildup, and while the Penn lad nailed it (see below for video), the UFC chappie went for a bit of an unscheduled tour of Drumcondra, ending up on the tracks behind Hill 16.

Is it just us, or is there a faint cry of "oh sh*t oh sh*t oh sh*t…" in the below clip?

Eventually another ball was located and the game could proceed, despite fears to the contrary.

The UCF skydiver who missed the stadium apparently has the game ball. That was the only ball, so there will be no game today.

— Peter Berkes (@peterberkes) August 30, 2014

Never one to miss an opportunity, the Irish Rail Twitter account was quick off the mark.

Welcome to our unexpected visitor the #CrokeParkClassic parachutist who landed on the railway line behind Hill 16! Line clear now, no delays

— Iarnród Éireann (@IrishRail) August 30, 2014

Here's how it _should_ have been done.:

Meanwhile the thousands of US football fans thronging the stadium were enjoying the match, if a little befuddled by the half-time show.