Dion Fanning: How Ireland can exploit England’s true cultural heritage

The Boys in Green will hope to roll back the years at Wembley on Sunday evening.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE: A view of a fan’s drum ahead of the Finland game on Thursday night. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Lansdowne Road on Thursday could have been one of a thousand dark nights for Irish football. In many ways, it is always a November night where Irish football is concerned. It was just another game that would be quickly forgotten; another 1-1 draw to go with the many, many others. Instead Ireland’s result on Thursday night was different and the two men who made that possible offer hope for the future.

The idea that the future might be brighter as quickly as Sunday evening at Wembley is unlikely. Ireland versus Finland was a tussle between two ordinary teams who would find as many ways to lose as to win. Ireland came out on the right side of it which made a change thanks to Evan Ferguson’s goal and the goalkeeping of Caoimhin Kelleher.