The Ireland men's Sevens team have won the Challenge Trophy at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco with a 24-14 final victory over Australia.
Captain Billy Dardis started the try-scoring and Jimmy O'Brien and replacements Terry Kennedy and Greg O'Shea joined him on the scoresheet as Ireland reeled off four tries to Australia's two at AT&T Park.
Stan McDowell's charges were one of the tournament's leading try scorers with 17 across the three days, including four each from talismanic skipper Dardis and speed merchant Jordan Conroy.
Getting past the Australians was all the more impressive given that Conroy had to departure early with a head injury, and Bryan Mollen was sidelined with an ankle injury for all bar the first round of matches.
The team finished in ninth place overall in a tournament that saw New Zealand crowned sevens World Cup winners for a third time, beat England 33-12.
They blasted out of the blocks to go ahead inside the opening minute when Sione Molia showed his pace to outstrip England's defence and claim a try that Kurt Baker converted.
England could not get out of their own half, and Molia punished them with a close-range touchdown, before Baker's conversion opened up a 14-point advantage.
England stirred through a well-worked try for Mike Ellery that skipper Tom Mitchell converted, yet New Zealand always remained a step ahead.
Ruaridh McConnochie gave England hope through a fine solo try early in the second-half after Joe Ravouvou crossed for New Zealand, but that was as close as they got.
New Zealand closed out the game in style as Akuila Rokolisoa added his team's fourth try, converted by Baker, then Trael Joass took his team past 30 points and Scott Curry converted.
South Africa, meanwhile, won the bronze medal match after defeating Fiji 24-19.
