Steelers hold on to win NFL's first game in Dublin

The Pittsburgh Steelers held on for a thrilling 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings as the NFL staged a historic game at Dublin's Croke Park on Sunday.

Going into the final quarter, the Steelers led 21-6 - before the Vikings claimed two touchdowns to set up a nail-biting finale in the first regular-season game to be held in Ireland.

But Pittsburgh ensured it was a triumphant homecoming for the team owners, the Rooney family, whose ancestors emigrated from the island of Ireland to Pennsylvania in the 1840s.

They have maintained close links to their Irish roots, bringing a pre-season game to Croke Park in 1997, and they were again the driving force behind the NFL's return to the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).

The Steelers were the designated home team and they enjoyed raucous support from the majority of the 74,512 crowd as they charged into a 14-6 lead at half-time.

Kenneth Gainwell ran in two touchdowns for Pittsburgh but the play of the day came from DK Metcalf, who took a pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers and produced a barnstorming run to force it in for an 80-yard touchdown.

Pittsburgh added a field goal early in the fourth quarter before two quick-fire scores from Zavier Scott and Jalen Nailor meant the Steelers' Irish fans and travelling supporters had to put the celebrations on hold.

Pittsburgh are six-time Super Bowl winners - a record they share with the New England Patriots - and their defence of the 1970s became known as the Steel Curtain.

The franchise has continued to be renowned for its defence and this would have been a performance to make proud the Steelers' late president Dan Rooney, who was the US ambassador to Ireland from 2009 to 2012.

Minnesota earned more first downs, more yards and had more time in possession, yet back-up quarterback Carson Wentz was stifled by the Steelers throughout.

The 32-year-old was sacked six times and intercepted twice, and the second of those picks - by TJ Watt late in the third quarter - drew one of the biggest cheers of the day as the Steelers' star linebacker raced to the sideline and booted the ball into the Croke Park crowd.

Rodgers said Pittsburgh's offence is still a work in progress after the four-time MVP and star receiver Metcalf were brought in during the off-season, and he said on Friday that the "next big improvement will be the run game, getting over 100 yards".

Their previous best this season was 72, but they managed 131 in Dublin, with Gainwell registering 99 himself, while Rodgers and Metcalf connected for the kind of highlight-reel play the Steelers hope they will produce time and again this season.

Veteran Rodgers completed an impressive 18 passes from 22 attempts for 200 yards, but it was Pittsburgh's defence that again stepped up during the closing stages as the Vikings threatened a fightback.

It was reminiscent of the team's golden era and raised hope of Mike Tomlin's men mounting a play-off push this season after improving their record to 3-1.