Ireland finish in style

The Irish Schools' rugby team yesterday finished their eight-match tour of Australia unbeaten with a magnificent win over Australia Schools.

A fantastic team performance led to this side being only the second Ireland Schools' side ever to beat the Australians. The last was in 1996 when the Irish touring party included future senior internationals Peter Stringer, Ciaran Scally and Robert Casey.

Ireland opened the scoring with a try from Number Eight, Shane Jennings and followed with another by outhalf Connor Quaid which Gavin Duffy converted to give Ireland a 12-0 lead.

Duffy, captain of the side, went on to kick a further three penalties in the first half compared to Australia's one converted try and a penalty to leave the score at 21-10 at the break in favour of the visitors.

Australia started the second half the brighter of the two sides and edged closer to the Irish scoring with a converted try. Ireland replied with another Duffy penalty to make it 24-17 to Ireland.

Matt McCullough scored the last of Ireland's three tries, which Duffy converted. In all, Duffy kicked brilliantly on his way to amassing 19 points making it a day to remember for the Irish captain.

The IRFU will be holding a welcome-home party for the Irish squad to celebrate this tremendous achievement when they return to Dublin Airport at 7.15 p.m. on Saturday.

Ireland schools: D O'Riordan (Rockwell College), S Young (Campbell College), G Duffy (Cistercian College, Roscrea, Capt), G Mitchell (Campbell College), A Maxwell (Royal Belfast AI), C Quaid (CBC Cork), F Murphy (CBC Cork), J Lyne (Castleknock College), C Tucker (St Munchin's College), E McGovern (Cresent College), M Carroll (Blackrock College), M McCullagh (Ballymena Academy), D Leamy (Rockwell College), J O'Connor (Crescent College), S Jennings (St Mary's College). Replacements: J Danagher (Blackrock College) for E McGovern 50 mins, S Keogh (St Munchin's College) for M Carroll 60 mins, E Hickey (De La Salle, Churchtown) for C Quaid 60 mins.