‘How someone wasn’t killed that night, I don’t know’

Alan Kelly has one sincere wish for Ireland’s game against England at Wembley tomorrow night.

“I’m hoping that, on this occasion, the anthems are respected, and everybody thinks, well, ‘Come on, it’s a game of football’. Let’s start off on the right foot. Now, whether that happens, I don’t know. I’m hoping and praying that it does.”

More than most, Ireland’s goalkeeping coach has reason to want the headlines to be good ones this time around since he was the man who was between the sticks on the last occasion the two countries met — the notorious 1995 friendly at Lansdowne Road which had to be abandoned amid scenes of terrifying violence as visiting fans went on the rampage and attempted the premature demolition of the old ground.