Ireland's only international rugby defeat over the weekend came at Anglesea Road on Saturday when the Italians clocked up 18 points without reply in the second half after the Irish faded badly.

Niall McNamara gave the home side the lead on five minutes after right wing Niall O'Brien off-loaded to hand the out-half an easy score in the corner.

However, three minutes before the break top AIL try-scorer Brendan Burke sprung from just outside the Italian 22 to win the chase to the line after Fiachra Baynes had cleverly chipped into space. Barry Lynn this time converted to leave Ireland 15-10 in front at half-time.

Hooker Fergus Gallagher gave the Irish more breathing space with a try five minutes after the interval.

A penalty from Italian out-half Vincenzo Zullo reduced the arrears on 54 minutes. The Irish were then left wanting for pace when Andrea Masi broke free of the cover before passing to wing forward Silvio Orlando to score.

Zullo then put the Italians back in front with a penalty with five minutes remaining and then in the dying seconds coverted Masi's try.

Ireland U-19: F Baynes (Greystones); N O'Brien (UCD), B Lynn (Greystones), D Cantley (Dromore), B Burke (Barnhall); N McNamara (Shannon), E Cahill (Bruff/St Munchin's Coll); B Young (Ballymena) (capt), F Gallagher (Instonians), S Phillips (Saracens), A Maher (Dublin University), J Murphy (Highfield), A Cullen (Old Belvedere), R Allen (London Irish), A Hamilton (Belfast Harlequins). Replacements: C Tucker (St Munchin's Coll), B O'Riordan (UCD) for Cahill (40 mins) F Lynch (St Mary's College) for McNamara (72).

Italy U-19: A Masi; S Accorsi, D Sacca, G Galleschi, G Canale; V Zullo, P Travagli; G Giordano, G Rignelli, S Constanzo, A Frasinella, A Pavanello, G Intoppa, O Silvio, B Mander.

Referee: R Goodlife (IRFU).