Inevitable Northern Ireland Victory Comment

What was that I was saying just hours ago? Oh yes, "into them!" Well boys and girls, into them we went...

Northern Ireland - 3, Poland - 2.

For those of you perhaps unfamiliar with sports, allow me to translate:

Northern Ireland defeat Poland. Poland are defeated by Northern Ireland. At the hands of Northern Ireland, Poland taste defeat.

In glorious Belfast sunshine, Nigel Worthington's Green and White Army showed great courage to see off the frequently uninspired and unsportsmanlike Poles. As I write, we are top of Group 3. It's as fantastic as it is unexpected. Yes, it's likely to change very quickly, but, right now, that doesn't matter. It's time to savor the moment. It's time to celebrate the commitment of Feeney, the class of Evans, and an unexpectedly attacking performance. Well done, lads. Well done.

Let's all do the bouncy.

One-Shot (28/03/09)

Belfast sunshine (no, that's not a typo) looks set to bathe tonight's Northern Ireland vs. Poland match at Windsor Park. Some of it, anyway. I'm not letting the weather fool me about our prospects. I feel more or less the same way now as I did in September '07. The same sense of overwhelming, Light Brigadeian futility hangs in the air. This is the part where I say "C'mon, the Ulstermen! Let's smoke some Pole!" Then, I rephrase that, for obvious reasons, and go with simply 'C'mon, the Ulstermen!"

N.B. Best wishes also go to to Scotland, England, Wales, and of course the Republic against Bulgaria.

EDIT - Mere moments after posting this, I got the following text from the Bro who is fortunate enough to have a ticket for the game:

"Poles wrecking the place app. Boys safely in the shrine. Bring them on!"

That's the spirit. Into them!