THE Irish team of Mark McAuley, Peter Moloney, Darragh Kenny and Cian O’Connor came very close to winning the Rome Nations Cup for the first time ever in its 93-year history yesterday, but eventually had to settle for second place behind Sweden.

Led by chef d’equipe Michael Blake, a brilliant performance from a team of horses with mixed experience at this level finished on 12 faults behind the Swedish team of Henrik von Eckermann, Angelie von Essen, Fredrick Jonsson and Peder Fredricson on eight faults.