TODAY IS THE day we’ve all been waiting for ever since Troy Parrott scored that 96th minute winner in Budapest.

And while thousands of Ireland fans have made the exodus to Prague ahead of tonight’s must-win World Cup playoff – closer to home, pubs around the country are preparing for giant crowds of supporters to come through their doors. 

Ahead of what could be one of the greatest evenings yet for Irish soccer, The Journal spoke to staff in some of the busiest pubs in Dublin city centre about what they’re expecting as the Boys in Green prepare to face Czechia.

John O’Toole – manager of from Doheny & Nesbitt’s and Devitt’s – told us his barstaff expect “a full house” for the game.

“I think football just gets the whole nation going, it captures everybody.”

“We haven’t had a big, huge game like this in years.”

Michael O’Hanohoe, speaking to us from behind the bar of the Hairy Lemon on Stephen Street, agreed.

“There’s nothing like good football energy, it’s great for pubs, it’s great for the country, there are great memories to be made.

“That’s what these big games do, you get to relive them, particularly if you’re in a pub, and you’re with friends, the reliving of Irish sporting moments is one of those things you really remember – where you were, what you were doing,” the bar manager said. 

Many have been eagerly anticipating this match since Troy Parrott's famous hat trick in Hungary Alamy Alamy

Both men said that bar staff also feed off the atmosphere on big nights like this. 

“Atmosphere wise, you get very much into it behind the bar,” said O’Toole. 

O’Hanahoe agreed:

“The staff do get behind it. And yeah, I catch myself having a few glances at the television.”

We also spoke to staff at Dublin music venue the Button Factory, which is hosting live sport for the first time on a “15 square metre LED wall”.

One of their events organisers, Finn McCarthy, said they are excited to provide a new way for people to watch live sport in the city along with “a new atmosphere”. 

Bleeding Horse manager Barbara expects the space to be packed with people this evening Kate Henshaw / The Journal Kate Henshaw / The Journal / The Journal

Further south, Barbara, the manager at The Bleeding Horse on Camden Street said staff are busy preparing for the place to be “absolutely packed” from this afternoon. 

She said it’s a totally “different kind of day” for both staff and customers and she expects the atmosphere to be “amazing”. 

Any advice for people heading out for the game?

The resounding theme in the advice for prospective pub-goers this evening is to get there as early as possible. All the pubs we spoke to said they anticipate one of the busiest days of the year, busier even than other big events like the Six Nations. 

As for the team’s chances, everyone we spoke to said they have faith that Ireland can do it this evening. O’Toole didn’t hesitate when asked: “100% we can do it.”

He predicted a 2-1 scoreline. 

“Yes we will win”, Barbara at the Bleeding Horse agreed – also forecasting a final score of 2-1.

Rowing in behind the 2-1 scoreline in favour of the boys in green, O’Hanahoe added – with an unnerving optimism: 

“This is going to be a moment.”

Ireland v Czechia is live on RTÉ2 this evening, kick off is at 7:45pm.