DUBLIN — Eight years ago Georgia Tech Institute sneaked away with a win in Dublincame from behind and still had 35 seconds to win Boston College in the Atlanta the team’s Irish debut.

On Saturday, the Yellow Jackets pulled away 2-0 across the pond after shocking No. 10 State of Florida with the same lead – 3 valuable points – in front of a sold-out stadium with around 50,000 spectators Aviva Stadium.

The Yellow Jackets looked like a team that undoubtedly deserved to be on the field for most of the game, with the defense ACC Champions, despite their underdog status.

While she was sharing her transformative intercultural experience in IrelandTech’s coaches made it clear that this was not a study abroad program.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but that’s what we like, that’s who we are, that’s what Georgia Tech is about – taking on the challenges, embracing the challenges, but going straight into the fight and throwing the first punch, the last punch and every single one in between,” Mr. Key said at Tech’s “Helluva Block Party” pep rally in Merrion Square Friday.

Tech led 21-14 after the first play of the fourth quarter, a touchdown run by Jamal Haynes This completed an 11-play drive that gave the Jackets the lead.

The Seminoles responded in kind with a 75-yard run of their own to take 8 minutes off the clock and tie the game with 6:22 left.

As it had done all night, Tech returned to the running game and picked up many yards to get within field goal range. But a bad snap on second down from the shotgun formation deep in Florida State territory sent quarterback Haynes King tried desperately to recover the fumble. Tech lost 10 yards on the play.

A clutch pass from King to Eric Singleton, Jr. restored Tech’s previous field position and prepared Aidin Birr for a 44-yard attempt with five seconds on the clock. Birr converted the kick, sending the Tech faithful into a frenzy and giving the legions of fans in garnet and gold a defeat that was all the more bitter because they had traveled a long way to witness it.

The logo of the home team in this matchup, Georgia Tech, stretched across both end zones and pyrotechnics flared with every point by the Yellow Jackets, but the stadium often echoed with the Tomahawks’ strike, which seemed to give Florida State the advantage from the start.

Aside from a touchdown drive late in the third quarter, the Seminole offense never really got going after its blistering start, while Tech got going at just the right time.

An early two-point conversion and a 59-yard field goal to tie the score by Florida State’s kicker Ryan Fitzgerald With one final score of the first half – his second 50-yard run to that point – he helped FSU stay in the game until the end.

More than 25,000 Americans are said to have traveled to Ireland for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, which was named after the same day Notre-Dame devastating marine 42-3 in 2023.

Georgia Tech appeared to be the favorite in certain circles of the Irish government, according to Minister Dara Calleary declared his support at a meeting with Tech President Angel Cabrera at Trinity College Thursday.

“I have never been to Florida in my life, so I am at Georgia Tech this weekend,” said Mr. Calleary, who visited Georgia Tech last September and spent time at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan also fell behind the home team away from home, thanks to an important intangible: Georgia Tech Punter David Shanahanthe from County Kerry.

““I’m not supposed to take sides, but you know what? How can I not support the team that has an Irishman?” Mr Geoghegan said at the rally.

Mayor of Atlanta and graduate of Georgia Tech Andre Dickens joined the chorus and spoke during an on-field interview segment at the start of Saturday’s game.

“We may be thousands of miles away from Georgiabut the spirit of tradition, culture and innovation between these two cities, these two nations, is visible here on this football field, so I’m excited right now.”

Editor’s note: Global Atlanta is on a reporting trip supported by Enterprise Ireland, a company that helps Irish companies expand into the global market.

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