Conor Cunningham Estonian dugout bench Estonia v Ireland

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Cork man Conor Cunningham managed to get on the Estonian dugout bench during Estonia v Ireland.
Very funny now, wonder will UEFA think Conor Cunningham being allowed to get on the Estonia dugout bench during a Euro qualifier so funny. Estonia v Ireland
Estonian Football Association or Republic of Ireland will probably get fined for this Irish chancers football prank.

Video of Conor Cunningham Estonia dugout bench Estonia v Ireland

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Real story of Conor Cunningham getting on the Estonia dugout bench during Estonia v Ireland is not a fake.
Reports from press
Conor Cunningham Irish fan reveals how he sat on Estonia bench
A stolen tracksuit and a bag of balls helped one ticketless Ireland fan to the best seat in the house for their Euro 2012 playoff win over Estonia - in the opposition dugout.
Corkman Conor Cunningham travelled to Tallinn's A. Le Coq Arena and managed to bypass security after sneaking in a stadium side entrance.
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In hindsight this photo does tend to suggest the Estonian coaching bench has a more keen than usual member of staff.
Conor Cunningham handing the ball to Estonian player.

After sitting next to Estonia manager Tarmo Ruutli for Ireland's 4-0 first victory last Friday, he was spotted by TV cameras on the pitch afterwards celebrating with the Ireland players.

"I just spotted an open door and I thought I will stick my head through there but it was just a closed-in room but I found an Estonian tracksuit and I just threw it on," he told the Mirror.

"I threw the bag of balls over my shoulder and just went for it. I didn't know what to do, to be honest, so I thought I'd better go into the Estonian dug-out."

"I didn't know what to do, to be honest, so I thought I'd better go into the Estonian dug-out. No one said anything to me and then I realised I was sitting beside their manager (Tarmo Ruutli).

"It was about 10 or 15 minutes into the match when a UEFA official got suspicious of me. He came over and, after talking to me, told me I had to move.

"Even after the match I just strolled out on to the pitch."

He was unable to travel to Dublin for Tuesday's return leg as Ireland qualified for Euro 2012 with a 5-1 aggregate win.
rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/1117/ireland_fan.html

Conor Cunningham Estonia dugout bench Ireland v Estonia
Ireland fan sets benchmark for bravado after watching match from Estonia dugout
By Sportsmail Reporter

Thousands of Ireland fans invaded Tallinn last week as their team booked their place at Euro 2012 but only one supporter watched the match from the Estonia dugout and then celebrated on the pitch with Robbie Keane.

Step forward Conor Cunningham.

Part-time fitness instructor Cunningham did not have a ticket for the first leg of the play-off and refused to pay the £500 Estonian touts were demanding.
Suits you sir: Ireland fan Conor Cunningham blagged his way into the stadium wearing an Estonia tracksuit and watched some of the game from the dugout

Suits you sir: Ireland fan Conor Cunningham blagged his way into the stadium wearing an Estonia tracksuit and watched some of the game from the dugout

He travelled to the stadium in hope more than anything else and saw an open door.

Cunningham said: 'It was a corridor and a dead end. But I did see a bag of footballs and, when I picked them up, spotted an Estonian tracksuit underneath them.'

The 27-year-old from Ballincollig, Co Cork put the tracksuit on over his jeans and Ireland top.

He added: 'I didn't know what to do, to be honest, so I thought I'd better go into the Estonian dugout.
Grandstand view: Cunningham was almost on the halfway line

Grandstand view: Cunningham was almost on the halfway line

'No one said anything to me and then I realised I was sitting beside their manager (Tarmo Ruutli).

'It was about 10 or 15 minutes into the match when a UEFA official got suspicious of me. He came over and, after talking to me, told me I had to move.'

Watch Conor celebrating on the pitch

He was moved to the stands for the rest of the game but after Ireland won 4-0 to ensure the second leg was a formality, Cunningham got carried away.

He said: 'When the match was over and Ireland had qualified, I said I'd chance my arm and I walked out on to the pitch.

'I celebrated with the players, shook hands with them all and even asked a few could I have their jerseys.

Watch Conor (still celebrating) during the post-match interviews

'They were all really nice - they apologised and said they'd already promised the jerseys to friends and family.

'But Keith Andrews said I could have his - though I didn't get to see him again after they went into the dressing room.'

Cunningham was eventually found out when an Estonian official questioned why someone in one of their tracksuits was celebrating with Keane and the rest of the Ireland players.

'She came over to me and started talking to me and I just said I had to bring the bag of footballs back,' he said.

'I still can't believe what happened, it's one of the most amazing experiences of my life.'
dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2062630/Ireland-fan-Conor-Cunningham-watches-game-Estonia-dugout.html#ixzz1dyDZ1yF3
Conor Cunningham Estonia dugout bench Ireland v Estonia

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