'Santa has already been asked for a few Troy Parrott jerseys for Christmas'

IRELAND fan Barry Arthurs was part of a group of parents who took young players from Swords Manor FC to the Portugal game in Dublin last week

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SWORDS Manor arranged a double-decker bus into Lansdowne Road with young players ranging from Under-8s to Under-15s making the trip. Plenty of noise!

The seats were near the Portuguese end. We chatted to some of their fans on the way in and understandably they were full of confidence.

The kids had been coming to Ireland matches over the last few years without much to cheer about.

Sometimes the excitement can die very quick with the kids and a cold November night is not always an easy sell. But they were hopeful and many wanted to see Cristiano Ronaldo too.