#2 would close the border.
Thank you; you are correct. The EU could not allow the border to remain open, so if Britain refused to close it (my #2) the EU would force its closure (my #3) Thereby reminding the Irish Republic of their status as a colony of the EUSSR.
Only if the UK wants to...:^)
I think they will put up some wimpy border crossing points for show and the Irish (both sides) will ignore it.