The FAI will have to drop prices further if it wants to fill the stands

THE crowd in the South Stand at the Aviva Stadium in Lansdowne Road last Saturday evening, with their cheering and singing, provided a noisy and lively atmosphere that made up for many of the empty seats at the European Championship qualifier with Macedonia.

Good humoured, noisy in their support, many even took off their shoes at one stage and started twirling them around their heads. It might have been a good time for a politician from the last government to walk past — Bertie Ahern was probably in the president’s box availing of his free life ticket from the Football Association of Ireland — because it would have provided the opportunity for a bit of Iraqi style shoe throwing, but alas that bit of extra entertainment was not provided.

The fans got the result from the match they wanted too and our chances of qualifying for the 2012 European Championships remain alive because of the two goals to one victory: fancy a trip to Poland and Ukraine for the finals? And games against the likes of Slovakia in September may get a larger crowd, if the fans think the game will bring us closer to qualifying.