But their attempt, in the centre of Magherafelt's roundabout, has not been wasted as it has been captured on CCTV – claims DUP MLA Ian McCrea.
CCTV cameras dotted around the centre of the town – and just two feet from where the incident took place – will have captured the incident.
"There is even a CCTV camera on another flagpole adjacent to the one they tried to vandalise," said Mr McCrea.
He said those who tried unsuccessfully to remove the flag over the weekend should now be apprehended and charged.
"The most amazing thing about the whole thing is that those responsible must have left in a hurry because they left their
ladder behind," he said.
"It seems the ladder was too short to do the job. They were
trying to cut the flag off the pole.
"To get to the flag those responsible had to tramp through the flowerbed in the middle of the roundabout."
Mr McCrea blames "republicans" for the incident and says it is the latest of a number of
sectarian incidents in the town.
He said one of the latest incidents – which happened at the time of the republican bonfire to commemorate internment earlier this month – was a four- hour stand-off between the unionist and nationalist groups in the town.
"I totally condemn this attempt to remove our country's football flag as it is neither sectarian nor offensive to anyone," he said.
"I call on the PSNI to review all footage from the CCTV cameras and to ensure that those responsible are brought before the courts."
Mr McCrea said the Northern Ireland flag is something to be proud of, "especially at a time when our national team is
playing so well".
"I am a proud Northern Ireland supporter and wish the team well on Wednesday night," he said.