Layden stars as Irish get over line

Scarcely has a team been so dominant and still have to work so hard in the closing stages to carve out a victory.

But Mike Ruddock’s side showed great composure to close out the deal at Dubarry Park last night when it seemed the Welsh were about to perform an act of grand larceny.

Wales rarely made it out of their own half for most of the game but seemed set for an unlikely win when they hit the front 15 minutes from time.

But Ireland kept their composure and late drop goals from skipper Paddy Jackson and replacement scrum-half Luke McGrath were enough to see them home.

Ireland dominated the opening half but still only led 5-3 at the break after failing to punish the visitors, despite creating some good chances, with Wales landing a drop goal through out-half Sam Davies.

Ireland captain Paddy Jackson missed two penalties and the home side encountered difficulty at the lineout as both sides struggled with the wind, but Ruddock’s men looked dangerous when they took ball off the top from Danny Qualter and the very impressive Iain Henderson.

Centre JJ Hanrahan always looked sharp and threatening and he set up the only try after 25 minutes.

Ireland managed to turn over possession and Hanrahan spotted lock Matthew Screech in his path before darting through the cover and delivering the perfectly weighted pass for full-back Shane Layden to dive over.

Layden also looked impressive both in defence and attack and the Carrick-on-Shannon native, who had played minor football with Roscommon along with lock Qualter, looks a very good prospect.

Ireland continued to dominate in the third quarter but all too often a promising move broke down with a stray pass, leaving them vulnerable to a Welsh counter, with the visitors’ left-wing Luke Morgan looking dangerous any time he got possession.

Almost inevitably, Wales countered and hit the front when Lewis Williams made no mistake with a penalty from 25 metres to edge 6-5 in front with 15 minutes remaining.

Man-of-the-match Layden led the immediate Irish counter but Jackson was again off target with the boot with an effort from 25 metres on the left.

But the skipper kept his composure and as Ireland continued to press Jackson had the opportunity to make amends and he put Ireland back in front with a drop goal with 10 minutes remaining.

And then replacement scrum-half McGrath put some daylight between the sides when Wales fluffed a clearance and he punished them with a neat drop goal.

Scorers for Ireland: Try: Layden. Drop goals: Jackson, McGrath.

Scorers for Wales: Drop goal: Davies, Pen: Lewis Williams.

IRELAND: S Layden (Buccaneers/Connacht); B Daly (UCD/Leinster), F Horan (Lansdowne/Leinster), JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster), S Coghlan-Murray (UCD/Leinster); P Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), K Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht); K McCall (Ballynahinch/Ulster), N Scannell (Dolphin/Munster), P Reilly (Lansdowne/Leinster); I Henderson (QUB/Ulster), D Qualter (Buccaneers/Connacht); C Gilsenan (UCD/Leinster), A Conneely (Corinthians/Connacht), J Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster).

Replacements: L McGrath (UCD/Leinster) for Marmion, 52; T Beirne (Lansdowne/Leinster) for Qualter, 60; C Farrell (Dungannon/Ulster) for Horan, 62; J Cawley (Leinster) for Reilly, 63; Reilly for Cawley, 65; D Merrey (Clontarf/Leinster) for Scannell, 75; J Rael (Garryowen/Munster) McCall, 75; J Coghlan (UCD/Leinster) for Conneely, 75; C Marsh (Dublin University/Leinster) for Layden, 76.

Wales: R Jones; I Evans, N Edwards, C Allen, L Morgan; S Davies, J Evans; R Evans, K Myhill, W John, M Screech, R Hughes, E Jenkins, D Thomas, R Tucker.

Replacements: I Jones for Tucker, 49; Lewis Williams for S Davies, 63; Luke Williams for Edwards, 75; T Davies for Evans, 75; J Sollis for Myhill, 75.

Referee: James Matthew (Scotland).

International: Scotland A 35 England Saxons 0.