Ireland stung late

Ireland Under 21 - 21 Scotland Under 21 - 24: Ireland suffered their third defeat on the trot in the Under-21 Six Nations when they succumbed to a late rally at Dubarry Park, Athlone, last night. Ireland led 21-17 going into the final quarter but they were unable to build on this and paid the price when Scottish outhalf David Blair slipped through the tackle of scrumhalf Paul Marshall to score the decisive try eight minutes from time.

Initially, Ireland concentrated on doing the simple things well and as the opening quarter developed, so too did the adventurous running of Darren Cave, Fionn Carr and Jonathan Sexton. However, Ireland failed to provide a cutting edge deep inside Scottish territory. Instead, they had to rely on the boot of Sexton as he landed three penalties to put Ireland 9-0 ahead on 23 minutes.

The third of these came after Scottish centre Ian Kennedy was sinbinned, but hopes of exploiting the numerical advantage did not materialise with Scotland's superb number eight John Beattie doing most to haul them back into contention and two penalties from Blair reduced the deficit. Irish prop Callum Black was sinbinned for killing the ball and, after kicking to the left corner, Scotland drove over through David Young to give them an 11-6 lead at the break.

Blair extended Scotland's lead with a penalty three minutes after the restart but Ireland responded and Marshall and Cave combined to send Fergus McFadden over. Sexton converted to put Ireland 16-14 in front but just as it seemed they were poised to pull away, Blair landed another penalty.

The Irish pack started to make some inroads and the possession was well used on the hour mark when fullback Carr sliced through to score in the corner. Sexton missed the conversion.

Ireland piled on the pressure but sloppy handling and failure to use overlaps meant Scotland stayed in the hunt and it took a superb tackle from Carr to deprive Cameron Johnson.

However, Sexton was sinbinned for killing the ball and eight minutes from time the Irish defence was exposed when Blair got through for his match-winning score.

IRELAND: F Carr (Blackrock College); P Durcan (Galwegians), F McFadden (UCD), D Cave (Belfast Harlequins), M Williams (Bristol Shoguns); J Sexton (St Mary's College), P Marshall (Ballynahinch); C Black (Worcester), S Philpott (Belfast Harlequins), P Doran-Jones (Dublin University); D Toner (Landowne), D Tuohy (Gloucester), R Noonan (UCC), S O'Brien (UCD), E Uzoigwze (Hartpury). Replacements: D McGowan (Buccaneers) for Tuohy (49 mins), C Doyle (Garryowen) for McFadden (70 mins), T Gleeson (Cork Con) for Cave (73 mins).

SCOTLAND: B Addison; C Johnson, B Cairns, I Kennedy, R Cairns; D Blair, G Laidlaw; R Grant, S Crombie, D Young, J Eddie, I Nimmo, J Barclay, J Beattie, A McDonald. Replacements: K Traynor for Grant (50 mins), G Biggart for Laidlaw (65 mins); J King for Cairns (70 mins), S Newlands for Barclay (78 mins).

Referee: A Small (England).