UNDER-20 WORLD CUP: Wales 19 Ireland 17IRELAND LOST narrowly to Wales in the fifth-place, semi-final play-off yesterday and will now go into a final game for seventh place in the IRB Under-20 World Cup in Japan.
Ireland opened the match in fine form with Michael Keating running in a try after just six minutes before Wales’ Justin Tipuric added one for the winners on 21 minutes. From there it was largely a kicking duel between Ireland’s Ian McKinley and Matthew Jarvis, the Welshman landing four penalties and a conversion to McKinley’s four penalties.
Most of the Welsh damage was done in the first half as they led 16-11 at the break. But Ireland’s two penalties in the second half left them two points short and they now face Samoa on Sunday in their final game of the tournament for seventh or eight position. England play New Zealand in the final.
IRELAND: I Madigan; D Kearney, D Barnes, E Sheridan, M Keating; I McKinley, C Murray; J McGrath, T Sexton, A Macklin, D Ryan, M Flanagan, R Ruddock, B O'Hara, P O'Mahony (capt). Replacements: D O'Callaghan for O'Mahony (6 mins), J Moran for O'Hara (41 mins), A Burke for Barnes (46 mins), M Healy for Murray (56 mins), P McAllister for Macklin (61 mins), J Shiels for Madigan (75 mins).
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