Last-gasp Madigan drop-goal clinches sensational Ireland victory

THE Six Nations Grand Slam is still within reach for Ireland following an amazing last-gasp victory at fortress Dubarry Park, Athlone, last night.

The Irish under-20 team has made this ground a real home for four seasons and lost just once. On this occasion, England were on the cusp of victory but Ireland’s never-say-die attitude finally won the day.

Ian Madigan dropped a goal in sensational fashion six minutes into injury time, just 90 seconds after Ian McKinley had sent an attempt wide in a bid to overturn an 18-16 England advantage. Madigan kicked the winning penalty deep into injury time against France three weeks ago.

It was a remarkable end to a remarkable match; England scored two tries in the closing quarter, just as they had done in the previous game against Wales. This time, the scores pushed them into a two-point advantage before Madigan’s intervention.

Mark Mapletoft’s England side had looked fluent and confident in the early stages but by half time, much of the cockiness had been knocked out of them. McKinley and Madigan did the rest, with a little help from Michael Keating’s sensational intercept try.

Irish coach Allen Clarke was delighted. “Our line out was poor but we have some really good individuals and a fantastic team spirit,” he said. “We wouldn’t have got that result without such spirit.”

Ireland’s victory was certainly partly due to a determination never to give up. England had a dynamic start dominating possession and put the Irish scrum under massive pressure.

However, England’s enthusiasm wasn’t matched by an ability to keep ball in hand, and a succession of mistakes allowed Ireland to stay in the hunt; that was particularly important as the home front row got to grips with earlier problems.

Ireland did gift England an opening try after 23 minutes. The warning signs were there after two poor lineout throws from Tom Sexton. Then, a third went short and straight to England flanker Josh Ovens who had moved up the line and took clean possession from Sexton’s throw to gratefully accept the gift for a 5-0 lead, albeit one cut immediately when McKinley kicked a penalty for Ireland.

At the end of a lively first half, Ireland would only have reflected badly on an inability to win and retain that line out possession, while England bemoaned the fact that they failed to take advantage.

Instead, Ireland actually led at the break with McKinley kicking a second penalty to give Ireland an unexpected 6-5 lead.

McKinley missed an early second half penalty kick and England failed to take advantage when a superb movement broke down, although compensation came in the form of a penalty from Rory Clegg six minutes after the restart.

Seven minutes later Ireland scored a sensational try from winger Keating.

England, down to 14 after losing Chris York to the sin-bin, could have pulled a try out of the hat when George Lowe intercepted but the centre slipped and from the subsequent play the Irish winger was sent away for a try that McKinley converted. The centre went one better when he kicked a huge penalty minutes later to establish a 16-8 lead.

That lead was cut with 15 minutes to go when Will Hurrell stormed over in the corner. It was to get better for the visitors. When Ireland went down to 14 after substitute Mark Flanagan was sin-binned, England had one attack and Lowe was sent in for a try by Seb Stegmann to establish an 18-16 lead.

However already celebrating victory, England were stunned in those closing seconds.

IRELAND: D Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster), R O’Mahony (Garryowen/Munster), I McKinley (UCD/Leinster), E Sheridan (Lansdowne/Leinster), M Keating (Clontarf/Leinster), I Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), M Healy (Lansdowne/Leinster), P McAllister (Ballynahinch/Ulster), T Sexton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), J McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), C Ruddock (Neath/Exiles), J Sandford (Queens University/Ulster), R Ruddock (Millfield School/Exiles), D Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), P O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), captain.

Replacements: J O’Connell (Lansdowne/Leinster) for McGrath (50), M. Flanagan (UCD/Leinster) for Sandford, M Noone (Seapoint/Leinster) for O’Mahony (both 63).

ENGLAND: G Tonks (Leicester Tigers), S Stegmann (Harlequins), G Lowe (Harlequins), T Casson (Saracens), W Hurrell (Leicester Tigers), R Clegg (Newcastle Falcons), D White (Leeds Carnegie), B Moon (Exeter Chiefs), J George (Saracens), S Knight (Gloucester Rugby), J Gaskell (Sale Sharks), P Elder (London Wasps), J Ovens (Bath Rugby), C Clark (Leeds Carnegie, captain), C York (Harlequins).

Replacements: A Ellis (London Wasps), B Baker (London Wasps) for Knight (53), C Fearns (Sale Sharks) for Elder (56), S Harrison (Leicester Tigers) for White (66), J Short (Saracens) for Hurrell (75).

Referee: J. Jones (Wales).