Ireland Clubs XV win Dalriada Cup after entertaining 11-try encounter with Scotland Clubs 

Bobby Sheehan was central to a five-try first-half performance, while captain and player-of-the-match Jack Kelleher was influential throughout in the back row

Ireland captain Jack Kelleher lifts the Dalriada cup. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Dalriada Cup: Ireland Clubs XV 42 Scotland Clubs 33 

Bobby Sheehan's first-half hat-trick set the tone for the Ireland Club XV's 42-33 win over Scotland Clubs, as they lifted the Dalriada Cup after a hugely entertaining 11-try encounter at Energia Park.

Sheehan, younger brother of Leinster and Ireland star Dan, was central to a five-try first-half performance from Adam Craig's men, while captain and player-of-the-match Jack Kelleher was influential throughout in the back row, alongside Bradley Luney.

The return of the Club international match between the Celtic nations - six years since Ireland last retained the Dalriada Cup, and 20 years on from the inaugural clash - provided a showcase of the best that the Energia All-Ireland League has to offer.

Both teams attacked with great gusto during a breathless opening quarter, with Scotland Clubs getting on top with an Andrew Mitchell brace to cancel out Sheehan's deftly-taken ninth-minute opener.

However, Craig's side went through the gears to score four times between the 23rd and 36th minutes - Adam Maher and Ronan Waters had run-ins from inside the opposition 22, and the ever-impressive Sheehan took his own haul to three.

Aaron Sexton breaks away from Fraser Renwick of Scotland. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The unerring Conor Kelly mopped up with the conversions, giving the hosts a handsome 35-12 half-time lead. They were too far in front with Aran Egan crossing in the 55th minute, although tries from Mitchell, Gregor Christie, and Archie Barbour made it a nine-point game in the end.

Scorers for Ireland Club XV: Tries: Bobby Sheehan 3, Adam Maher, Ronan Watters, Aran Egan; Cons: Conor Kelly 6.

Scorers for Scotland Clubs: Tries: Andrew Mitchell 3, Gregor Christie, Archie Barbour; Cons: Dwain Patterson 4.

IRELAND: C Rankin (Ballynahinch); S French (Cork Constitution), M Carey (St. Mary's College), A Egan (Terenure College), A Sexton (Ballynahinch RFC); C Kelly (Clontarf), A Maher (Cork Constitution); D Begley (Young Munster), B Sheehan (Lansdowne), L Masters (Cork Constitution), S Rigney (Terenure College), F Gilbert (Clontarf), J Kelleher - captain (Cork Constitution), R Watters (St. Mary's College), B Luney (Ballynahinch).

Replacements: C Milligan (Ballynahinch), M Hanan (Terenure College), A Tuite (Terenure College), B Faloon (Young Munster), D Whitten (Instonians), S Owens (Clontarf), T Bird (Clontarf), A La Grue (Terenure College).

SCOTLAND: G Bryce (Stirling County); J Shedden (Ayr), A Mitchell (Hawick), B Beattie (Ayr), B Pickles (Selkirk); D Patterson (Kelso), G Christie (Currie Chieftains); J Dobie (Melrose), F Renwick (Hawick), S Cessford (Heriot's), A Runciman (Melrose), O Baird (Ayr), R Leishman (Heriot's), T Brown (Ayr), B Macpherson - captain (Ayr).

Replacements: E Young (Heriot's), J Drummond (Ayr), D Gamble (Kelso), R Hart (Stirling County), S Wallace (Heriot's), E McKirdy (GHA), C Anderson (Selkirk), A Barbour (Kelso).

Referee: Cai Lewis (WRU).