Irish disappointed as French bounce back to share spoils

IT’S a pretty strange state of affairs when an Irish rugby team expresses disappointment after drawing 17-17 with France in Paris.

But that was the situation following last Sunday’s third Six Nations Championship outing at Stade de France. The reason, quite simply, was that Ireland had led 17-6 at half-time and were in with a real chance of recording a rare success in the French capital.

So, they had good reason to feel disappointed, on the basis that you don’t get such opportunities too often. That’s exactly how skipper Paul O’Connell and try-scoring hero Tommy Bowe felt in the immediate aftermath of the game.

“Yeah, it felt like a defeat.” admitted Bowe. “A draw is suppose to be a good result over here but we gave ourselves a great opportunity to come away with a win and not to score in the second half was very disappointing.”

All true, and very understandable given the circumstances of Sunday’s encounter, but I’d also suggest that the Irish team should not be too hard on themselves. They had, after all, draw away with the side who came within a whisker of winning the World Cup.

Fair enough, France were not at their best but much of the credit for that must go to Ireland for the way them put them under pressure. Ireland played with an intensity which forced their opponents into errors.

Their first half display, which saw Bowe cross for two tries, was exceptional. Everyone knew that there was going to be a second-half French backlash, the question was whether Ireland had enough in reserve to hold on.

In the event, they didn’t which was unquestionably disappointing. But they did show considerable character to get the draw when they could so easily have lost.

Overall, it was a much improved Irish display. In order to compete with the top sides in the world, you must match them physically, and Ireland certainly achieved that on Sunday.

The pity was that their line-out didn’t function as it should. Whether the reason, Ireland struggled on their own throw, losing one great opportunity when close to the French line in the second half.

Furthermore, they weren’t helped by English referee Dave Pearson. The penalty count was 11 to four in favour of France and six to one in the second half.

Anyway, back to the beginning. It’s worth recalling that France were overwhelming favourites, having won their opening two games, with the draw on offer at 22/1.

But Ireland had really done their homework. Unlike the match against Wales, they defended with a really high line, allowing their opponents precious little space.

Their tackling was fantastic with Stephen Ferris and Sean O’Brien generally involved, along with Jonathan Sexton. As a consequence, France made mistakes, the first of which provided Bowe with the opportunity to make a 14th minute intercept which enabled him to go over for Ireland’s opening try.

Sexton’s conversion made it 7-0. The out-half then exchanged penalties with Morgan Para before a quality move ended with the impressive Bowe chipping ahead and gathering to go over for his second try.

Remarkably, it was his fifth in Ireland’s three games. When Sexton converted to make the half-time score 17-6, there were genuine hopes of a first Irish success in Paris in 12 years.

What they clearly needed was a good start to the second half. Instead, the opposite happened, and France had reduced the deficit to 17-14 within 11 minutes of the start of the second period.

Wesley Fofana scored a try after a pass going to ground caused confusion in the Irish defence. Para landed the conversion and a penalty before putting over his fourth penalty of the game to bring France level at 17-17 midway through the half.

At that stage, France looked odds on to go on and win. But Ireland regrouped, Rob Kearney brilliant fielding proving inspirational, and at last gained decent territory.

But the opportunity was lost through a failure to win a line-out, a knock-on from Gordon D’Arcy and possibly the failure to go for a drop goal. To add to Ireland’s difficulties, referee Pearson missed a late tackle on Sexton which should have given Ireland a penalty opportunity.

By the time the substitutes, who included Ronan O’Gara, were brought on it was really a matter of holding out for the draw. Jamie Heaslip, summing up his feelings afterwards, described it as “a bit of a mixed bag.”

He’s right, in the sense that Ireland had the 11 point lead and outscored their rivals by two tries to one. But the important thing now is that they respond positively by beating Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

The difficulty is that an Irish side, exhausted from their efforts in Paris, only have a six-day turnaround. Scotland, on the other hand, had a two week break.

What’s more, scrum-half Conor Murray sustained a knee injury which caused him to leave the field on a stretcher in Paris. So, it’s going to take another big effort if Ireland are to record the second victory of their campaign.

Provinces win

LEINSTER, Munster and Ulster all recorded victories in the RaboDirect Pro12 League with Connacht losing to the Scarlets.

Leinster beat Aironi 22-6 away, Munster go the better of the Dragons 24-14 in Wales, and Ulster trounced Edinburgh 38-16 at Ravenhill. Unfortunately, Connacht came up short, losing 38-10 away to the Scarlets.

The results mean that Leinster still lead the table, with Munster third and Ulster fifth. Elsewhere, the Irish Women’s team had a fine victory, hammering Wales 36-0 at Ashbourne.

Mayo go 2 for 2

MAYO are the only side in Division One of the National Football League not to have tasted defeat following the latest series of games.

Their 1-14 to 0-11 victory over Armagh at the Morgan Athletic Grounds mean that they top the table with two victories. Kerry are also on the four points mark but they have played a game more.

