Ireland get the job done by clinching overall victory and promotion in European Team Championships in Poland

Mission accomplished. Overall victory gained and automatic promotion was secured as Ireland soared away to a convincing win on the third day of the European Team Championships Division Three match in Silesia, Poland on Thursday.

After trailing Austria by three points at the end of play on Tuesday, the green vests moved into a lead of seven overnight.

That charge forward continued on Thursday with five individual victories and a superb win in the 4x400m mixed relay, recording the fastest time this year in Europe for the event.

What was different about this Ireland team to those of the past was that it was the field eventers who drove the march forward to a final points score of 494, followed in the distance by Austria (473.5) and Israel (434) who grabbed the other town promotion spots.

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Team Ireland did not have to wait long for its first maximum points of the day with David Cussen clearing 2.11m in the high jump for a clear victory. Eric Favors followed up with a rare Irish win in the shot put as the US-based thrower got out to 20.28m. Long jumper Ruby Millett made it a hat-trick of field successes taking full points in the long jump with a best effort of 6.33m.

Meanwhile, not to be outdone, the track exponents were weaving their own magic with Mark Smyth sprinting to an impressive 20.66 seconds clocking in the 200m for first place. Smyth defeated 100m winner Austria’s Marcus Fuchs. Smyth, who had helped Ireland to win the concluding men’s 4x100m the previous day, spoke afterwards about how he took up athletics aged 16 after taking part in what he called his 'first sport' – Gaelic football. 

“Football is very team- and community-oriented,” he said.

“But I would advise everyone to try athletics. There's something for everyone in it. You can always find an event you're good at. And Gaelic football wouldn't get me to the European Games.”

Sophie O’Sullivan emulated her mother, the legendary Sonia O’Sullivan, who in her heyday claimed three victory in European Team competitions, with a hard-fought win in the 1500m. The 4:27.96 clocking was pedestrian by the 21-year-old’s own high standards, but the maximum points were priceless, something not lost on her.

"It was a really tactical race," O’Sullivan said. "I just wanted to look at what I do on the last lap. I'm planning to attend the European U23 Championship this summer and I want to give my best."

Phil Healy fell just short of making it an Irish 200m double, filling the runner-up spot in 23.79 seconds. Ava O’Connor (3000m steeplechase) and Fearghal Curtin (5000m) both chipped in third place finishes on the track with Conor Cusack (javelin) and Finn Valley’s Sommer Lecky (high jump) replicating bronze positions in the field.

Grace Casey’s fifth in the women’s javelin completed the individual contributions for the day but the piece de resistance was saved to last by the Irish as the mixed relay squad of Nevin Appiah, Roisin Harrison, Ballymena & Antrim’s Callum Baird and Sharlene Mawdsley raced to victory in the European-leading 3:17.16.

But the day did not end there as soon afterwards the jubilant Irish were gathered on the top podium singing and jumping and waving their flags after three days of memorable competition.