The Irish senior show jumping team recorded its best 2006 Samsung Super League result, with a third place in the Aga Khan Trophy at the Dublin Horse Show today.
Five clear jumping rounds from the Irish squad thrilled the capacity-crowd, with Shane Breen's double-clear the highlight of the performance.
Breen, who was drafted in at the last minute on World Cruise after Marion Hughes withdrew due to an injury to her charge Heritage Transmission, delivered two foot-perfect rounds.
Team-mates Catain Shane Carey, Cameron Hanley and Cian O'Connor also contributed clear jumping rounds, leaving Ireland on a total score of six penalties accumulated from one fence down and two time faults.
Afterwards, team manager Robert Splaine said: 'I am very satisfied with how the team jumped today. There was terrific consistency, something we have been striving for since early in the season, and I am very hopeful that we can improve upon this at the final in Barcelona in September.
'It also gives me considerable confidence for the upcoming World Championships.'
The Irish performance could not quite equal that of Germany, who finished on just one fault to win the trophy. The Netherlands finished second.
Today's result means that Ireland are still at the bottom of the
Samsung Super League - but just 2.125 points adrift of seventh-placed Sweden.
The Barcelona Super League final in September will carry double points for places, so Ireland still have cause for optimism.
Earlier today, Paul O'Shea was best of the Irish with an equal
seventh in the Irish Field Six-Bar competition with The Patriot.
