Soccer fan spotted in Dublin jersey at World Cup is proud Limerick man

A FOOTBALL fan who went viral for wearing a Dublin GAA jersey to the World Cup final is a proud Limerick man. 

Mark Dalton managed to get a last minute ticket to the biggest match of the year and quickly went on the search for an Argentina jersey to bring with him.

After searching online, the Rathkeale native realised he wouldn't be able to get one in time so instead he resorted to a Dublin GAA goalkeeper jersey that he found while in the capital for a Christmas party. 

The jersey is reminiscent of the World Cup winner's shirt with blue and white stripes. 

The 44 year-old told Limerick Live that he had gotten a lot of grief from friends and family for wearing the shirt, and becoming a viral hit in the process. 

"I tried everywhere to get an Argentina jersey but I couldn't find one anywhere so I Googled 'Argentina-esque' jersey and that Dublin one came up but I couldn't get that one either. 

"I was in Dublin for a Christmas party and I was chatting to a taxi driver and he said they had them in O' Neills so I said 'take me there!'.

"I told him I would be behind the goals and to keep an eye out for me. I just told my family and friends where I would be so they could look for me on the TV, I forgot about eagle-eyed Ireland!

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"After the match I had loads of messages and I spent the night explaining to people why a staunch Limerick man was wearing a Dublin jersey".

To make Mark's trip even more memorable, the process safety engineer only got a ticket to the match on Sunday, the previous Wednesday. 

"A friend of mine from work is Argentinian and he was there. He messaged me to ask if I knew anyone there who needed a ticket and I didn't. 

"Then he started messing saying I should go over and started sending me flights. I have always wanted to go to a World Cup match so I had a chat with my partner and she said to go for it, so I did! It is ticked off the bucket list now".

Mark said the atmosphere at the game was "incredible" and he had goosebumps the whole way through Argentina's victory over France. 

"The Argentinians are nuts about soccer. They were bawling crying before the game and after, they were almost inconsolable. 

"I think that is why I look a bit shell-shocked in the photo that went viral. If they got me at any other time on camera I was hopping around the place and singing the songs.

"I was fully Argentinian for those two and a half hours".