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After a long wait (just like we had for the game!), here’s the recap of the reaction to Ireland’s second ICC World Cup match, the tense win over the UAE.
A long break after the opening day win over the West Indies saw the team have a chance to relax and prepare for the match against the UAE, but it also allowed the pressure to build before the match.

Ireland headed into the match as favourites, especially after their win over the West Indies and bowled first at the Gabba in Brisbane.

After beating the West Indies support back home had started to swell and a huge number of new fans were watching in Ireland, despite the game being in the early hours of the morning. As people woke up early to see the second half of the match (which started at 3.30am) Ireland were setting off in pursuit of 279 to win, after a brilliant century from Shaiman Anwar.

The innings didn’t start off too well, with Paul Stirling getting out early, but Ed Joyce showed he really did have the luck of the Irish when the ball hit the stumps, but the bails landed back on top of the stumps.

The most remarkable thing you will ever see on a cricket pitch! WATCH now http://t.co/soVfwi13Re #cwc15 #IREvUAE pic.twitter.com/HbfpmrMDXf

— ICC (@ICC) February 25, 2015

Jocye didn’t last a whole lot longer though, and the UAE were suddenly on top in the game, with Ireland looking less and less likely to get a victory. But Kevin O’Brien and Gary Wilson smashed Ireland back into the game, and suddenly the whole world was watching.

As the game got closer and closer, and the tension got close to unbearable, the match started to trend all over the world. In India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland and the USA the hashtag #IREvUAE was trending along with #BackingGreen, showing the whole world was supporting Ireland.

After the West Indies match it seemed like the support for Ireland was at its peak, but it just kept growing and growing, with more and more fans from Ireland and the world letting everyone know they were #BackingGreen on twitter.

When Kevin O’Brien had departed for 50, and Wilson for 80 the match was back in the balance, and it was left to Alex Cusack and George Dockrell to finish off the match. After the relative ease of the win over the West Indies, especially from a supporter’s perspective, there was certainly enough excitement this time round for both matches.

In the end George Dockrell it the winning runs with just two wickets and four balls remaining, ensuring every Irish fan was able to let out a huge sigh of relief, although some got more carried away than the others with the celebrations!

Here it is…the moment @georgedockrell hit the winning runs! http://t.co/GUpngAN6iO #BackingGreen pic.twitter.com/WWv2qpzTRU

— Cricket Ireland (@Irelandcricket) February 25, 2015

Dara O’Briain was one of those getting carried away with the win!

Ireland beat the UAE. Prince something, the staff of that Waterpark, that island shaped like a map, your boys took a hell of a beating

— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) February 25, 2015

There was a little more calm from the Minister for Sport;

Fantastic to see @Irelandcricket doing so well in #CricketWorldCup. Another win under our belt after beating UAE in Brisbane this morning!

— Paschal Donohoe (@Paschald) February 25, 2015

It was recently retired Ireland international Andrew White who summed it up perfectly though.

What a finish, nerves of steel these boys!! #stillsweating

— Andrew White (@Whitey631) February 25, 2015

You can see the final scorecard and check out the report on the match. Below you can watch the highlights again and see if you can argue with Whitey about the lads having nerves of steel! Also, don’t forget to check out our match gallery.

You can also check out the reaction from William Porterfield and Man of the Match Gary Wilson in these audios.

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