Since the news of Derry City captain Ryan McBride’s untimely passing last week, it’s fair to say that Ireland’s football community is still in mourning and will be for a while.
All over the country, fans and players have been paying their own respects to the Candystripes’ warrior.
At Bray, they dedicated their programme to the Derry legend.
The Cork fans’ banner was just brilliant.
The red and white was out at the Ireland under-21 game v Kosovo.
The entire Aviva stadium came to their feet in the fifth minute on Friday.
Well, fans supporting the Northern Ireland team at Windsor Park on Sunday evening had the same chance to pay their respects to a talented footballer and a lovely guy and they did it remarkably.
The crowd respectfully observed a minute of applause for McBride, a fitting tribute to a man who gave his all to the game.
Minute's applause for @derrycityfc's Ryan McBride, prior to @NorthernIreland's World Cup Qualifier vs Norway at Windsor Park #GAWA #NISport pic.twitter.com/S0ysFdNzlP
— Kevin McLaughlin (@kevymac77) March 26, 2017
Northern Ireland went on to sweep Norway aside with a comfortable 2-0 win. They just don’t know any other way these days.
But as good as the result was for Michael O’Neill and his men, the tribute to Ryan McBride was the finest moment of the night. A real touch of class and another indicator that the football family is right together.
