Gilroy one-two knocks stuffing out of Italians

Italy U20 9 Ireland U20 28

Mike Ruddock’s first competitive game in charge of the side hung in the balance until Gilroy broke through for a brace of tries.

The Ulster flyer touched down in the 71st and 74th minutes to decide this scrappy affair in Parma. Prop James Tracy grabbed the only try of the first half, and out-half Paddy Jackson kicked the remaining 13 points for the visitors.

Winger Marco Gennari booted three penalties for a spirited Italian team that troubled Ireland for long stretches and gave little away in defence.

The error count was high for both sides and Niall Annett and his team-mates will be unhappy with the number of handling errors and penalties conceded.

But when Ireland got their attack going in the final quarter, the hosts struggled to cope and this opening victory will give Ruddock’s youngsters a boost of confidence ahead of next week’s showdown with France in Athlone.

The visitors were leading 6-3 when the first Irish breakthrough came in the 32nd minute through Tracy.

Jackson missed the conversion attempt to the left of the posts and Gennari slotted his third kick for Italy, shortly before half-time, to close the gap to 11-9.

Jackson found his range again before Ireland’s attacking game clicked into gear as Gilroy’s tries kept them out of reach of the Italians despite having Jordi Murphy and Michael Kearney sin-binned in injury-time.

ITALY U20: A Cosulich; A Morsellino, G Alberghini, T Castello, M Gennari; L Morisi, G Palazzani; N Quaglio, A Kudin, P Leso (capt); M Fuser, A Mammana; E Ghiraldini, J Bocchi, E Ruffolo.

Replacements: T Enodeh for Castello (47), R Cagna for Leso, G Maistri for Quaglio (both 50), F Menon for Alberghini, A Balsemin for Fuser (both 60), R Riccioli for Ghiraldini (39), V Callori di Vignale for Cosulich (80), N Quaglio for Kudin (80+4).

IRELAND U20: C Gilroy (Ulster); A Conway (Leinster), A Kelly (Leinster), L Marshall (Ulster), A Boyle (Leinster); P Jackson (Ulster), B McIlroy (Ulster); J Tracy (Leinster), N Annett (Ulster, capt), M Moore (Leinster); M Kearney (Leinster), D Qualter (Connacht); J Murphy (Leinster), A Conneely (Connacht), E McKeon (Connacht).

Replacements used: I Henderson (/Ulster) for McKeon (14, inj), C Carey (Ulster) for M (37-63, blood), D Doyle (Leinster) for Kearney (55-63, blood), B Macken (Leinster) for Kelly (60), F Bealham (Exile) for Tracy, P du Toit (Leinster) for McIlroy (both 79), C Marsh (Leinster) for Jackson (80+4).

Referee: Neil Hennessy (Wales).