Football: The night Tel-Aviv was painted green

"TEL-AVIV" and "danger" are two words no Irish football fan will ever utter in the same sentence again.

Even the ever-excitable George Hamilton would have struggled to say 'Danger here' and mean it.

The locals welcomed thousands of Irish fans with open arms and made a nonsense of media reports that their city was a sinister and threatening place.

In fact, judging by the pre-match banter some Irish fans are ready to set up an Irish-Israeli travel agency as soon as they get home.

Brian Kerr said last week that fans were more likely to pick up a black eye in a night out in Dublin or Cork than in the Israeli capital and many of the Irish fans will also attest to the fact that you're probably more likely to pick up a lady as well.

It's no fluke that in recent years the Miss World competition has featured plenty of Israelis and it does seems that natural justice has been served with their women's beauty more than compensating for the not so salubrious surroundings.

The famous German architectural Bauhaus style was influential in the design of much of Tel-Aviv in the 30's and 40's but the buildings are showing their age.

A few Dublin wags on tour offered to do a 'Ballymun' for the locals provided they were paid in the currency of, how would you put it, 'love'.

Needless to say the offer wasn't taken up and there won't be a Tel-Aviv James Connolly renewal project underway, but the ever friendly ladies were flattered none the less.

The city was not the only place that needed a bit of structural botox as the Ramat Gan Stadium 20 minutes away from the team hotel in Tel-Aviv showed.

Think Santry Stadium with a few more seats and a sound system that any souped-up Honda Civic enthusiast would give his alloys for.

It didn't deter the locals however who packed the 'stadium' almost two hours before kick off.

With ears bleeding and head thumping from the Friday night Purim celebrations it was the last thing needed but the atmosphere was certainly memorable.

The friendly welcome that had been afforded the Irish players and fans was abandoned before kick-off as the players were loudly booed by the home fans as they did their pre-match walkabout on the pristine pitch.

Clinton Morrison was ready for them though - and plugged in his iPod as the crescendo grew. That'll show them Clint! There's no truth in the rumour than he was psyching himself up with the Wolfe Tones Greatest Hits.

The noise levels continued to surge as kick off drew nearer but the DJ's meagre CD collection left a lot to be desired with the Hebrew version of that Richmond Park favourite 'Oh when the Saints' seemingly stuck on repeat.

Blue shirts and flags were handed out to fans outside the Ramat Gan Stadium creating a Blue Sea for the Irish fans who never got to see the famous Red equivalent.

A momentary break from the intimidating jeers and incessant school disco music was given by the stadium announcer who ordered the Irish team off the pitch to allow the Tel-Aviv equivalent of the Artane Boys Band and cheerleaders on to the grass.

Robbie Keane was particularly intent on winding up the home fans (and the furious announcer) as he embarked on a dazzling repertoire of tricks and flicks.

When the real action started and the Israeli defence allowed Clinton to give us the early lead we marvelled again at the hospitality.

In fact the only thing that took the edge off the welcome was that last-minute equaliser.

But even if they robbed us of a couple of points, it's safe to say that many fans will be hoping for Israel to be in the same group as Ireland in the Euro 2008 qualifying draw.

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