- Week-end local Gleeson League results, scores and scorers
- Newcastle West shock Enniscorthy in All-Ireland Cup opener
- Sweet win for Young Munster in Cork: Garryowen’s late victory
- High-scoring AIL game sees Shannon continue 1B winning run
- Connacht show up some weaknesses in Munster’s armour
- Munster make just three changes as they take on Connacht in Galway
- No room for Simon Zebo a questionable decision by the Irish selectors
- Connacht seeking a third win on the trot as Munster visit the Showgrounds
- Garryowen and Constitution will meet three times this season
- A look at the Champions/Challenge Cups apres Round Two
- Reflections on another Champions Cup win at Thomond Park
- End of season departure for Munster player Simon Zebo
- St Mary’s maintain their league challenge: Richmond draw
- Defence and hunger to win eventually breaks down the Racing 92 Thomond Park challenge
- All-local official line-up for Montpellier and Exeter cup tie
- The loss of key players is a worry for Rassie’s Munster tomorrow
- Richmond and St Mary’s at home this Sunday in Junior Leagues
- 16th man can again play its part as Munster face Racing 92
- Garryowen’s Mike Sherry starts for Munster A in Cork
- All the details of the opening round of the Champions Cup
- IRFU/Ulster Bank ‘Your Club Your Country’ Grand Draw update
- Limerick junior clubs ‘blown out’ of cups over the week-end
- Proud Munster live up to their image with well-deserved draw
- Clonakilty run riot in the last quarter to ease past St Mary’s
- Munster A team for their visit to Swansea is named
- Zebo at full-back, Mark Flanagan gets first start v Castres
- Some interesting facts about European Champions Cup journey
- Munster will want to avoid a ‘one win out of four’ statistic
- Johaan van Graan is appointed the new Munster coach
- Charlie O’Neill is Old Crescent’s new Junior Vice President
- Wins for four Limerick clubs in today’s Junior Leagues
- AIL: Garryowen, Young Munster, Thomond and Bohs beaten
- Leinster win the bragging rights in relatively tame derby
- Experimental Munster are hoping their backs gamble pays off
- Robin could be eyeing a second-row spot with the Reds
- Taute a major loss for Munster as bad knee injury rules him out
- Anthony Foley programme raises €35K for charitable causes
- Exciting lock forward Tadhg Beirne to join Munster next season
- League wins for Richmond, St Mary’s and Newcastle West
- Double success for locals in Ulster Bank 1A and 1B
- Second-half rout gives improved Munster a winning bonus point
- It’s time to bounce back as Munster release their hungry Lions
- New name in the ring for Munster job
- Eagle-eyed local rugby fan breaks Munster’s new coach story
- It’s a three week ban for Munster’s Fineen Wycherley
- Hurting Munster hope to bounce back against Cardiff Blues
- Good start for Abbeyfeale and Richmond as MJL 1 kicks off
- Young Munster are creaking at the early stages of the AIL
- Last night’s Ulster Bank All-Ireland League results
- Scotstoun nightmare for Munster as Warriors make them pay
6N title fitting farewell for Brian O’Driscoll
- Updated: 19/03/2014
France 20 (tries: Dulin, Szarzewski; Machenaud 2 pens and 2 cons.; Ireland 22 (tries Sexton 2, Trimble; 2 penalties, 1 con Sexton)
IT isn’t often that Garryowen hand silverware to their local rivals Young Munster so it was a very special moment tonight in Paris when Pat Whelan, the international legend of the light blues, presented Ireland captain Paul O’Connell of Young Munster with the RBS Six Nations trophy following their thrilling two point win over France in Parc de France.
This was certainly a game with no holds barred and at one stage there was more blood on view than you’d see in The Gladiators film. It was also one of the most thrilling rugby battles you could wish to see with the outcome going right down to the last two minutes with France denied a try for a fractional forward pass and referee Steve Walsh of Australia awarding Ireland a penalty five metres from their own line to end this epic 80 minutes.
Without doubt, this is one of the best and most consistent Irish teams of many decades and they are coming good at the right time with the World Cup just 15 months in the distance.
For Brian O’Driscoll it was the perfect finale to a glittering Irish career. I had the pleasure of being in Stade de France when he ran in that memorable hat-trick of tries the last time that Ireland won at that venue in the Six Nations. This time again, he was outstanding and it was from two of his breaks that the boys in green scored tries. O’Connell, Murray and O’Mahony also shone as did Limerick-born Eoin Reddan and Sean Cronin when they were spring from the bench for that gripping last ten minutes.
It was only the second time in 42 years that Ireland have won in France but it was worth waiting for. We pipped England on points difference helped in a big way by that brilliant finish against the Italians in the Aviva a week previous.
Today they never panicked when they trailied 6-0 early in the first half and it was that self-confidence and maturity built on the experience of Paul O’Connell, Gordon D’Arcy, Brian O’Driscoll, Rory Best and Jamie Heaslip that was again crucial.
The team arrives home to Dublin Airport tomorrow afternoon but no official celebrations have yet been announced for the 2014 Six Nations champions.
France: Dulin; Huget, Bastareaud, Fickou, Medard; Tales, Machenaud; Domingo, Szarzewski, Mas, Pape, Maestri, Picamoles, Lapandry, Chouly.
Replacements: Mermoz for Fickou (75), Doussain for Machenaud (66), Debaty for Domingo (41), Guirado for Szarzewski (68), Flanquart for Maestri (53), Vahaamahina for Picamoles (66), Lauret for Lapandry (75).
Not Used: Slimani.
Ireland: R Kearney; Trimble, O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, D Kearney; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Ross, Toner, O’Connell, O’Mahony, Henry, Heaslip.
Replacements: McFadden for D’Arcy (66), Madigan for Sexton (68), Reddan for Murray (63), McGrath for Healy (70), Cronin for Best (70), Moore for Ross (63), Henderson for O’Mahony (63).
Not Used: Murphy.
Att: 80,000
Ref: Steve Walsh (Australia).
You must be logged in to post a comment Login