IRELAND SCHOOLS XV...8 IRELAND U-19 XV...6 An early try and a late penalty was enough for the Irish Schools to see off the physically imposing Under-19s at Lakelands Park yesterday. Such was their dominance of possession the schoolboys really should have won by a greater margin, yet they struggled to breech a solid defence.

The try came after 11 minutes when Barry O'Mahony sneaked over after a clever back row move, deep in the opposition 22, created a gap on the blindside that the Crescent flanker exploited.

Full back Robert Kearney failed with the conversion attempt, and he spurned two further penalty efforts. But he compensated with some penetrative running in the second half, and he also slotted the decisive penalty with two minutes remaining.

Kieran Hallett landed two penalties for the Under-19s to leave them leading 6-5 at the interval, but they will regret their failure to cross for a try after a sustained period close to the Schools line.

The main reason they didn't was the admirable defensive performance by the Irish Schools, in particular number eight David Pollack and CBC Monkstown's Ron Boucher.

Second row Ross Noonan was excellent for the Under-19s, but coaches Pat Murray and Alan Clarke will now have a better notion of where they need to improve before heading to South Africa for the IRB World Cup in March.

SCORERS: Ireland Schools: B O'Mahony try, R Kearney pen. Ireland Under-19s: K Hallett 2 pens.

IRELAND SCHOOLS: R Kearney (Clongowes); R Drysdale (Belfast RA), T Gleeson (PBC Cork), D Cave (Sullivan Upr School), P Shallow (Rockwell); C Doyle (Ard Scoil Ris), D Williams (CBC Cork); D Hurley (CBC Cork), S Cronin (Ard Scoil Ris), L Casey (Ard Scoil Ris), D Best (Ballyclare HS), D Toner (Castleknock), R Boucher (CBC Monkstown), B O'Mahony (Crescent), D Pollock (RS Dungannon). Replacements: E Ryan (PBC Cork) for T Gleeson (48 mins).

IRELAND UNDER-19s: M Butler (Sligo); J McGrugan (Ballymena), C McNaughton (Greystones), S Megaw (Queen's), C Power (Corinthians); K Hallett (Exiles), P Phelan (Exiles); M Diffley (Buccaneers), J Kerins (UCC), P Doran-Jones (Dublin University), R Noonan (UCC), B Holland (CBC), M Essex (CBC), F McGuckian (UCD), S Ferris (Portadown). Replacements: B O'Neill (Belvedere) for M Butler, J McCall (RS Armagh) for F McGuckian, C Gildea (Terenure) for K Hallett (all 48 mins).

Referee: A Rogan (Leinster Branch).