For those who missed the game, the best and most modern way to watch it back is through the medium of contemporaneous tweets.
So, to those people, and to those who want to look back at the tweets of the game for other, less urgent, reasons, here is the story of the Serbia-Ireland match in tweets.
Early doors, there was optimism.
Empty eastern European stadium, pissings of rain, George on a dodgy landline. All the makings of a great international night. #COYBIG
— Michael McCarthy (@McCarthyMick) September 5, 2016
On 4 minutes, all was sweetness and light. The Serbs were remarkably lax and shaky at the back and after a free kick was half-cleared, the ball ricocheted in Jeff Hendrick's direction. He swung a leg and the ball was in the net.
Get in Jeff Hendrick a big first goal for #Ireland #SerIre https://t.co/fL4Q6bVWHC
— Mike McGuire (@McGuire_Mike) September 5, 2016
Walked past a pub after the gym and saw Hendrick's goal. Great start! #COYBIG
— Oisin (@oisinmurphy96) September 5, 2016
Done Jeff Hendrick first goal Ireland to win 1-0, let's hold it out lads ?
— Eric Hyland (@EricHyland_97) September 5, 2016
The twitter account 'FootballontheTV' have very charitable put up some fuzzy Sky Sports footage of the goal.
SERBIA VS IRELAND 0 - 1 || JEFF HENDRICK GOAL https://t.co/pGbGjqT3qa
— FootballontheTV (@Footballonthetv) September 5, 2016
Though there was some uncertainty over whether the goal would be awarded to Hendrick.
Hendrick's first goal for Ireland may not be given to him! #JusticeForJeff
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) September 5, 2016
A hunch. The home broadcasters were evidently embarrassed by the paltriness of the crowd that they presumably moved the camera up a few seats so that the opposing stand wouldn't be visible.
The high camera angle was a source of in-game patter. It eventually led to Balls.ie laying down a PES challenge to Andy Lee.
The camera is so far away it looks like they're illegally filming it from a block of flats beside the stadium.
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) September 5, 2016
@ballsdotie I'm loving the high camera angle, it's like playing PES circa 2001.
— Andy Lee (@AndyLeeBoxing) September 5, 2016
I feel as if I'm watching this match from the top of the upper hogan. #RTEsoccer
— Paul Brennan (@BoomBoomBrennan) September 5, 2016
Despite the early goal, Ireland proceeded to allow Serbia a hail of chances and shots on goal. Ireland had their own occasional chances but Ronnie Whelan wouldn't hear tell of it. As far as he was concerned the Serbians were all over it and Ireland were, as usual, playing tripe in an away qualifier.
Ronnie Whelan is so bloody negative. #RTEsoccer
— Ian Jennings (@ian_jen) September 5, 2016
Never want commentators to be cheerleaders but....Ronnie Whelan (and George) are non stop morning all night. #SerIre
— James Mahon (@jamahon) September 5, 2016
At times Ronnie Whelan on commentary can be annoying but he's speaking sense right now.
— Frɑncıs Creɑvɘn (@FCr_91) September 5, 2016
At one stag Ronnie, in his excitement praised Jeff Kenna following some good play by Jeff Hendrick.
Surprise recall for Jeff Kenna, from Ronnie Whelan.
— dangerhere.com (@dangerhere) September 5, 2016
Jeff Kenna's having a blinder here. #RonnieWhelan
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) September 5, 2016
At half-time, Ireland led 1-0 but were blessed they hadn't conceded. There was a feeling of queasiness about the place.
The world was agog at Dunphy's latest John Kerry-like flip flop. What they forget is that Eamo has long believed that foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. Indeed, he said so much in a banter-tastic interview with Miriam O'Callaghan and the lads a few years ago. Foolish inconsistency is the mark of genius. Anyway, the Dunph's latest about turn concerns Robbie Brady and his new found lack of faith in him as a midfielder.
Dunphy there, long an advocate of playing Brady in midfield, stating he's not convinced that he can play in midfield. Never change. #COYBIG
— Alan O'Brien (@alanob2112) September 5, 2016
@MarkFarrelly131 that's what you get for listening to Dunphy. He was calling for him to move into midfield at euros
— Dodge (@seidodge) September 5, 2016
Was wondering when the Wes Hoolahan argument would begin and Eamonn Dunphy never lets you down. #SerIre #COYBIG
— Emmett Keane (@EmmettKeane) September 5, 2016
63 mins: The second half carried on in the same vein. Ireland played like a team determined to get a kick in the teeth. It duly arrived after an hour with Serbia's Kostic.
