Injury-time kick takes win for Irish U20s

Ireland Under-20 19 France Under-20 16

Ian Keatley landed the match-winning kick for the Ireland U20s for the second week running as the hosts stunned reigning world champions France in Athlone.

The UCD fly half held his nerve to convert an injury-time penalty from the 10-metre line and chalk up a second Six Nations win for Eric Elwood’s impressive side.

The Irish missed out on a deserved 17th-minute try when Munster Academy player Keith Earls dropped the ball with the line at his mercy.

They got over 12 minutes later when Keatley kicked a penalty to touch. Andrew Browne claimed the lineout ball and a brilliant maul-drive put hooker Richard Sweeney over for the try.

Keatley converted and added a penalty, after a penalty brace from French number 10 Romain Sola.

The visitors, who are fielding their U21 side in this competition, were 10-6 in arrears at the break and dominated for a while.

They kicked a flurry of penalties to touch and flanker Jean Monribot eventually plunged over for a try.

Sola tagged on the extras but Elwood’s charges, impressive 17-15 winners in Wales last week, hit back in the final quarter.

Keatley exchanged penalties with substitute Francois Trinh Duc as France lost lock Dorian Seve to the sin-bin for killing the ball.

Ireland took full advantage. Keatley swung over his third penalty of the night to draw his side level and took the man-of-the-match gong with his kick at the death.