It’s all seemingly building up to a tightly fought competition. All-Ireland champions Dublin recorded their first victory of their campaign, an inspirational performance from Eogan O’Gara enabling them to defeat Laois by 1-14 to 1-9.

And Donegal bounced back from two opening defeats to get the better of Cork by 1-7 to 0-6 in Ballybofey. The return of Martin Murphy proved crucial.

Given their disappointments through the years, no one is going to get ahead of themselves in Mayo. But, at the same time, Saturday night’s 1-14 to 0-11 away success must give them encouragement.

Optimism was high in the Armagh camp following impressive performances against Kerry and Cork. But they played second fiddle to a Mayo team which led 1-7 to 0-6 at the interval.

Alan Freeman (0-5), Conor Mortimer (0-4) and Enda Varley (0-4) contributed 13 points between them, while the goal came from Davy Moran. Predictably, manager James Horan wasn’t getting carried away, stating: “We played some good stuff but we should have been able to push on more.”

Next up for Mayo is home match with Down. They currently lie bottom of the table on points difference after losing by 0-14 to 0-8 to Kerry at Newry.

Amazingly, Kerry had never previously won a league match on Down soil. But there was never really any question of them losing this latest encounter.

Barry John Keane, only in the side because of an injury to Darran O’Sullivan, proved a key figure, scoring four points from play. Declan O’Sullivan also got three points from play, while Bryan Sheehan finished with 0-6, four of which were from frees.

Another talking point was the second half incident which saw referee Damien Brazil show Down’s Conor Laverty a yellow card and then a red in the mistaken belief that he had booked him previously. Fortunately, the officials soon saw they had made a mistake after Down manager James McCartan consulted them.

From Kerry’s point of view, it was a good response following their surprise defeat to Armagh, but McCartan must have been very disapointed with Down’s effort.

Dublin, like Kerry, looked much more like their old selves when getting the better of Laois at O’Moore Park. Perhaps the most aspect was the form shown by Eoghan O’Gara.

Too often, O’Gara hasn’t quite lived up to his reputation. But he has been in cracking form this year, helping DCU to a Sigerson Cup success, and he continued to impress in the 1-14 to 1-9 victory over Laois.

He finished with 1-5, all from play. His goal in the dying minutes was a spectacular effort, the full-forward slamming an unstoppable shot into the net.

Diarmuid Connolly also did well, contributing 0-5, with four points coming from open play. Manager Pat Gilroy was particularly pleased for O’Gara.

He said: “We’re very happy for Eoghan. He got the scores which was great for him and us. It’s the first time in a long time he has been free of injury.”

The remaining match in the top division saw Donegal inflict a first defeat on Cork. The key was the return of Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden.

Murphy set the tone, rifling home a goal in the opening minute. After opening defeats to Down and Laois, that was exactly what Donegal needed.

Cork did hit back to lead by a point in the second half but Donegal had much the better of the final quarter and finished most deserving 1-7 to 0-6 winners.

Tyrone lead the way in Division Two, their 2-13 to 0-13 victory over Louth in Drogheda making it three wins from their opening three games. Two goals from Peter Harte and Damian McCaul proved the difference.

Meath are in second spot on four points, despite losing a cracking encounter to Kildare at Pairc Tailteann. Kildare just got home by 0-18 to 2-11.

Meath probably felt that they deserved a draw. They nearly got it in injury time when half-back Shane McAnarney saw a shot rebound off an upright.

A relieved Kildare boss Kieran McGeeney was pleased with the fact that no fewer than 10 players for on the score sheet. Eoghan O’Flaherty was the pick of them, contributing 0-6.

Derry and Westmeath were two more sides to secure a first victory. Derry comfortably got the better of Monaghan by 0-14 to 0-8 while Westmeath upset Galway by 0-14 to 0-13 in Mullingar.

The winning point came from Paul Bannon in the fifth minute of injury time. Longford and Antrim top Division Three with a maximum six points, with Fermanagh heading Division Four.

They demolished Kilkenny by a remarkable 46-points margin (9-23 to 0-4), a result which adds further to the increasing debate about the dreadful state of Kilkenny football.

Leinster win title

LEINSTER captured the Interprovincial Hurling title with a 2-19 to 1-15 final victory over Connacht at Nowlan Park.

Richie Power, one of eight Kilkenny players in the starting line-up, contributed 0-10 while Ryan O’Dwyer scored two goals. Elsewhere on the hurling front, Tipperary bounced back from their opening National League defeat to Kilkenny by defeating Clare 1-21 to 2-12 in the Waterford Crystal final at Sixmilebridge.

The all-Cork final of the Fitzgibbon Cup proved a hugely entertaining affair at the Mardyke. UCC eventually won out, defeating Cork IT by 2-15 to 2-14 after injury time.

In camogie, Wexford’s Oulart-the-Ballagh won the All-Ireland Senior Club final by beating Drom and Inch 3-13 to 0-5 at Croke Park.