Ireland 7-a-side team qualify for next summer’s Paralympics in Rio

A great achievement for the Irish team.

The Ireland seven-a-side competing at the Cerebral Palsy Football World Championships, in England's St. George’s Park, today secured their place at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, thanks to a 1-0 victory over Argentina. The team will tomorrow compete in a play-off for fifth spot, against either England or the USA, but Paralympic qualification has been secured. Captain Luke Evans scored the only goal of today's game. "We had to dig so deep and showed great character to do it," Evans said about today's win. "It really hurt missing out on the London 2012 Games so to guarantee our place at Rio 2016 with that win is massive, it means so much to us and has been a long time coming. We’re keen to try and push on for fifth tomorrow." https://twitter.com/ParalympicsIRE/status/613811107048890368 Ireland manager Gerard Glynn echoed his captain's statements after the game. "We’re just delighted with the result," Glynn said. "The lads didn’t actually play that well but worked so hard to dig out the result. They did exactly what they had to do to win the game." "They have worked so hard over the last number of years and months to secure Paralympic Games qualification, they deserve it, we’re so proud of them." At least one Irish team will be playing at a major tournament next summer, congratulations lads. H/T Paralympics Ireland.