IRELAND's silver medal-winning eventing team touched down at Dublin Airport this morning to a rousing reception from Team Ireland Equestrian, family, friends and supporters.

A huge cheer went up around the arrivals area as Sally Corscadden's team of Sarah Ennis, Sam Watson, Cathal Daniels, Padraig McCarthy, who also won individual silver, and Patricia Ryan, came through to the arrivals area.

Ole, Ole, Ole rang out before everyone burst into applause for the thrilled team, who were beaming from ear to ear as spouses, children, parents and siblings hugged and embraced them.

The Irish eventing team are the first Irish team in any sport to have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

A delighted Sally Corscadden told The Irish Field that their goal going out to Tryon International Equestrian Centre, North Carolina, USA, was to try and secure Olympic qualification.

Speaking through what she called "happy tears", Sally Corscadden said: "Our goal going out to Tryon was to try and secure Olympic qualification for Toyko 2020, that was our main goal and to come home with Team Silver and an individual silver (Padraig McCarthy) in the bag as well, well, we are all just so thrilled. It's really a dream come through. Each of our riders rode brilliantly throughout, I cannot say enough about them, their team spirit and of course we had excellent back up from Ian (Fearon), from our veterinary and farrier team, from Team Ireland Equestrian and Horse Sport Ireland.

"The facilities out there were very good, the weather was not as bad as predicted thankfully and being Irish, we are used to rain and wind of course. I know myself what it's like to be in the medals and so did Cathal (Daniels) but for the others, they didn't and now that they have earned those medals, it's very special, they've shown they can go and do it and we'll go on from here.

"It's a great relief to have qualified for Tokyo and now that's out of the way, we can get on with training and making a plan for 2020. It's wonderful to come home to this (reception), perhaps I should retire now," quipped Corscadden, who was flanked by show jumping coach Ian Fearon.

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Among those waiting to greet the Irish team was the new chairman of Horse Sport Ireland, Joe Reynolds, father of dressage finalist Judy, accompanied by Judy's husband Patrick Heavey, while in a lovely touch, John Watson, father of Sam, had his two 40-year-old world championships medals in his pocket as he waited for his son to emerge in the arrivals hall along with his grandchildren Archie and Toby and Sam's wife Hannah (Sparkles), who does a lot of the work at home with the international horses.

A delighted Joe Reynolds said: "We in Horse Sport Ireland are so proud of our eventing team and what they achieved at the World Equestrian Games. This is a wonderful achievement, to bring home Team Silver and the Individual Silver medal as well as Olympic qualification for Tokyo 2020."