Northern Ireland’s senior Powerchair team finished third in the Fédération Internationale de Powerchair Football Association (FIPFA) Home Nations Cup.
SportScotland National Training Centre Inverclyde was the venue for the international tournament in which Northern Ireland faced hosts Scotland, Republic of Ireland and cup holders England.
The Northern Ireland squad featured Sean McKinney, Ethan McCabe, Reuben Walls, Bartek Kuszkowski, Kyle Forster, Patrick Cumiskey and Scott Hilland (captain), and it was a first senior call-up for both Walls and Forster.
They faced England in the opening game of the tournament. England started strongly and opened the scoring early on.
Northern Ireland settled and grew into the game. Strong work off the ball and blocks from Hilland and McCabe limited the English attack, while Walls was unlucky not to equalise, clipping the outside of the post from distance.
It looked to be heading for 1-0 at the break but England converted from a corner with the last action of the half to double their advantage.
Northern Ireland pulled a goal back when McCabe fed Walls who fizzed the ball across the box at speed and Kuszkowsi finished at the back post.
They pushed for an equaliser, however England scored two more goals to make it 4-1.
Northern Ireland started strongly in game two, against Scotland, pushing the hosts back and creating good opportunities.
They broke the deadlock through Kuszkowski, who powered the ball past the keeper after getting on the end of a fine cross from Walls. McCabe then fired a free-kick across the box for Walls to net his first senior international goal.
Northern Ireland controlled the second half well, although Hilland had to make a couple of smart saves from Scotland counter attacks.
In the closing stages McCabe played in Walls and he took the ball round the oncoming goalkeeper to score, making it 3-0 to Northern Ireland.
In the third game, against the Republic, Northern Ireland started brightly, however the Republic were gifted the opener after their left winger pounced on a poor goal-kick from Hilland and slotted the ball into the net. And the Republic added two more before the interval.
After the break Walls pulled a goal back and Northern Ireland played with a good tempo. The Republic keeper made a handful of good saves and the Republic held on to book a place in the final against England.
In the third/fourth play-off game Northern Ireland opened the scoring against Scotland after a minute. McCabe, Cumiskey and Walls worked the ball around the Scotland box before Walls, who would later be named player of the tournament, applied the finish.
McKinney had to be alert to repel a couple of Scottish attacks before McCabe opened his senior account after a well worked one-two with Walls. It was 3-0 just before half-time when Cumiskey made sure an initial long range effort from McCabe got over the line.
Forster came on after the interval and grabbed his first senior goal, and Kuszkowski then completed a 5-0 victory.
England retained the Home Nations title with a comfortable 3-0 win over the Republic.
Northern Ireland coach Michael Hilland said it had been a “positive” tournament ahead of the EPFA Nations Cup in September.
“Credit to all the players who played some good football at times and showed a real positive attitude throughout,” he added.
