Romania 10
Emerging Ireland 31
EMERGING IRELAND BEAT Romania 31-10 to end the IRB Nations Cup as champions.
Stand-out player Robin Copeland scored the pick of Ireland’s four tries. Craig Gilroy chipped in with a score out wide on the right, captain Dominic Ryan barged over, there was a late penalty try and Ian Keatley kicked 11 points.
The scores were tied at 3-3 after 20 minutes before Paul Marshall teed up Ryan, who powered over from close range. Stuart Mcloskey and Eoin Griffin were involved in Gilroy’s try and Keatley, who missed a simple penalty early on, did well to convert from the right-hand touchline. Romania attempted to respond immediately and Irish fullback Johne Murphy was sin-binned for deliberately slowing up a Romanian attack.
Ireland led 17-3 at the break but Copeland soon added to that with a 35m dash after a line break. He evaded two Romanians en-route to dotting down near the posts to give Keatley a simple conversion chance.
Romania refused to wilt and made most of the running in the final half hour. Munster lock Dave Foley was yellow-carded for dipping his hands into a home ruck from an offside position. Dan McFarland’s side looked set to hold form but leaked a late try after a period of exerted pressure.
Andrew Conway looked odds-on to score a late try before he was illegally shoulder-barged out of contact. Ireland got the penalty try and, with the win, claimed the 2014 Nations Cup.
Emerging Ireland line-up
15. Johne Murphy (Young Munster/Munster)
14. Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
13. Eoin Griffin (Galwegians/Connacht)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Dungannon/Ulster)
11. Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Munster)
10. Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
9. Paul Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
1. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
2. James Tracy (UCD/Leinster)
3. Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster)
4. Billy Holland (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5. Dave Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster)
6. Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster) capt
7. Sean Dougall (Dolphin/ Munster)
8. Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues)
Replacements:
16. Brian Byrne (Clontarf/Leinster)
17. Ricky Lutton (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
18. Paddy Butler (Shannon/Munster)
19. Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
20. Michael Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
21. JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)
22. Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster)
POT… KETTLE!!!
Mancini, he responded: “Who said this? Him, no? He doesn’t talk with the referee or the fourth official? No, never
to a massive bout of laughter from the press room!!
Fergie trying to distract from the sound of his team choking……
Delighted City best them and to see fergie lose his cool like that made it all the sweeter!