Women's Six Nations/Wales 10 Ireland 5:Ireland captain Sarahjane Belton admitted her side left it too late against Wales after their Six Nations campaign got off to a losing start.
Belton's side were left dreaming of what might have been when Grace Davitt went over late on but could not find their way over the line again at Taffs Well.
Belton's side will have to make huge strides over the coming week before facing superpowers England on Saturday.
"We left things to the last minute and couldn't claw our way back. It was a good fightback in the second half, but we fell short," said Belton.
Wales raced into a 10-point lead in the first half thanks to a try, conversion and penalty from outhalf Naomi Thomas, but the second half was dominated by the team in green.
An overlap try from Blackrock wing Davitt after 73 minutes while Wales were down to 14, after wing Louise Rickard, winning her 90th cap, was binned, sent up a grandstand finish against a Welsh side that have now won eight games in a row.
Rickard sat out the finish after being shown a second yellow card.
WALES: E Evans; R Williams, R Poolman, C Flowers, L Rickard; N Thomas, M Berry (capt); L Horgan, R Bowden, J Davies; L Burgess, C Donovan; C Nicholas, J Kift, K Wilson. Replacements: A Broadstock for Davies (32 mins); S Saunders for Burgess (49 mins).
IRELAND: S Belton (UL Bohemians, capt); J Feighery (UL Bohemians), L Cantwell (Richmond), S Houston (Blackrock), G Davitt (Blackrock); J O'Sullivan (Richmond), T Rosser (Blackrock); F Coghlan (UL Bohemians), J Limbert (Cooke), M Barrett (Highfield); C Mahon (UL Bohemians), G Healy (Rathdrum); E O'Sullivan (Clonakilty), R Boyd (Cooke), O Brennan (Blackrock). Replacements: M Kelly (UL Bohemians) for Feighery (half-time); L Guest (Clonakilty) for Barrett, S Ryan (Navan) for Boyd (both 70 mins).
Referee: G Garner (England).
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