Donal Lenihan: A happy and glorious evening at Lansdowne Road

VICTORIOUS: Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony at the end of the game. Pic: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
THE bigger the prize, the greater the anxiety levels but Ireland got there in the end. The scenes after the final whistle sounded at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday were, to borrow a line from the visitors' national anthem “happy and glorious”.
The outpouring of joy, giddiness and sense of pride that descended from the stands were matched in equal measure by the brave Irish gladiators who allowed the veil of professionalism to evaporate for a moment as our gallant heroes let their true emotions rise to the surface.