Limerick’s Aaron Tier’s goal helps Ireland earn IFCPF European Championship bronze

The Ireland Cerebral Palsy side claimed a bronze medal at the IFCPF European Championships following a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands on Sunday.

Limerick man Aaron Tier hit the back of the net to give Ireland the lead 47th minute before captain Gary Messett claimed the winning goal.

Bronze medal at a European championship , proud is a massive understatement , can’t take the smile off my face 🇮🇪💚 @aztier pic.twitter.com/60F7ELA8bK

— Dillon Sheridan (@DillonShero1) August 5, 2018

Speaking to the FAI’s official website following the game, Ireland Head Coach Paul Breen was notably proud of the achievement.

“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.

Ireland: Mark Barry (GK), Luke Evans, Aaron Tier, Oisin Merritt, Gary Messett ©, Dillon Sheridan, Darragh Snell
Substitutes: Darragh Byrne, James Naughton, Ryan Nolan, Peter Cotter, Sam Carroll, Darragh Ruane