While the bells of the Basilica of San Antonio were ringing in Padova yesterday morning, Stephen Butler struck twice for Ireland to leave their hospitable hosts with the wooden spoon in the European Nations Cup.
Prayers for Danny Boy's men had been offered in the Basilica on Saturday after another deflating defeat, 2-1, at the hands of Switzerland, but Ireland refused to succumb to the Italians and duly took 11th place - which was also Ireland's final ranking in Madrid in 1974.
Butler (19) scored in the early stages of the second half before cracking home the winner in the 58th minute from a pass back to the top of the circle from David McAnulty.
On Saturday, in Robbie Taylor's 100th international, no one could raise the pace sufficiently to hold the Swiss, who scored twice towards the end of each half, with an Irish reply coming only from a thrust 30 seconds from the end.
Meanwhile, Germany won the title for the third time in a row, beating the Netherlands 5-4 on penalty strokes after a 3-3 draw in normal time, extra time failing to yield a golden goal. Sascha Reinelt (21) netted the decisive stroke when the shoot-out went into `sudden death' at 4-4.
Ireland (v) Italy: - N Henderson; G Goulet, E Lutton, A Dowd (Capt), P Brown; L Tumilty, R Taylor, J Black; D McAnulty, A Dunne, C Hanna. Subs: S Butler, N Buttimer, M Raphael, I Steen.
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