This is a desperately poor Ireland performance so far
— Richie Sadlier (@RichieSadlier) September 5, 2016
We still react to 1-0 leads as if scoring a second is against the law, it's beyond all the sports shrinks in the world by this stage #COYBIG
— Thought Crimes (@CraigFitzsimon1) September 5, 2016
GOOOOOOOL KOSTIC!!!!!!
— Serbian Football (@SerbianFooty) September 5, 2016
Oh no...The dreaded equaliser. Serbia 1 - 1 Ireland. #COYBIG #WorldCupQualifiers #Serbia
— Ellen McCarthy (@EMcCarthyWriter) September 5, 2016
Deserved equaliser for Serbia. We are rubbish #SerIre
— Cllr. Enda Fanning (@EFFanning) September 5, 2016
70 mins: Shortly afterwards, with Ireland now a panicky wreck, Serbia won a penalty after Jon Walters ran into the back of Kostic, who fell down expertly. He earned it, etc.
No penalty but Walters has to be smarter. Long getting no service but he needs to offer more and run the channels. Randolph not commanding.
— WJB (@philbur16) September 5, 2016
I cannot believe the ref has just given that penalty against Walters. That's an absolutely farcical decision. #SerIre
— Rob Plant (@showmebadgers) September 5, 2016
I think that's the softest penalty I've ever seen in Serbia ROI
— Sarah (@sarahmufc93) September 5, 2016
Serbia penalty. BALLS. That's a dive. That's a bloody dive.
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) September 5, 2016
There was unhappiness all around now. And there was absolute consternation and bemusement when Daryl Murphy came on for Jeff Hendrick.
Strange subs. Now lets hope Daryl Murphy proves us wrong and saves it....
— Gerard (@GerardGrimes11) September 5, 2016
Why Daryl Murphy??? He's never scored for Ireland
— Staffy (@stafford_cian) September 5, 2016
2-1 down and they bring on Daryl Murphy ??? better off putting John o shea up front #srbvirl #COYBIG #ireland
— David Field (@field1985) September 5, 2016
This is as bad as I've seen Ireland play in years. How is Whelan still on? Why take Hendrick off? Sorry but Daryl Murphy is not good enough.
— Eoin O'Reilly (@E_0_R) September 5, 2016
The Anti-Prolific Daryl Murphy comes on for us. #SerIre #Coybig
— Robbie Sargent (@Sarge1972) September 5, 2016
Daryl Murphy, for fuck sake.
— Dan Bridge (@BridgeDan) September 5, 2016
Imagine taking Jeff Hendrick off for Daryl Murphy
— Rib (@Robogorman9) September 5, 2016
81 mins: Naturally, we know what happened next.
Yeeeessssssss??????. Some time for first Ireland goal Daryl Murphy. Great spell of play by Ireland last ten minutes. Let's win this #COYBIG
— Caoimhín Reilly (@CaoimhinReilly) September 5, 2016
81: GET IN!!! Daryl Murphy has his first international goal!
— FAIreland (@FAIreland) September 5, 2016
RT SkySportsStatto: Daryl Murphy scores his 1st international goal in 24th cap. Has scored 73 club goals since his… pic.twitter.com/Fk53pBVtrT
— Global Sporty (@LetsG0Global) September 5, 2016
Daryl Murphy's first goal for Ireland helps them earn a point in Serbia tonight ☘☑️ #NUFC pic.twitter.com/rexLQq9Hpm
— Total:NUFC (@total_nufc) September 5, 2016
Daryl Murphy scoring a goal for #Ireland must be one of the signs of the Apocalypse surely??#COYBIG
— P@L (@AIMWoundedKnee) September 5, 2016
23 games later and daryl Murphy gets his first international goal... Cracking header! #Ireland #WCQ
— Conor White⚽️ (@conorw99) September 5, 2016
Full-time: Ireland could have managed a winner but then the Serbians probably had the best chance in the remainder of the game.
A 2-2 draw is not a sensational result but in the circumstances could have been worse. Performance leaves sour taste.
John O'Sullivan has one ingenious recommendation.
Master plan
Hire Keith Barry, hypnotise the lads into believing we're always 1-0 down. Create an artificial sense of urgency, win World Cup— John O'Sullivan (@johngosullivan) September 5, 2016
