Under-20 Six Nations/Ireland 13 England 6:This victory was about character, a refusal to buckle against a physically bigger English side on a rain-swept night at Dubarry Park. The win completes the third leg of the Irish quest for a Grand Slam, having already beaten Wales and France.

The home side thoroughly merited their success. They played the better rugby on a night when it came down to a test of nerve. The outcome was in doubt right up until a brace of Ian Keatley penalties in injury-time. It was a classic team performance and while loosehead prop Cian Healy was a worthy man of the match - it could have gone to half a dozen other contenders.

England settled the quicker and deserved their early lead, a beautifully struck penalty from fullback David Doherty on five minutes. The visitors were initially reluctant to employ anything other than sheer brute force around the fringes and it was only later in the half that they realised that centre Adam Powell was proving a real handful for the Irish defence.

The Saracens player demonstrated some nifty footwork and clever lines to slip Irish shackles on a couple of occasions, the second of which almost led to a try. After slicing through the midfield, Powell put in a clever chip for wing Ollie Dodge, but Keith Earls reacted brilliantly to bundle the English player into touch at the corner flag.

In the opening 40 minutes Ireland were prepared to put plenty of air on the ball, but were occasionally undermined by a lack of precision where high passes made the recipient vulnerable to thumping tackles. It was a minor cavil, though, as the intent was always likely to be matched by the execution at some point.

That came on 39 minutes when Ireland worked the ball quickly from a ruck just inside the English half. Aidan Wynne and David Pollack made yardage, Conor McInerney cleverly linked with hooker Richard Sweeney and wing Shane Monahan showed great hands to take the ball down low and strength to crash through the tackle for a superb try.

Keatley's touchline coversion delighted the passionate home support. It was a compelling vindication of Ireland's fearless approach and the quality which this team harboured.

One of the most striking aspects of the Irish performance was the team ability to play the ball out of the tackle and the lines of running and support play from backs and forwards.

None epitomised this more than captain David Pollack, Sweeney, Thomas Anderson and Seán O'Brien, before he retired with a hamstring injury.

Ireland might have had another couple of tries in the first half - especially had excellent scrumhalf Paul O'Donohue held on to a difficult pass following a wonderful Earls run.

Handling errors by the English midfield backs caused all sorts of problems in the visiting ranks and they were fortunate to survive on a couple of occasions.

A clever O'Donohue chip just after the re-start almost allowed Earls to pinch a try in the corner, but despite one glorious counter-attack in which the Irish once again almost conjured a definitive line break, it was England who grabbed the next score.

Having scrambled cleverly in defence, they relieved the pressure, profiting from some brittle Irish tackling and from their first visit to the Irish 22, Doherty added a second penalty to make it 7-6 to the home side.

Ireland were conceding too many penalties and needed to play a smarter game as conditions became increasingly difficult with a torrential downpour sweeping over the Athlone venue. Doherty could have given England the lead with a long-range penalty on 60 minutes, Keatley was offered a similar opportunity from much closer in - both missed.

Ireland should have been awarded a penalty when Felix Jones was impeded blatantly as he chipped through; it wasn't the first time referee Neil Ballard missed the obvious.

Ireland continued to press, Healy held up inches short, Earls too brought down in the shadow of the posts. In fairness to England, their defensive discipline and organisation were superb.

Ireland, though, continued to harry and hound England at every turn, applying pressure and forcing errors.

When England conceded a penalty after 82 minutes the roar from the home support nearly took the roof off the covered stands, the decibel levels dropping only slightly when Keatley posted from 40 metres - an exquisite kick given the underfoot conditions.

The Irish outhalf completed a memorable evening for this young Irish side with his third successful kick of the evening, another penalty, nine minutes into injury time.

SCORING SEQUENCE: Five mins - Doherty penalty, 0-3; 39: Monahan try, Keatley conversion, 7-3. Half-time: 7-3. 55: Doherty penalty, 7-6; 82: Keatley penalty, 10-6; 89: Keatley penalty, 13-6.

IRELAND: F Jones (Seapoint); Shane Monahan (Dublin University), D Cave (Belfast Harlequins), A Wynne (Buccaneers), K Earls (Thomond); I Keatley (UCD), P O'Donohoe (UCD); C Healy (Clontarf), R Sweeney (St Mary's College), J Hagan (Greystones); C Mc Inerney (UCD), A Browne (Galwegians); T Anderson (Dungannon), D Pollock (QUB, capt), S O'Brien (UCD). Replacements: T O'Donnell (UL Bohemian) for O'Brien (31 mins); R Murphy (Lansdowne) for Hagan (80); N Keogh (UCC) for McInerney (82).

ENGLAND: D Doherty (London Wasps); O Dodge (Leicester Tigers), T Youngs (Leicester Tigers), A Powell (Saracens), S Kuadey (Sale Sharks); S Jewell (NEC Harlequins), D Care (capt, NEC Harlequins); C Beech (Northampton Saints), M Mullen (Worcester Warriors), D Cole (Leicester Tigers); D Attwood (Bristol Rugby), P Hoy (Northampton Saints); A Shaw (Leicester Tigers), C Pennycook (Bristol Rugby), D Tait (Sale Sharks). Replacements: M Cox (Worcester Warriors) for Attwood (40 mins); F Neale (Saracens) for Jewell (43); H Ellis (London Wasps) for Tait, J Turner-Hall (NEC Harlequins) for Neale (both 50); T Standfield (London Irish) for Mullen (75); Mullen for Cole (84).

Referee: N Ballard (Wales).