It was a particularly humbling experience for the band’s Mullingar member Niall Horan who donned an Ireland rugby shirt towards the end of the gig.
We suspect the jersey in question was the one gifted to him by Brian O’Driscoll who earlier in the day joined the 20-year-old for a round of golf in the K Club.
“Ireland, thank you so much for tonight!” he tweeted immediately afterwards. “That was the best experience of my life. Loved every second of it. Love you!”
Niall’s thoughts this morning were with his beloved Derby County.
“Huge good luck to Derby today in the Play-Off Final. Gutted I can’t be there. My father is going though…”
Needless to say, Hot Press was in the thick of the Croker action with a bumper gallery of photos to be perused at [link]www.hotpress.com/photos/photo_st.php?id=11553754[/link] and a full review in our next issue.