They did it.
God knows how they did it but they did it. So drink it in.
Ireland have beaten the All Blacks in Chicago.
And this is how it happened.
It started with a penalty via the boot of Johnny Sexton.
https://twitter.com/daniellexfox/status/794994262857359362
The next score led many to believe that the floodgates were about to open up.
Well that was short lived, All Blacks try 5-3 #IREvNZL
— Ryan (@RufusBeard7) November 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/autosuggested/status/794995045405433860
3-5 better defence needed Ireland #IREvNZL
— Méabh Cody (@meabhc) November 5, 2016
But then Ireland touched down for a try of their very own and proved, at the very least, that they belonged in the game.
https://twitter.com/unlaoised/status/794997718255013889
Great stuff Ireland. What a start. 10-5 after 12 mins in #IREvNZL
— Professor Ursula Kilkelly (@Ukilkelly) November 5, 2016
Hon the boys, Try time!!! Sexton with a peach of a conversion 10-5 🇨🇮 #IREvNZL
— Shaun leneghan (@Langer003) November 5, 2016
Then, boom, a second Irish try reared its beautiful head.
Get the fucker with the fiddle out at half time again! 15-5 #IREvNZL
— Barra Ó Cearmada (@barros_maximus) November 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/olearysays/status/794999375651074048
Ireland 15-5 All Blacks. That's enough, blow the final whistle now!! #IREvNZL #IRLvNZ
— Will Downing (@WillDowningComm) November 5, 2016
Penalties were exchanged but then, all of a fucking sudden, Murray broke the New Zealand line and got it down and that’s the way the scoreboard stayed until the break.
https://twitter.com/mufc_gary/status/795005872120430592
Upset on the cards #IREvNZL the men in green on fire 🔥 25-8
— Richard Diplock (@dippydash11) November 5, 2016
TRY!! 25-8 to Ireland. What are we seeing??? #IREvNZL
— Jonny Barrett (@jonnydbarrett) November 5, 2016
25-8 at halftime fantastic 1st half performance from the lads, let's do the same in the 2nd and make history #IREvNZL
— Shane Monahan (@themainmanmono) November 5, 2016
#IREvNZL 40 mins to history? HT IRE 25-8 NZL
— Gavin Duffy (@GavinDuffy) November 5, 2016
After getting a much-needed breather, it was expected that New Zealand would come out all guns blazing but, in fact, it was none other than Simon Zebo who got the first score of the second half.
https://twitter.com/amielouluv/status/795014683141017601
Massive… Zebo Try!!! #Wow 30-8 Ireland #IREvNZL
— Shaun leneghan (@Langer003) November 5, 2016
You little dancer Zebo. Get in!! What a great try. I can't take this all in 💚 #IREvNZL
— Deniese Ní Fhlatharta (@deniese_o) November 5, 2016
YESSSSSS!!!! Fucking YESSSS Try by Zebo on 48min 30 v 8!!! Surely we win this now…surely #IREvNZL
— BMJF (@Bertfar) November 5, 2016
Then the tide turned but “tide” wasn’t the four-letter word of choice
Fuck Try New Zealand 😮 30-15 #IREvNZL
— Mark (@TheIrishRedman) November 5, 2016
NZ break back with a try of their own. That's why the are No 1. Game on! 30-15 #IREvNZL
— busabala (@lugave) November 5, 2016
Fuck #IREvNZL
— Conor Healy (@CHealy_10) November 5, 2016
Oh shit Ireland you can't fuck this up, surely #IREvNZL
— Jim Locke (@zedsdead23) November 5, 2016
Ah fuck….hold it together lads!!! #IREvNZL
— Justin Dowling (@bambi_JD) November 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/unlaoised/status/795016662785388544
https://twitter.com/ConorPacKelly/status/795019072165605377
https://twitter.com/aliefahey/status/795018317048201216
It became a one-score game.
https://twitter.com/FintanMusic/status/795020325926924288
33-29 10 mins to go. Can't watch! #IREvNZL
— Alan Ferguson (@alanfergs) November 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/jburns834/status/795020839645224960
Then Henshaw made the impossible very, very, very possible.
Unreal from Henshaw #IREvNZL
— Padraig Nolan (@PadraigNolans) November 5, 2016
Henshaw fucking legend 👍#IREvNZL
— Paul D (@PaulDunphy2) November 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/Rob7111/status/795022722019590144
Henshaw gets my first born #IREvNZL
— Thomas Walsh (@thisisnotmysand) November 5, 2016
Henshaw deserved that one #IREvNZL
— Clodagh (@ClodaghOox) November 5, 2016
Henshaw might just have made history #Ireland #Rugby #IREvNZL
— Gabby Logan (@GabbyLogan) November 5, 2016
80 minutes of absolute war left bodies battered, muscles aching and jerseys blood-caked but they had done it.
Ireland beat the All Blacks.
And nobody could quite believe it.
DARE TO DREAM #IREvNZL
— Rachel ⚡️ (@Rachie_h0ward_) November 5, 2016
One of the greatest moments in Irish sports, what a game..what a performance!! #IREvNZL
— Ciaràn Madden (@cmadd193) November 5, 2016
Stunning performance from Ireland. What a way to claim your first win over New Zealand. The All Blacks' 18-game winning run is over #IREvNZL
— Jonny Green (@JonnyGreenSport) November 5, 2016
Bawling!! That one is for Axel!#IREvNZL
— JJ (@jayhartigan) November 5, 2016
My nerves…sweet mother of God…Axel is defo in with the man upstairs #IREvNZL
— Shirley O'Neill (@curleynurse) November 5, 2016
Ireland, Ireland,
Together standing tall
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll answer Ireland's call#IREvNZL #Axel pic.twitter.com/edHaVeCRVn— David Blevins (@skydavidblevins) November 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/KatieAnnDuffy/status/795024279037476864
Cannot believe that just happened 😱 #IREvNZL
— James (@jamescarville10) November 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/mkatefitzs/status/795024167120863235
https://twitter.com/ThatBradyDude/status/795024156949680132
https://twitter.com/PepsTikiTaka/status/795024082731495424
Who are the winners of the much-coveted 2016 Wooly Awards? Find out in our GAA Hour Special
