Shanahan and Boys In Blue go in search of glory

While the World Cup is continuing in Russia another soccer tournament is unfolding in Europe - and this time the Republic of Ireland is in contention for glory with Navanman Aaron Shanahan involved. 
The European Police Football Championships are taking place in Prague with Shanahan turning out for the Irish side.
Shanahan enjoyed a lenghty career as a goalkeeper in League of Ireland  football with a host of clubs including Dundalk, St Patrick's Athletic and Kilkenny City. He also had trials with Stockport County.
A few years ago he had trials with clubs in Melbourne. He also worked with the Australian Goalkeepers' Academy in Sydney.
He also had spells with Ards and Ballymena Utd in the Irish League. He turned out for Ballymena Utd  in an IFA Cup final in 2014 at Windsor Park. It was, however, disappointment for Shanahan and his colleagues as Ballymena lost 1-2 to Glenavon. 
During his spell with Ballymena Shanahan regularly made the 150-mile trip from Dublin to the club's home base, the Showgrounds. 
In more recent years Shanahan joined the Garda Siochana and he was involved as the goalkeeping coach as the squard prepared for the European Championships. 
When the regular goalkeepers became unavailable to play Shanahan was drafted in between the posts  - and  the chance to win some European glory beckoned. 
So far in the European Police Football Championships Ireland have played three games starting last Tuesday with a 5-2 win over Slovakia followed on Wednesday with a 2-2 draw with Bulgaria and a 0-0 draw with the Czech Republic earlier today.   
The semi-finals of the tournament take place on Saturday with the final due to be played on Sunday.