If there is one thing guaranteed to antagonise a section of Irish football supporters, it is what they perceive as the heroic interpretation of an Irish rugby defeat. After the response to Ireland’s 5-0 loss at Wembley last Sunday night, they may need to check themselves the next time this outrage rises up. Ireland’s first-half performance was described as ‘brave’ and ‘impressive’. They could take “belief” from their first 45 minutes, one pundit said while another praised Hallgrimsson for a first-half tactical approach that “worked beautifully”. There was some excited talk of promise. Ireland were reaching for the positives from…

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