Top marks as Irish run riot

The Irish Academy Under-20s ran riot in a second half against a struggling Canada under-20 side at Donnybrook yesterday.

Some of the tries were straight from the training ground. That said, the opposition was meagre and one would have to wonder about the Canadian tour itinerary. They have been soundly beaten in each of their games.

Actually, the first half did throw up seven tries and two of the better efforts came from Canada's only real threat Darrell Underwood down the right flank. Twice, he showed Derek McCoombe the way to the line around the outside. At the other end, Robert Casey, Jonathan Davis, Ciaran Scally (2) and Aidan Kearney all combined to exact a heavy toll on the Canada defence and give the Irish a 33-19 half time lead.

In the second half the Irish began to engineer flowing movements, and the tries came.

David Blaney, Davis (2), Dermot O'Sullivan (2), Mick O'Driscoll and Andy Dunne contributed to the spiralling total that eventually settled on 12 tries.

Irish Academy: T Keating; J Davis, D O'Sullivan, S Moore, D McCoombe; M McHugh, C Scally; F Flanagan, D Blaney, N Treston; M O'Driscoll, R Casey; A Kearney, P Shanley, L Cullen. Replacements: C McCarey for Kearney (35 mins), G D'Arcy for McCoombe (h/t). S Best for Treston (h/t), B Urquhart for Flanagan (64 mins), K Campbell for O'Sullivan (72 min), A Dunne for Keating (73mins).

Canada: M Armstrong; D Underwood, D Daypuck, C Kitt, S Keenan; M Blumensatt, E Fairhurst; B Yoon, C McClaren, D Pike; S O'Leary, C Yukes; C Mooney, J Blaak, T Jackson. Replacements: S Stafferi for Keenan (28 mins), P Bickerton for O'Leary (52 mins), A Shebani for Blaak (6 mins), J Lemire and W Aylward for Yoon and Pike (69 mins). Referee: L Mayne.