International/ Ireland Under-20s 19 France Under-21s 16: The Irish Under-20s conceded a year to their French opponents at Dubarry Park last night but they again came from behind to notch a second win on the trot in front of a 3,000-strong crowd.
In the end it took a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time from outhalf Ian Keatley to seal the win, but the Irish should have wrapped it up long before then.
Ireland enjoyed the bulk of the first-half possession but they had to be content with a 10-6 lead at the break. They should have been further ahead but twice they failed to win their lineout after penalties in promising positions, while left-winger Keith Earls knocked on after 15 minutes with a run to the line from 30 metres after Darren Cave and Felix Jones had surged out of defence.
On the half-hour mark Andrew Browne won a lineout inside the 22 and the pack mauled superbly, with hooker Richard Sweeney getting the touchdown. Keatley converted to give Ireland a platform to pull away but France responded more positively and outhalf Romain Sola kicked a 25-metre penalty. Keatley landed a second penalty but the French gave themselves a fighting chance when Sola landed a 30-metres penalty on the stroke of half-time to leave it 10-6.
France started to win primary possession but they found it hard to make the yards as Ireland kept their shape. But the pressure paid off and after 50 minutes lock Dorian Seve collected before mauling over with flanker Jean Monribot touching down. Sola converted for a 13-10 lead.
It was vital Ireland responded quickly and again it was their pack who did so, with the backrow of Thomas Anderson, David Pollack and Tommy O'Donnell leading the way. Keatley tied matters after 55 minutes with a penalty but France were back in front within four minutes when replacement outhalf Francois Trinh Duc made no mistake with his first penalty.
The sin-binning of Dorian Seve gave Keatley the chance to again tie the match after 63 minutes and with the crowd raising the tempo, Ireland finished with a flourish. France were penalised for going over the top 40 metres from goal and Keatley landed the winner.
SCORERS: Ireland: Try: Sweeney Con: Keatley Pen: Keatley (4). France: Try: Monribot Con: Sola Pens: Sola (2), Trinh Duc
IRELAND: F Jones (Seapoint); S Monahan (Dublin University), D Cave (Belfast Harlequins), A Wynne (Buccaneers), K Earls (Thomond); I Keatley (UCD), P O'Donohue (UCD); C Healy (Clontarf), R Sweeney (St Mary's College), J Hagan (Greystones); C McInerney (St Mary's College), A Browne (Galwegians); T Anderson (Dungannon), T O'Donnell (UL Bohemians), D Pollack (Queen's). Replacements: G Slattery (Young Munster) for Sweeney, 55 mins; K Sheahan (UCD) for O'Donnell, 57 mins; R Murphy (Lansdowne) for Hagan, 65 mins; K Tonetti (Blackrock College) for Wynne, 80 mins.
FRANCE: M Medard; Y Huget, T Combezou, A Mignardi, M Nicolas; R Sola, F Da Silva; D Weber, G Guirado, B Sore; D Seve, D Lagrange; J Monribot, F Ouedraogo, L Picamoles. Replacements: J Andoque for Weber, half-time; F Trinh Duc for Sola, 51 mins; J Fuma for Medard, 51 mins; Weber for Sore, 59 mins; B Beaux for Picamoles, 63 mins; C Damiani for Lagrange, 72 mins; L Simutoga for Guirado, 74 mins; M Carabignac for Da Silva, 80 mins.
