The magic carpet ride is well and truly over, as Ireland crashed out of the Rugby World Cup at the Quarter Final stage yet again last night.
Ireland were defeated 28-24 by an inspired New Zealand team, as the All Blacks capitalised on several costly Irish errors throughout the game.
The match also marked Johnny Sexton’s final game of his legendary career, with dreams of going out on top shattered by “the Quarter Final curse” once again for the boys in green.
While Irish eyes are hurting this morning still, there has to be cause for optimism moving forward – the win against South Africa in the pool stage, and a Six Nations Grand Slam in the back pocket from earlier in the year are proof that this won’t be Ireland’s only chance to win it all on the international stage for years to come.