Martina waits 22 years for special match up

She had waited 22 years for her partner to tackle the issue, so last night Dublin woman Martina Connolly used the Ireland and Czech Republic encounter — and the day that was in it — to win a very special and long overdue match.

When the players left the pitch at half time at the Aviva, Martina went in the other direction determined to pursue her goal.

Her boyfriend of 22 years and father of her two children, Ryan, 11, and Kelly, 20, thought he was at the game courtesy of tickets for pitchside seats secured by Martina’s brother from Dublin radio station 98FM.