UNDER-20s Ireland 24 Wales 17:A MAGNIFICENT first half laid the bedrock for Ireland to set themselves up next weekend for a tilt at the Six Nations when they entertain Scotland.
The Welsh challenge was dismissed with an awesome display which saw Ireland head in at the break at Dubarry Park last night leading by 17-0.
The big lead was needed as Wales, the only team to defeat Ireland in Dubarry Park since the Under-20 games moved there a few years ago, stepped up several gears after the restart in a high-tempo game.
Ten points, though, was as near as they came to bridging the gap until the dying seconds of a fine contest when Wales got their third try after the TMO awarded the effort to winger James Loxton in the right corner.
The game started and finished with tries. Ireland got the dream start when hooker Niall Annett charged down a clearance to touchdown inside 19 seconds.
Outhalf James McKinney, who kicked four from four, landed the conversion from the left.
He tacked on a penalty 10 minutes later during an opening period of dominance, with number eight Patrick Butler leading the way with plenty of go-forward ball.
Butler extended the lead after lock David O’Callaghan cut a perfect line through the middle to take from his half-backs and send the backrow man over for the try of the night.
McKinney again added the conversion to make it 17-0 after just 14 minutes.
Wales lost two forwards to injury in the build-up to that try, but notions of a rout were dispelled as they managed to mount a series of attacks deep into Irish territory.
But the Ireland defence was solid in the execution of tackles and their big lead remained intact until after half-time.
Fullback David Fish hauled the Welsh back into contention six minutes after the restart after a superb break by Kristian Phillips. Dean Gunter converted.
But their hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed when a superb grubber from McKinney put Eoin Griffin over for their third try after 48 minutes.
Fish displayed magnificent pace to notch Wales’ third try after 53 minutes, but that was as near as they came until Loxton got the late consolation score as Ireland continued their march towards nailing the title.
In the night’s other matches at this level, Scotland were beaten at home 27-6 by England, while France recorded a 25-6 home win over Italy.
IRELAND: A Conway (Blackrock College); D Hudson (St Mary's College), B Macken (Blackrock), N Spence (Ballynahinch), T O'Halloran (Galwegians); J McKinney (Queen's University), J Cooney (UCD); J O'Connell (Lansdowne), N Annett (Belfast Harlequins), S Maguire (Old Belvedere), D O'Callaghan (UCC), B Marshall (UCD), R Ruddock (UCD, capt); D Ryan (Lansdowne), P Butler (Shannon). Replacements: E Griffin (Corinthians) for Hudson (34 mins); B Cagney (UCC) for Maguire (56 mins); M Heaney (Belfast Harlequins) for Cooney (70 mins); B Hayes (Cork Constitution) for Marshall; R Byrne (UCD) for Annett (both 74 mins); R O'Sullivan (Bective Rangers) for Ryan (78 mins).
WALES: D Fish; K Phillips, B John, S Williams, J Loxton; M Jarvis, G Davies; D Watchurst, R Williams, S Gardiner, M Cook, L Peers, M Allen, J Navidi, Toby Faletau. Replacements: T Davies for Gardiner; J Thomas for Cook (both 14 mins); D Gunter for Jarvis (45 mins); R Downes for Davies (63 mins); R Jenkins for Allen, 70 mins.
Referee: L Cardona (France).
