The Irish Are CopaNYC Runners-Up

To get to the final, Ireland were involved in a classic semi-final  clash in the CopaNYC, the official name for this inaugural tournament

In a game where no quarter was asked for and none given, Ireland held their nerve and beat a brave Cypriot side on penalties.

The game was played before a huge contingent of Irish fans and, as one wag put it, with Hill 16 behind them it was hard to see the Irish losing shootout.

During  a very fast-paced ninty minutes in very hot conditions, both sides had a couple of good chances which might have put them in the final  but when the ninty minutes was up the score sheet was still blank so it was onto extra time; what a tense thirty minutes for both teams.

Straining every muscle and sucking for every ounze of breath, the Boys in Green did their jersey proud.

At times they were pinned back  but they held their composure and at the end of the 30 minutes a draw was a fair result.

Ireland were first to draw blood in the shootout, as Sean Miller ripped his first shot into the 'Auld Onion Bag' and Ireland were off and running. Then Keeper Alan O'Neill saved the first from Cyprus.

Pat Kelly put number two in the net and the pressure was lifted from the boys in green. Then  more heroics from  O'Neill  as he made another fantastic save.

Conor Hunter kept the Irish perfect before Cyprus, on their third attempt, finally beat O Neill and pulled one back.  Up stepped Alan O'Hara and with confidence 'Ginger' lashed it in the net to put the boys in green into the final.

Sunday night was a different story. Several of the Irish players had taken knocks in the semi-final, with Captain  Declan Kelly (who needed a half dozen stitches to close a gash over his eye) particularly hard-hit.  This compromized his play in the air.

The extra time the night before also took its toll on the Irish. Before they ever found their legs they found themselves four goals down to a very talented and spirited Albanian side.

Ireland pulled one back from a Conor Hunter penalty and came close on a couple of occasions but in the end Albania ran out worthy winners of CopaNYC.

It was a great journey for the Irish to get to the final in their very first try.   Manager Paul Doherty was full of praise for the squad and for all of their hard work.

He also thanked the many sponsors, all of whom helped with the team, and gave special thanks to all the supporters. Willie Dempsey described the lads as being "heroic." 

Captain Declan Kelly said, "it was a great honor to be captain of the Irish team and to play with such dedicated players."