A Triple Crown for Ireland as Declan Kidney's charges produced an excellent performance in last night's A international at Donnybrook. The final scoreline flattered Wales somewhat as they scored two late converted tries near the finish. However Ireland thoroughly deserved their victory on a night when they produced some excellent rugby.
There were several outstanding performances in a superb team effort, most notably Blackrock College outhalf Emmet Farrell who aside from contributing 23 points, directed affairs brilliantly. Leo Cullen at second row, the entire backrow, especially David Wallace, and John Kelly in midfield were other stand-out performers. The opening exchanges were pockmarked with errors as both sides failed to establish any rhythm or continuity. Irish scrumhalf Brian O'Meara used the garryowen to decent effect on several occasions but the momentum was often snuffed out by handling errors. Geordan Murphy offered the first real quality moment to the match when he made a slashing diagonal run but with no support he was grounded in a double tackle eight metres from the Welsh line. Ireland took the lead when outhalf Emmet Farrell posted an easy penalty.
That advantage was increased with a similar strike on 19 minutes, when the visitors transgressed after Dion O'Cuinneagain's lineout take was driven 30 metres by the Irish pack. Ireland threatened to dominate but despite receiving a reasonable platform from a hard-working Irish pack, the three-quarter line's angles of running were more lateral than penetrative.
Another fine passage of play in which the Leo Cullen and David Wallace were involved, handed Farrell a long-range penalty attempt which he successfully negotiated from Wales' 10-metre line. The Welsh failed to make any in-roads against blanket Irish defence and were once again penalised when prop Ben Evans strayed offside.
Farrell bisected the posts again from distance and Ireland stretched to a 12-0 lead. A superb break from outstanding centre John Kelly could have resulted in a try but his pass to Murphy was adjudged forward. Welsh hooker Andrew Lewis overthrew a lineout inside the Irish 22, and despite a bit of juggling Wallace reclaimed the ball.
Referee Rob Dickinson amazingly penalised the Garryowen flanker for a knock-on. After two minutes and five rucks later Welsh centre Leigh Davies crossed for a try with outhalf Jason Strange converting, a boost the Welsh scarcely deserved.
Farrell's place-kicking success rate faltered briefly after the restart when he missed from 22 metres but he kicked his fifth penalty on 46 minutes. Indeed Farrell might have grabbed a try in the same incident but failed to ground the ball following a great break. He conjured another opportunity, taken on explosively by David Wallace but he was penalised for not releasing when a try seemed certain.
Ireland got the try they deserved on 58 minutes when David Wallace surged onto an overthrow at a lineout in the Welsh 22 and from the ruck eight metres out Farrell skated over. He failed with the conversion as he would do again a minute later. Farrell was the architect with a superb break, Kelly and Mike Mullins took the move on and Tyrone Howe raced over.
Wales responded with an unconverted try from left wing Delme Williams. Farrell's sixth penalty put Ireland 28-12 in front. Ireland were reduced to 14 men when Allen Clarke was sin-binned for a late tackle. Peter Smyth came on as Eric Miller was withdrawn for the duration of the 10-minute penalty.
A try from Welsh replacement Kingsley Jones, converted by Lee Jarvis and a second for Delme Williams again converted by Jarvis epitomised a strong Welsh finish.
