Ireland secured a place in the quarter-finals of the 2011 European Deaf Football Championships courtesy of an entertaining 3-2 victory over host nation Denmark on Saturday night.
Ireland demonstrated tremendous character in the face of adversity, twice coming from behind and playing the last quarter with 10 men.
Backed by a vocal large home crowd, Denmark began on the front foot.
An early 25-yard shot flashed wide of the Ireland goal, before the Danish team were awarded a penalty in the ninth minute.
Despite Irish keeper Mike Walsh's superb save from the spot kick, the rebound was hammered home to put Denmark in the ascendency.
Ireland responded positively and created chances of their own, forcing a deserved equaliser in the 22nd minute.
A dream training ground set-piece routine was perfectly executed, Joe Watson and Andrew Wynne creating the opportunity for Eamon Byrne to steer a cracking drive low into the bottom corner from 20 yards to level at 1-1.
The match continued with end to end action at breathtaking speed.
Walsh saved well after 28 minutes before Wynne shot narrowly wide from a clever Brian Babb cross.
It was the hosts who regained the lead in the 36th minute.
A cross from the right flank was finished to the net from close range to make the score 2-1.
Once again the Irish response was immediate and decisive, drawing level within two minutes.
Babb powered through the Denmark defence and his perfectly-weighted pass sent Mark Sinclair clear, the striker confidently dispatching the ball past the advancing keeper for 2-2.
The interval allowed the crowd to get their breath back but the second half was every bit as exciting.
Babb headed over from a corner in the 47th minute and soon after Byrne's 25-yard piledriver was tipped over by the Danish keeper' at full stretch as Ireland started the second half well.
Denmark hit the woodwork in the 57th minute and Sinclair almost scored at the other end from Babb's cross on 59 minutes.
Ireland were then reduced to 10 men with almost 20 minutes remaining - O' Donnell receiving a second yellow, but this misfortune only seemed to inspire Ireland to greater heights.
Ireland the hit the woodwork twice inside four minutes.
First Babb's stunning left-foot shot from 30 yards rattled the post, Sinclair's shot from 12 yards suffering a similar fate in the 83rd minute.
The match-defining moment on 87 minutes was a goal of the highest quality.
Sinclair won a free-kick 25 yards out and Wynne from a tight angle curled a fantastic shot into the far top corner to put Ireland 3-2 ahead and spark wild celebrations from the Irish contingent.
