From Manchester to Dublin & the Smokehouse to the pitch side. Our team had quite the adventure at the Aer Lingus College Football Classic...

There are some trips that involve a meeting room, a laptop & a coffee. Then there are the trips that involve a early start, a flight across the Irish Sea, plenty of Guinness & watching America's number one sport.

Our trip to Dublin for TCU vs North Carolina definitely fell into the second category.

5am starts & a pint of Guinness

The trip was put together by our fantastic partners at Touchdown Trips, who specialise in creating unforgettable American football experiences for fans, and they certainly delivered.

The adventure began bright and early at 5am at Manchester Airport, where the team came together, bleary-eyed but very excited for the day ahead.

And, naturally, we started as we meant to go on… with a crisp pint to cheers the day.

Before we knew it, we were boarding the flight to Dublin. The flight itself seemed to be over in a flash, and soon we were touching down in the Irish capital we greeted by some very Irish weather.

The rain certainly wasn't going to dampen our spirits, though. We headed into the city, checked into the hotel and got ready for what promised to be a pretty special weekend.

An NFL legend joins the trip

Things got even more exciting when we were joined by Sky Sports NFL presenter Neil Reynolds.

As one of the most recognisable faces in the UK American football community, having Neil along for the trip was a real highlight. His knowledge of the game & his ability to talk football with just about anyone made him the perfect person to have on hand ahead of kickoff.

We headed into Temple Bar, where the streets were already buzzing with fans, before stopping by J.R. Mahon's - home of the best hospitality in Dublin.

The atmosphere was something else. There was sea's of purple, as TCU fans descended on Dublin, alongside UNC supporters and American football fans who had travelled from both sides of the Atlantic.

We even got the chance to listen in as Neil was interviewed in the pub, sharing his thoughts and predictions ahead of the big game.

Dublin goes purple

Walking through Dublin, it felt like the city had temporarily become a little slice of Texas & North Carolina.

American football jerseys filled the streets, TCU's distinctive purple was impossible to miss and the buzz around the game was building by the hour.

There were American flags, college football merch, fans chanting and, of course, plenty of American accents mixed in with the Dublin atmosphere.

It was exactly the kind of crossover we love at Hickory's - bringin' a little bit of the Southern States to somewhere completely unexpected.

When in Dublin… find the BBQ

No Hickory's trip would be complete without checking out the local BBQ scene.

So, naturally, we made a pit stop at Smokin' Bones.

From loaded fries to full Smokehouse trays, the team had the perfect opportunity to see how Dublin does BBQ - and, more importantly, refuel before the main event.

As BBQ fans, we're always keen to try the local Smokehouse wherever we go, and Smokin' Bones definitely delivered.

Bellies full & game-day energy building, it was time to make our way to the Aviva Stadium.

TCU vs UNC: game time

Then came the moment we'd all been waiting for.

The TCU Horned Frogs took on the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Aviva Stadium as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.

And we were firmly in the TCU camp!

The game got off to a flying start, with both teams trading blows throughout an action-packed opening quarter. TCU struck first with a field goal before Jon Denman's two-yard rushing touchdown put the Frogs ahead 10-3.

UNC quickly responded, bringin' the game level at 10-10 by the end of the first quarter.

From there, though, the game became a defensive battle.

UNC edged ahead with a safety in the second quarter before adding a field goal in the third to make it 15-10. Despite TCU's best efforts, the Tar Heels' defence kept the Frogs scoreless for the final 49 minutes of the game.

There were still plenty of standout performances to enjoy. TCU running back Jeremy Payne put in a huge shift, finishing with 142 rushing yards from 25 carries, while quarterback Jaden Craig threw for 175 yards in his first game as a Horned Frog. On defence, Max Carroll was a standout for TCU, recording nine tackles and forcing two fumbles.

The final whistle brought the result North Carolina 15 - 10 TCU. What a game to experience in Dublin.

Post match roundup…

After the final whistle, it was time to head back into the city.

The team headed back to the hotel for a quick post-match reset... before, of course, finishing our Dublin adventure the right way. With a few more Guinness. Because when in Dublin, right?

From a 5am flight from Manchester, pints in Temple Bar, BBQ feastin', meeting an NFL legend & watching college football at the Aviva Stadium, it was a trip we'll certainly remember.

A huge thank you to Touchdown Trips for putting together such an incredible experience and giving the Hickory's team the chance to experience college football across the pond.

And while we might not have got the result we were cheering for, we got to experience everything that makes American football so special. The fans, the atmosphere, the food, the rivalries and, most importantly, bringing people together over the game we love.

Until next time, Dublin.