Dubai Sevens: Irish through to Shield decider

Ireland picked up their first win of the two-day IRB Dubai Sevens tournament this morning, defeating Canada 24-17 to earn a place in the Shield final.

Having finished third in Pool D yesterday, Ryan Constable's outfit, with an average age of 23, faced Kenya earlier in the Bowl Quarter finals, and were attempting to repeat the feat of the last Irish side to visit the Emirates capital in 2000 - by winning the Bowl competition.

But a stubborn Kenya struck for four tries in the last five minutes to end the youngsters' hopes, with a 29-19 defeat.

Tries from Loughborough University's Mark Bruce - running his tournament tally up to three - had the Irish 12-5 in front.

But even though Lansdowne and Leinster flanker Niall Ronan added a third, the Africans pulled through.

Ireland now face Tunisia in the Shield final - for the tournament's bottom four sides - at 3.24pm.

IRB DUBAI SEVENS: Ireland results -

Shield Semi final:

Canada 17 IRELAND 24

Bowl Quarter final:

IRELAND 19 Kenya 29

Scorers: Ireland: Mark Bruce 2 tries, Niall Ronan 1 try, Ian Humphreys 2 conversions

IRELAND SQUAD:

(1) Gary Brown (Ulster - Belfast Harlequins)

(2) Mark Bruce (Loughborough University)

(3) David Hewitt (Leinster - Clontarf)

(4) Ian Humphreys (Belfast Harlequins)

(5) Chris Keane (Connacht - Buccaneers)

(6) Seamus Mallon (Ulster - Dungannon)

(7) Michael McComish (Ballymena)

(8) Martin McPhail (Munster - Ul Bohemian)

(9) James Norton (Leinster - UCD)

(10) Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin)

(11) Niall Ronan (Leinster - Lansdowne)

(12) John Hearty (Leinster - Blackrock College)