Wicklow quartet claim Euro bronze
GARY MESSETT, Ryan Nolan, Sam Carroll and Darragh Snell left for the European Championships as heroes and they return as medallists following some remarkable performances in the Netherlands.
The Ireland CP team stormed through their group, defeating Northern Ireland, Denmark, Germany and hosts Netherlands to book a semi-final clash with powerhouses Ukraine.
Both Messett and Nolan were on target against Denmark, Messett notched again against Germany before he kept his hot streak up with a stunner against Northern Ireland. Nolan got his second of the campaign against NI too.
Messett would draw a blank against the Netherlands but his all-action performance inspired the Boys in Green to a 1-0 success against the Dutch.
That meant that Ireland - ranked seventh in the world - would not lock horns with the world’s top ranked side - Ukraine - in the last four on Friday afternoon last.
Messett was the only Co. Wicklow man listed in the starting lineup as Ukraine took a vital lead early in the first half and added to it three times as Ireland went for broke in the latter stages.
Ireland were then drawn against the Netherlands again in the third/ fourth place play-off. Messett and Snell both started the tie. Ireland got their noses in front on 47 minutes but then cometh the hour, cometh the man as Messett sealed bronze medals for his side late on before Netherlands landed a consolation in the dying seconds.
Speaking after the game, Ireland Head Coach Paul Breen was proud of the third place finish.
“We are absolutely delighted. I’m lost for words. Overall I think we deserved it not just for the performance today but across the tournament as a whole,” Breen said.
“We have progressed from a 6th place finish at the World Championships to a third place at the European Championships. It is no more than the players deserve for the work they’ve put in.
“Hopefully this will help raise the profile of CP football and encourage more players to take up the game. The funding from the FAI, Paralympics Ireland and Sport Ireland has been so important and without that then none of this would have been possible. We have put so much into this from youth and development level with the great work being done by Aidan Brennan, Ricky Tracey and Mick Boyle.
“I’d also like to pay tribute to the backroom staff here – Rob Sweeney, Graham Byas, Oisin Jordan, Fred Wenham, Paul Cassin and Bobby Moore. Without their expertise and tireless input this would not have been achievable.”