Lyons Roars Irish To Victory

Munster and Highfield’s Leah Lyons was the hero for Ireland; scoring their only try a half-hour from time as Ireland move just two games from a Grand Slam.

In a topsy-turvy game at Donnybrook it was Lyons' try, coupled with eight points off the boot of Nora Stapleton, that saw Ireland gain a crucial 13-10 victory over the world's fourth ranked side.

Despite a strong wind at their back in the first-half, Ireland – missing a number of key players to sevens duty – found themselves just three points to the good a quarter of the game in from a Stapleton penalty. That proved to be the half's only score in a dour first period punctuated by errors from both sides.

The second-half improved proceedings markedly, and with Irish captain Paula Fitzpatrick in the sin-bin, Caroline Ladagnous touched down for the first try of the game, converted by Jessy Tremouliere.

However, the Irish replied in double-quick time, this time a Frenchwoman in the bin saw a reduced visiting team succumb to the Irish maul, and Lyons applied the finishing touch for her second consecutive try in the tournament.

Another Stapleton penalty put six points between the teams, and defending a one-score game Tom Tierney's side remained resolute, and despite conceding another penalty, French lock Renaig Corson was sent to the bin, and the Irish held on for a massive victory.

Wales next for the Irish; Cardiff Arms Park the venue on Saturday 11th March as Ireland look to take their penultimate step to Grand Slam glory.

Ireland: Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht); Kim Flood (Railway Union/Leinster), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster), Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster); Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's/Leinster) (capt).

Replacements used: Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union/Leinster) for Healy (51 mins), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster) for Griffin (68). Not used: Ciara O'Connor (Galwegians/Connacht), Ilse van Staden (Cooke/Ulster), Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht), Nichola Fryday (Tullamore/Connacht), Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Ulster), Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster).