These Lads Have Been Snapchatting Their Mad Journey From Perth To Lyon For The Ireland Game

On Sunday afternoon, Ireland play France in Lyon. For those who've stayed the course in France these last two weeks, or for those who are making the trip to Lyon from Ireland or further afield, it will have been a bold and expensive journey, with tickets scarce and airline ticket gouging at its most craven.

But as far we know, no one will have made as long a journey to the match than three lads - Stephen Flannery and Alan Lynam from Offaly and Shane Lynam from Cork - who in the ecstasy of the Italy win decided to fly to Europe from Perth without tickets for the match.

We've all talked a big game about flying around the world to support our country. Not many of us have walked the walk. Here's how it happened.

The lads were up until 3am Perth time Thursday watching the Italy match and headed into work two hours later. They're all employed by Kier Contracting, and at work, started flirting with the idea of attending the France game. Once their employers were sound enough to give them the time off, and their girlfriends gave a sign of approval, it was full steam ahead for Lyon.

Here's how Stephen Flannery explains.

The 3 of us were buzzing all morning after the game (usually it's dead silence til we get breakfast) we were humming and hawing about going (3 of us thinking the others weren't serious) but shit got real when we got onto a travel agent we know, just for a quote on everything! She got back to us about 5pm so we had a big decision to make cos the flight was at 11pm! We got the thumbs up off the boss, the girlfriends and the hurling club Sarsfields (we are missing a match Saturday!) and we booked the flights to Geneva! Told ourselves we'd sort out accommodation and trains and tickets as we go!

So we're in Geneva now having a pint, waiting on a train to Lyon! The mother just text asking 'what part of the world are you in now?'

The trip involved a flight from Perth to Doha, a flight from Doha to Geneva and finally a train from Geneva to Lyon. Did we mention the lads don't have game tickets? About the small subject, Flannery says: "We've come a long way and we are hoping and praying we get tickets to the match!"

If there was anyone out there who had a few tickets to spare for Sunday - and we realise tickets are like gold dust at this stage - please sort out these guys.

They've been documenting their journey to us via Snapchat.

The fear must have set in at airline check-in

They snapped us about the trip and we wished them godspeed

No going back now!

Luckily the flight to Doha contained all the essentials for long-distance travel

Some time Friday morning, they landed in the sweltering Middle East

A connecting flight. And then, the Alps emerged.

Anyone know anywhere good in Switzerland for a sausage roll for lunch?

Until a crisis - one of the lads has forgotten his passport!

Crisis averted! Passport found

Before Lyon, a well-deserved beverage at Geneva train station.

And finally, Lyon. A place to kip and sleep off the jet lag.

But first, a drink to celebrate making it to Lyon in one piece. 

Again, the lads do not have tickets for the match. If, for whatever reason, you can't use yours, these fellas would love the chance to go. Email [email protected] and we'll hook it up.

UPDATE: The lads have been sorted out with two tickets from their boss Morgan O'Connor and now only need one ticket.