Keatley boots a late Irish winner

TBILISI CUP:

Allen Clarke’s charges were in all sorts of trouble at the scrum while some weak defence also proved costly as they found themselves 15-14 in arrears in the final minutes.

But Ireland won a rare scrum penalty when the Georgian front row slipped their bind and Keatley converted from a tough angle wide on the right, despite high winds forcing replacement scrum-half John Cooney to hold the ball in place for the Munster man.

And then substitute lock Giorgi Nemsadze sealed his side’s fate, aiming an off-the-ball punch at an Irish player that was spotted by the linesman. Keatley — who had a mixed day at the office — nailed that kick too to secure victory for the young green hordes.

With 10 players involved with the Lions and a full squad in Houston for tonight’s clash with the USA, Clarke selected what was essentially a third-string Irish side with just three senior caps between them.

Georgia were similarly inexperienced, drawing the majority of their players from the French second and third tier, although Clermont Auvergne openside Viktor Kolelishvili and Toulon lock Konstantin Mikautadze have garnered Top 14 experience this term.

Ireland did lead 6-3 after half an hour courtesy of two Keatley penalties with lock pairing Lewis Stevenson and David Foley standing out, but otherwise they couldn’t find their way through an aggressive home defence.

Giorgi Chkhaidze peeled off the back of a scrum to barrel over shortly before half-time for a 10-6 lead, after the hosts had minced the Irish front row.

Ireland hit back three minutes after the restart when full-back David Kearney took advantage of a mismatch out wide to score an unconverted try.

Bela Tsiklauri fluffed an easy Georgia penalty chance from in front of the posts but some comically bad tackling allowed winger Tamaz Mchedlidze in to get over and put the hosts into a 15-14 lead.

Keatley’s late salvo from the tee saves Ireland’s blushes though; they will face the South African President’s XV — 37-9 winners over Uruguay — next up on Tuesday (2pm Irish time).

Scorers for Georgia: G Chkhaidze, T Mchedlidze try each; B Tsiklauri con, pen.

Scorers for Emerging Ireland: D Kearney try; I Keatley 5 pens.

GEORGIA: B Tsiklauri; I Machkhaneli (capt), D Kaaharava, M Sharikadze, T Mchedlidze; L Malaguradze, G Begadze; I Mirtskhulava, R Belkania, L Chilachava; V Maisuradze, K Mikautadze; S S Sutiashvili, V Kolelishvili, G Ckhaidze.

Replacements: G Tetrashvili for Mirtskhulava (60 mins), G Nemsadze for V Maisuradze, S Maisuradze for Belkania (both 69), T Zibzibadze for Sharikadze, G Berishvili for Mikautadze (both 79).

EMERGING IRELAND: D Kearney; N Morris, E Griffin, M Allen, T O’Halloran; I Keatley, M Heaney; J McGrath, R Herring, M Bent; L Stevenson, D Foley; R Ruddock (capt), D Ryan, R Diack.

Replacements: I Nagle for Stevenson (half-time), N Reid for Allen (50), J Cooney for Heaney (53), B Macken for Griffin, J Murphy for Ryan (both 67), N Annett for Herring (73), R Lutton for Bent (80+3).

Referee: N Briant (New Zealand)