‘The supporters are amazing here’ – Heimir Hallgrimsson hails FAI Cup final atmosphere

However, he joked that the FAI ‘doesn’t have the money’ to pay UEFA fines for flares at matches.

The Ireland manager helplessly watched on last week as a fine first half display against Lee Carsley’s team gave way to a disastrous second 45 minutes.

After Liam Scales fouled Jude Bellingham in the penalty area, the Celtic defender was shown a second yellow card and Harry Kane scored the penalty. Two more goals followed in quick succession and England ran out 5-0 winners by the end.

Hallgrimsson was present at the Aviva Stadium two weeks ago to watch Drogheda beat Derry City to claim just the second FAI Cup victory in their history.

Kick-off was delayed by three minutes that day after Drogs fans in the North Stand fans threw flares on the pitch. After Andrew Quinn’s opening goal, there was another three minute wait as fire officers removed flares from the field of play.

More flares were thrown onto the pitch after Douglas James-Taylor’s penalty and play resumed after just shy of two minutes.

Speaking at the PFAI Awards on Saturday, Hallgrimsson joked that Ireland could have benefitted from such a delay to get their bearings against England.

“The supporters are also amazing here, in games,” he said on stage.

“I was thinking, reflecting on England, if we would of had the supporters of Drogheda in Wembley, when England scored they would have thrown the flares and give us maybe 10 minutes, just to (reset).

“Next time, we will definitely bring them!”

The comments got a big laugh in the room, with Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty among those present. He was nominated for Men’s Premier Division Manager of the Year, but lost out to Shelbourne boss Damien Duff.

“In that game, I was at the game, I loved the atmosphere,” he went on. “What happens is emotions take over when you concede or you score.

“You need to cool down, settle down, relax, take five minutes to have a briefing on the pitch and reset. I thought that was a clever thing. But we don’t have the money in the federation to pay the fines!”