Ireland and Georgia's Euro 2020 qualifier against Georgia was brought to standstill before half-time as fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch.
In the 33rd minute, stewards and players were forced to clear the pitch as fans let their feelings known to newly-appointed FAI Executive Vice President John Delaney.
But the three minute stoppage only served to rouse up Conor Hourihane, who then immediately rattled the net with a beautiful left-footed effort from a free.
The move is in protest at John Delaney who left his post as FAI chief executive after an extraordinary week of financial controversy.
But it wasn’t game, set and match as Delaney only moved sideways into a newly created ‘executive Vice President’ role.
His monster €360,000 salary drops to €120,000 per year but many fans cannot fathom how he’s still on the payroll.
Earlier yesterday, Ireland boss Mick McCarthy joked that he will leave his tennis racket behind tonight.
It comes after Ireland players Darran Randolph and Jeff Hendrick pleaded with fans to get behind the team on the pitch rather than focus on matters off it.
Goalkeeper Randolph said: “Come out and support the team. We need support to get off to a good start in the group. It would give us a platform, something to build on.
“It would be a lot easier to go and play if the Aviva is rocking, if there’s an unbelievable atmosphere.”
And Hendrick - who was Saturday’s match-winner in Gibraltar - said: “We all need to stick together.
The fans need to push us on in games. That’s what we need.”
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